Ghost Town Tour of the Hawley Old Town Common

Taverns, stagecoaches, and a meetinghouse once dominated the bustling Hawley Town Common, located off East Hawley Road. The community no longer exists; it was decimated in the 19th century by fire and emigration. Cellar holes still exist, however, and in recent years crews from the University of Massachusetts, the Sons & Daughters of Hawley, and the Hawley Historical Commission have done work to maintain and document what remains of this former community.

In this free tour, Department of Conservation and Recreation Park Interpreter and Hawley Historical Commission chair John Sears will lead participants through the ghost town and cast light on the past in a joint effort between the DCR and the Sons & Daughters of Hawley. They will enter the Old Town Common as people would have in the 19th century: by candle and lamplight. No flashlights, please; candles and lanterns will be provided.