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| From the Archives - Photos by Salt Water New England |
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| Many have said that Guilford has the loveliest Town Green. |
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| The Library |
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| The view from the library window. |
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| Signed by likely direct ancestor, Thomas Norton, 1639 |
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| 105 years old and still working. |
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| The Town Hall |
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| Still researching this... |
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A call, too tough to make! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful spaces. I'm not from NE and can't guess at the loveliest town square in the region, but I always appreciate when a city block (or more) is given over to green space.
ReplyDeleteThat old London taxi looks fun to drive.
It is not the most beautiful, but I have fond memories of the Fairfield CT town green.
ReplyDeleteI too love the green in Guilford, CT, and have ever since I was a little kid watching the Guilford Fair parade circle the Green. I love the shady trees and the lovely pathways that criss-cross it. As an adult, I have spent many happy hours in the Edith Nettleton Room at the Guilford Free Library, and poured over old deeds at the town hall and benefited from my conversations with town historian, Joel Helander. Sadly the warm, friendly, generously helpful, and much beloved Edith Nettleton (your picture number 16) passed away on January 26, 2014. There is a tribute to her here: https://www.guilfordfreelibrary.org/historical-room/local-historical-documents-a-selection-from-the-historical-room/
ReplyDeleteThere are too many good answers, but I'm going with the Boston Common because I walk through it most days. Park Street, Brewer Fountain, 54th Regiment memorial, Frog Pond, State House, old graves, dogs, kids sledding - it's the beating heart of the city.
ReplyDeleteMost definitely Woodstock, VT. The green is lovely and full of benches for people to relax. It's adjacent to a wonderful library and The Woodstock Inn. Most importantly it plays host to many fun events/art shows etc throughout the year for residents and visitors to enjoy.
ReplyDeletecohasset, mass
ReplyDeleteCompletely agree.
DeleteOh wow, where did the London cab come from? You still see them over here, though they are being replaced by Uber and the like. Town greens - Regents Park in London is wonderful. Closer to home, the High Town in Bridgnorth, Shropshire.
ReplyDeleteI was lucky enough to grow up with Hampstead Heath at the end of my street. To get to work every day I would walk across Primrose Hill, then through Regents Park by the zoo, and spend each 9 to 5 on Baker Street. Selfridges was our 'corner shop'! Now I live in a wonderful city, but it feels about five minutes old (founded in 1838) in the mountains of Virginia. I'd take any of those lovely, old New England village greens any day!
DeleteBoston Common tough to beat; big and rolling and brawny as it is. New Haven Green is more perfect, shall we say. These are the top two New England “big city greens.” There are sooo many worthy hometown favorites, really too many to list. But, Lebanon Conn is the biggest.
ReplyDeleteBy no means high profile or fancy, but a brief plug for my hometown of Grafton, MA - a beautiful common with benches and gazebo, striking old churches, buildings library, the Grafton Country Store and Grafton Inn - most likely looks not unlike it did 100 years ago!
ReplyDeleteI was going to say Grafton, too!
DeleteDid an antiques show on the Grafton Green many years ago ... very pleasant afternoon in a classic New England setting.
DeleteI've never seen a New England town green I didn't like. But, to be different, I'll put in a plug for a Southern one. Monterey Square in Savannah is a beautiful grassy space with an American Revolutionary War monument in the center and trees laden with Spanish moss around the sides. It's always nice to have green park space in the midst of a village or a city.
ReplyDelete@Susan, I have been there and agree it is wonderful.
DeleteCamden, Maine. The green space overlooks the harbor on Penobscot Bay., with schooners and windjammers tied at the quays. It has an amphitheater designed by Olmstead. The waterfall from Megunticook River flows from town to the bay.
ReplyDeleteThe Old Center town green of North Andover, MA - beloved and frequented by the community, it's the historic heart of the town that is deeply appreciated by everyone today.
ReplyDeleteCohasset MA
ReplyDeleteWorthington Ohio...charming ...lovely. since 1803
ReplyDeleteThough from Essex, CT, my choice is Guilford, CT.
ReplyDeleteThe Guilford, Connecticut green is wonderful. It is one of my favorite towns in the world. My vote for best green, however, goes to Lebanon Green in Connecticut. It is tremendous, unspoiled, an oasis of old New England and a treasure trove of Revolutionary War historical sites. The Wethersfield Green CT Cohasset, MA and Walpole NH Greens are also awfully nice, and New Milford CT Green at Christmastime is the best. This winter, if you are in the area, -try standing there at 6 pm with all the little Christmas trees lit with colorful old-fashioned lights, and the church bells playing.
ReplyDeleteAnother fantastic, if off the beaten path one, is Petersham, MA right by the Quabbin. Beautiful large green, gazebo, old stone library, multiple churches - and PIN DROP silence. And the fantastic, surprisingly high-end Petersham Country Store - great food, baked goods, groceries, local beer, wine and coffee! Also gorgeous crafts and artwork by local artisans. A great destination for a ride.
ReplyDeleteAnother vote for the Lebanon, Connecticut town green: a walking path of almost two miles, working farms, three churches, and historic sites like the Connecticut Revolutionary War headquarters and the home of the colonial artist Jonathan Trumbull. Unspoiled and accessible for lovely dog walks!
ReplyDeleteLongmeadow, MA
ReplyDeletealso woodstock, vermont
ReplyDeleteI positively adore town greens! I've been through many, but don't really have a favorite. I live in a lovely old, historic city founded in 1741. We have one of the most historic buildings in the country here. Sadly, we do not have a town green, per se. There are lots of "areas" that one can go relax, read a book, within the city limits, but no town green to speak of. --Holly in PA
ReplyDeleteThat's easy, my home town Guilford, CT. I was in the marching band that paraded around the green in the mid-80s. Spooky October fact: the green used to be the town cemetery. When they removed the headstones, they didn't remove the bodies.
ReplyDeleteMiddlebury, VT. Bite size
ReplyDelete