SHEEP HILL

Driving back and forth daily on Route 7 between the 1896 House and my home, I noticed a simple sign on the side of the road.

I once glanced quickly up the gravel drive and thought it was a private home, so never made the effort to investigate further until one of our 1896 House guests mentioned that their son wanted to get married there. “It’s a PLACE?!” I asked in wonder. Time to get out my designer hiking shoes and check out this Sheep Hill!

I had a sunny September day off, so grabbed the Wondercar and my camera and proceeded up that gravel drive.
I saw a large, looming hill of flowers and grasses and trees in the background, inviting me for a walk, but decided to check out the buildings first.
Following the signs to park, I entered the visitor center, also known as the Lewis Center (and Gallery).
Once inside, I was pleasantly made aware of all the landscape artwork dotting the walls and interesting sculptures, (by artist Phyllis Blair) and walked into the kitchen and dining area, where the art continued.

I was warmly greeted by Cathy, one of the directors, who explained Sheep Hill history to me and showed me around a bit. A volunteer sat dutifully at the dining table, sealing a pile of envelopes for the organization.

Cathy explained that this was a working dairy farm right up to about 1986. Known as SUNNY BROOK FARM, it was owned and operated by the Rosenburg family. Mr. Rosenburg allowed the Williams College Outings Group to use it as a ski center from the 1930s to the 1950s, and it was the site of many winter carnivals.

There was once a tow rope going up the steep incline and Mrs. Rosenburg baked cookies and made hot cocoa, which she sold from an outdoor kitchen stand to the chilled, cheery skiers.
Cathy showed me a thick photo album full of black n white photographs of skiers on the hill from years gone by. Have a peek at this when you go to the center.

The Rosenburgs were well loved in the community and ethical dairy farmers for their time. They passed the farm down to their son, who wanted the land to be preserved for use by future generations. After the son died, the land was gifted to the RED CROSS, where much of the farm equipment and valuables were sold.

It was then taken over by the Williamstown Rural Land Foundation group,(WRLF), a non-profit organization who rely on donations and volunteers to operate the center, as well as manage the grounds upkeep.
The visitor’s center is also a meeting house, (they rent the space out to the public for meetings), an educational center, restrooms for the hill visitors, and a lending library of nature and hiking books. Cathy has every book and CD cataloged and you can borrow any book you want.

The buildings at Sheep Hill are open to the public and harbor interesting information and unique details not found in traditional museums. There is an element of trust here that is refreshing and reflects the old fashioned values of this area. Items are not nailed down or kept in cases away from touching hands or closer views.
The first building I visited was the TOOL SHED.

Once a store-all for the farm, summer interns thinned out the mess and organized interesting displays and artifacts and made signs explaining what items were.
A CD of various local farmers explaining farm life played in the background with old tyme instrumental tunes for atmosphere. Was I ever surprised to hear the voice of Amy, from our own '6 House Pub, on the audio! We get our cheese from her farm and she works at the pub!
I wandered around to the MILKING BARN next.

For the era, this was hygienic and clean and Mr Rosenburg was considered a fine dairy farmer.

There is a very interesting scrapbook full of business receipts, calendars and transactions for the farm. He apparently sold an average of 400 lbs of milk every couple of days.
There is a funny handmade sign explaining how a cow makes milk, right on down to a rudimentary drawing of the stomach(s), and the original milk cans and milk caps are here.

The HORSE BARN is run down, but a great structure to tour.

It of course is close by the SILO, which was built in 1935, but moved to this farm from somewhere else in 2000. (a really big yard sale find?!)

The SKI KITCHEN that Mrs. Rosenburg sold her cocoa and cookies from is full of nostalgic items, like an old stove, kettle and signs on the back wall.

It was also a chicken coop where eggs were gathered for sale during the other seasons of the year.

The CHILDREN’S NATURE SHACK is a lot of fun. Kids can pose in front of shadow bird plaques and compare wingspans with hawks and vultures.

Kids will really LOVE turning over the infamous BUG BOARD to see the ooky, creepy crawlers underneath. I did NOT love it so much. (Eeeooww)

Once inside the nature shack, there are butterfly nets to borrow, backpacks full of equipment for nature hikes, signboards on insect facts, a coloring station, and scavenger hunt sheets to make kid's hikes extra fun.
You have to find things like something prickly, something fuzzy, 2 different bird calls, identify 3 different birds flying overhead, and find a wildflower, among other things. I only got a few of these correct on my own adult hike.
There is a quaint pond (Josiah’s Pond) with seating around and interesting structures.

There is a butterfly house nestled nearby a butterfly garden, with all the plantings marked so you can make your own once you are back home.

I stopped at the TRAIL KIOSK which has a plethora of maps and guides for the hiking part of this place, which is actually the reason most people come here.
I decided to take the easy trail (of course) that sweeps over the meadow in the lower section of the 50 acres of property space.
I hummed Sting’s “Fields of Gold” to myself as I marveled at the scenic beauty of this area. The path I was on was a well mowed trail and little wooden bridges covered the babbling water trickles that ran down from the hill.
There were benches every now and then to rest and eat a chocolate granola bar, and the sound of birds overhead made for a pleasant afternoon walk.
The bees buzzed in the thistle whilst the butterflies floated over the sunny goldenrod that covers most of the grounds this time of year. The September breeze caused a sea of waving purple and yellow flowers, as I hoofed and sweated slowly up the hill.

As I got more and more out of breath, I remembered how our 1896 House guest had told me (with eyes misted), that as a Williams student back in the 1970s, he brought many a date “up the hill” for romantic interludes… (sigh). I was not quite so “lucky” on my lone venture and soon decided it was time to return to the Wondercar for the final leg of my Sheep Hill experience.

I drove up onto BEE HILL ROAD, a dirt road with big ditches on the side (be careful!) which borders the Sheep Hill land. It is way up on the “tree line”, as it’s known by the hikers who get there by foot the hard way up Sheep Hill itself. Beware of the local traffic that treat it like a racetrack.

Bee Hill Road is blessed with several pull off spots that have scenic views, not only of Sheep Hill and it’s buildings, but of the distant mountains and sky over North Adams and Pownal , VT.
My photos were taken late in the afternoon, so perhaps an early morning viewing would have different/better lighting conditions.
One of the pull offs leads to a main trail and has a marker to read. I walked down to it. It is cool because it explains what each of the mountains is called and where it is located. You can see Mt. Greylock (remember Spike?) and even the Hairpin Turn on Route 2.

There are all kinds of programs and events on this property (who knew?!) especially for families with children. Full Moon Hikes, Firefly Hikes, Sheepherding demonstrations, Art and Nature Classes for children, Live music events, Picnics, animal tracking, and food celebrations. Some of these events have a nominal fee for entry.

Sheep Hill is located within ½ mile of the 1896 House, heading north towards Williamstown center, right on Route 7. It is on the left side of the road.

The grounds are open daily from Dawn to Dusk year round.

The Center and Buildings are open from 9 to 5.

Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas.

It is free, but a donation sure would be nice.

The next event planned at SHEEP HILL is :

The 4th Annual AMBLE n SCRAMBLE on SEPTEMBER 19th.

Sure to be a lot of fun!

Sheep Hill is truly a wonderful place that I would certainly recommend to our visitors.

The hikes are terrific and it is SO CLOSE to the 1896 House! Sheep Hill is a hidden treasure in Williamstown.

I cannot wait to return for the Fall Foliage!
Oh no! My designer hiking shoes and coordinating outdoor outfit got dirty!

Be Well,
xx
Kathy

SPRING STREET

Once in awhile, I get time off from the 1896 House. I get a kick out of the attention-loving Airedales and doing those general office tasks and room inspections, but I really enjoy ME time … well, at least for a day or two each week.
Exploring Williamstown and its surrounding area has been a lot of fun. One rare, “bright & sunny” (i.e. not raining) August morning, I decided to check out the “town” part of Williamstown.
This seems to be centered on a ONE WAY road off of Route 2 called SPRING STREET.

Williams College looms throughout the town and the majority of foot traffic is their student and staff population, but Spring Street harbors some really interesting shops and restaurants for the rest of us to also enjoy.

Park at the very end of the street in the somewhat small (and free yay) public lot and walk around. It’s not a huge hike, or I wouldn’t do it myself …(see Mt Greylock post).
If you manage to find an elusive parking space on either side of the actual street, test out your parallel parking skills (a fun challenge if you attempt a spot on the left hand side).

TUNNEL CITY COFFEE is tucked way down at the end of the street, where tourists and locals alike hang out, parking themselves on the benches and chairs wrapped around the inside and outside of the building. They drink barista creations from over-sized white cups, whilst noshing on bagels, pastries and quiche, catching up on the gossip with their neighbors.

Stepping inside, it is a spacious, thoroughly modern room with 2 very long glass cases full of artfully-displayed sweet and savory treats.
Lining the wall behind the cases are rows of freshly bagged (and locally-roasted) coffee beans of various flavors and strengths, as well as an impressive variety of loose teas.

Dotted amongst the shelves is beautiful pottery and handmade mugs created by Tunnel’s very own coffee roaster, Josh. I fell in love with the prehistoric looking coffee mug (you will know it when you see it), but alas, did not have enough funds to cover the cost. Art comes with a price tag… (sigh)
There are bookshelves housing many reading options, ample indoor seating and a sunny bright atmosphere (when it's not raining).
I ordered a small “drip” coffee which enabled me to select from a line up of carafes’filled with pre-brewed teas, decafs and coffees of the day. After debating between the Tuscany and the House blend, I poured me-self a House, then meandered over to the fixins counter to add in the cream and sweetener. FIRST SIP… aaahhhh...wonderful, balanced character, with not too harsh or acidic a finish, and a great coffee flavor. It was just right for a picky coffee connoisseur like myself. Enjoyed my java on an outdoor bench, flanked by flowerpots, as I surveyed shops up the street.

WHERE’D YOU GET THAT? Lives up to its funny name. Crammed chock a block with whimsical games, toys, odds n ends and “stuff” that would appeal to tots, immature adults, folks with a sense of humor and assistant innkeepers who write blogs like this.
I LOVED this store! French chanteuse music on the overhead speakers, as I poked and prodded through the merchandise. Off the wall humorous greeting cards and stationary items like “GREAT IDEAS” pads, sticky notes with smart-alecky slogans, (just made for cubicle-bound comedians), along with postcards and writing tablets.
Super selection of bagged candy, one in particular, labeled “Williams Cow Poop” drew a smirk from this non-native.
A complete collection of knights and damsels action figures, along with dragons and armor and castles n stuff.
Super costume essentials, like way cool wigs, eyeball glasses, fairy wings, body parts and my favorite costume piece…hats! A king’s royal crown, a Cat in the Hat, a Mad Hatter, a Renaissance Queen…you decide how to cover your head.
Nice stack of puzzles and brain teasers too. One that caught my eye was a 1000 pc NY City jigsaw that came in a retro tourist suitcase. I enjoyed the decorated tote bags (some with built in toy dogs), and banks that read stuff like “Saving up to Become a Better Man”. Too cute.
The PICK YOUR NOSE cups were tempting. You drink out of one of these and the animal nose printed on it appears to be extending from your face. There were functional, “educational “toys for tots and younger kids and decorative items and ornaments for the house. The Melody Harp I picked up and put down about 4 times, may soon join my musical instrument collection by the fireplace. Had I not been too lazy to carry it thru the rest of my journey, it would be gracing my livingroom shelf as I type.
The stuffed animals caught my eye because they were refreshingly unique. I held onto the stuffed chicken lovingly for the rest of my tour of the shop, but put her back with her friends at the end of my visit. (pouting).
LIBRARY ANTIQUES is one of the biggest surprises (and now my favorite shop) on Spring Street. This shop extends into 3 large rooms and is a joy to schlep through on a lazy afternoon. This is not some dusty ole junky store manned by a cigar smoking humbug seated at a manual register glancing condescendingly at you over his bi-focals whilst pretending to read the paper….this store ROCKS!
The clothing and accessories are unbelievable, from silk scarves to alpaca sweaters, and beautiful jewelry and adornments, fit for the artsy, the rich and assistant innkeepers who write blogs like this.

Textile pillows line one wall,

and I oo’d and ahh’d at the collection of unique coasters, most impressive being the hand painted Peruvian ones. I spent an agonizing 10 minutes debating purchasing either a set of 4(less money) to use as coasters or one of these to use under a candle.

Here and there were pieces of furniture or decorative items, like globes,
and the walls were graced with carved wood, photos, paintings and interesting doo-dads.
Men are not forgotten in this store. Their clothing is housed in the next room, along with the finest selection of canes I have seen this side of London’s Portobello Road.
A sea of clocks covers a hall that leads into a 3rd room, full of magnificent art and larger furniture pieces anyone would dream about having in their own homes.
Indonesian pieces were quite striking. The paintings, in the $1500 range, (out of my range, lol) were a joy to gaze at.

I saw several items that could very well be my future family heirlooms, many very affordable, such as the mass assortment of bookends sets on 2 separate wall shelving units.
Lordy that Polish pottery is pretty!

They have the usual “smalls” (as they say in the trade), as well as antique knick-knacks, but I plan to return for those coasters and maybe a scarf and a pair or two of earrings. Oh, what a treasure this place is!

HELEN’S PLACE is one of the better deli-type restaurants on the street, with the “HELENs DAGWOOD” heading up the list…piles of roast beef with horseradish on fresh bread. Mmm. Nicely displayed were the array of cold salads and deli meats and Shetland Salmon just waiting for you to take them home. Clean and simple, like a deli should be. I heard they cater too!

IMAGES is Spring Street’s cinema. It shows artistic, “director films” and “actor’s films”, indies and foreign movies. I have not made it in to see a flick here yet, but it sure looks trendy, heavy and interesting.

MoCA SHOP is a sister extension of the gift shop from the actual Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art which is located in North Adams. Great postcards, way cool artist books, as well as unusual creative toys and educational materials for children and adults.

There are other places...a Post Office, a Newsroom (grab a racing form or a NY Times!), a Packy (Liquor Store), a Law Office, a Framing/Artist Shop (in the alley!), a Pharmacy, a Barber Shop, a Tourist Depot, a Bank, and a Jewelers.
PAPPA CHARLIE’S DELI is a celeb sandwich shop. Just walk in and you are awestruck by the huge “wall” signboard menu, filled with movie and television star names next to sandwich descriptions. You are expected to read and remember each one in your food group category, regardless of the fact it makes you dizzy to do so. Remembering your sandwich is much like cramming for an exam....

No, don’t just ask for a turkey sandwich with mayo…it has to be a STEPHEN COLLINS, a FRANK LANGELLA or some other “star” listed on the board (and then you can add "hold the pickle, or olives or extra SPAM"). The rest of us had to do this, so get with the program Ace.
Brisk and efficient staff take your order in a very non-reactionary manner. You could be the Queen of England or Homeless John and they would give you the same greeting.

After ordering, get out of the way so the line can move, but don't stray too far to hear your name called to get your sandwich because they will not take extra steps to wave you in from outside when your GEORGE HAMILTON (hold the mayo, with a side of kettle chips) is ready.

A flurry of activity at almost any time of the day, this is the deli to try at least once. There is outdoor seating and some limited seats inside, though it tends to be higher stress atmosphere in there, due to the mass line of signboard readers backed up outside, holding the door open.

I am not sure if the celebrity sandwiches are named because a celebrity actually likes and/or ordered that particular combo, but I’d like to think I connected, eating the same sandwich as Mary Tyler Moore or have bonded with Gwyneth Paltrow in some tiny spiritual way while consuming her veggie wrap (hold the pickle, with a side of cheezy poofs).
THE EUPHORIUM is a super place for tourists and students alike to stock up on the basics for a road trip or a long study night at the dorm. The smell of homemade chocolate chip cookies wafting from the ovens mixes well with the aroma of their freshly brewed “Joe” coffee and the great selection of fresh fruits, pre-made sandwiches and energy drinks is perfect for Grab-n-Go folks in a hurry.

Homemade breads and brownies, gourmet items, teas, snacks, candy, potato chips, cereals and canned goods, granola bars and pasta, rice, sauces, soup, cake mix…even laundry detergent, dish soap and brillo pads. They sure packed a lot of stuff in this oh so tiny space. I love this little shop and am sure I will need something from here come Winter when I am snowed in and the WonderCar won’t budge from the driveway. UPDATE: Yep, sure enough, stranded in town in December and this place came in mucho handy!
GOFF'S SPORTS-Crossing the street now kids, this is where you load up on your college logo gear. Nightshirt, sweatshirt, team shirt, stuffed mascot, coffee mug (or Chai vessel) and a custom football…it’s all here in sparkling (and tasteful) blue and white (and purple). Feed your inner preppie heart. WILLIAMS COLLEGE stuff galore!
SPICE ROOT…now yer talkin! My favorite restaurant on the block is this Indian place. Golden toned décor with warm, slightly dark, atmospheric lighting (great for middle age dating), the slow pace (a little too slow at times) and excellent cuisine, makes this a MUST - TRY place.

Unlike American cuisine, it is really hard to get bad Indian food. If you are not familiar with Indian food, ask for some plain Nann with some dipping sauces as your appetizer, then try the gentle Chicken Tikka Masala and Jasmine Rice.

If you like “spice”…they can do it well, especially with their lamb dishes. Hot stuff is marked on the menu and you will be warned by the ever polite waiter in case he thinks you didn’t mean to order something so strong. The recipes here are different than most Indian restaurants (regional?), and I enjoyed every last bite of my 2+ hour dinner. They have some nice dessert offerings too, so if you have room in the tumtum, DO TRY the tapioca tropical thing, or one of the other cultural sweets.

SUSHI THAI GARDEN is next door to SPICE ROOT and has a wonderful menu with a variety of Thai food. Not being a lover of Sushi myself, I did not try any of that. Got chicken satay and a spring roll for appetizers, jasmine rice and their wonderful Yellow Curry Chicken and Vegetables. I always view Thai food as the most definable and freshest of the Asian food types. I feel healthy after I eat in here and encourage you to try their lunch specials if you happen by ‘round noontime.
HUDSONS is THE place to go for wall art and decorative items. Rugs, postcards, bar glasses, serving trays, LP (long play) records (40s war era right on up to 1980s Nu Wave), jewelry, clocks and even some coffee table items. Chewing Gun Wrapper Handbag> Wayy coool!
Friendly helpful staff and a no-pressure shopping environment. I loved looking at the autumn scenes and other wall art, stacked for browsing on the floor.
THE HARRISON GALLERY is a formal art gallery with great pieces (and prices) of oils, watercolors and pottery. Have a looksee around and get inspired to find the perfect piece to place over that mustard yellow Corinthian leather sofa you picked up in Spain circa 1977.
The PURPLE PUB RESTAURANT & SHOPS… is still in the construction phase. I happened by while the workers were having a pep rally of sorts out front. It is expected to be open for the Autumn season and promises to have an exciting line up of shops and a great food venue. I’ll let you know when it opens. UPDATE: As of December 18th, 2009, the shops in this venue are still not open!
I finished my tour of Spring Street by going to LICKITY SPLITS, the town’s ice cream shop. The Herrells (of Northampton) ice cream they use is high in butterfat and amazingly rich, so any flavor you finally decide upon is sure to be a winner.

They also serve lunch food and I scored a grilled hot dog on a delicious toasted bun and potato chips for under $2.00! Lunch grillin closes by 1:30, so order during peak lunch hours, or you will only be able to get ice cream. Their ice cream takes on several formats, including shakes, sundaes, cones and banana splits. There are only 12 flavors featured daily to help narrow down your selection time, with almost as many toppings offered.

Indoor seating is available, but ice cream is a great touring food, so get yourself out into the fresh air if it’s not raining and walk off those serious carbs.

Back to the WonderCar, I drove away with my newfound treasures, a slightly lighter wallet, and a full tummy.
What a great afternoon! What a neat Street!
This is the life…

DIRECTIONS:
From Brookside and ‘6 House Pub, turn right onto Route 7 North and follow 2 miles into town. (From Pondside, it is a Left turn onto Route 7 North). At the rotary, follow the signs for Route 2 East or Mohawk Trail and proceed about ½ mile. Spring Street is on your right.

Once you are on Spring Street, you can turn into the parking lot at the very end and take that road on the right over to the end (Hoxsey Street) and take a right which will put you back onto Route 2 West back to 1896. To go East, drive around the Tunnel City building and follow that road to the end and take a left and follow to Route 2.

Happy Shopping!

XX
Kathy