Hilltown Firehouses

     Today I was able to hit some what we in WMass call the "hilltowns" for some photos. We started off in the town of Southampton, where the firehouse is located on College Highway. For those not familiar with that name, it is otherwise designated by the state as Route 10. The firehouse here has one paid chief, and the rest of the firefighters are all volunteer. Unfortunately, none of the trucks were out at the time so we didn't stay long after taking a few shots.

     After backtracking a little bit, we headed northwest to the town of Westhampton. This is a great drive along the back way from College Highway along Pomeroy Meadow road towards Route 66 and the town.

Nothing but fields along the way to Westhampton

You can also see some horses and livestock along the way!

 The firehouse here in Westhampton is also a volunteer firehouse, located on Stage Road. The building also houses their other public safety departments for the town, another multipurpose building of many I have seen during my travels so far. 

Westhampton Firehouse

Huntington Firehouse

 We continued up Route 66 and headed towards the town of Huntington, where this firehouse is also an "on call" but paid! station. When we got close to the station, a couple of the trucks were near to the town center on a call, and unfortunately we weren't in a great part of the road to stop and take a live action shot of the team working. We continued on to the firehouse and shot photos there, hoping that the trucks would be able to return while we were visiting, but luck wasn't in our favor on this today. We continued north towards the Knightville Dam, hoping to stop and photograph it as well, but missed the turn to the dam. The road is windy and has a speed limit of 50, with no room to turn around until we had gone some 9 or so miles past the dam, and at that point, we decided to return another day. However, we were treated to some great views of the fields and woods along the way to Worthington.

Hay is all ready for pickup 

 The Worthington fire department is located on Huntington Road, and also shares space with the town police department as well. I was happy to see that the town's brush fire truck was outside when we visited-another truck for the nephew to look at! 

     After leaving Worthington we continued north towards Route 9 arriving just east of the town of Windsor. We backtracked a few miles towards the station there, where we were lucky enough to see a large deer crossing the road casually in front of us. Of course by the time I grabbed for the camera it had already headed off into the woods. The Windsor firehouse is also a volunteer station, and is located directly on Route 9 just before the country store and local church. No trucks were outside though at the time. We weren't really having a lot of luck today so far with that aspect.

On our way back down Route 9 heading east, we of course had to make a stop at the Old Creamery  in Cummington for ice cream. You will spot the building from a mile away due to the large fiberglass cow on the roof of the building. If you are looking for some great ice cream-this is the place my friends! I highly recommend the "moose tracks" ice cream- a fudge chocolate swirl with mini reese's peanut butter cups inside. Hit the spot on this warm humid summer day.

The town of Cummington has a firehouse located on Main Street. At first glance, it looks abandoned, but according to the sources we consulted, it is the only active firehouse in town. We couldn't see any trucks inside unfortunately, and it is also a volunteer firehouse.

Leaving Cummington ,we continued heading west on 9 to the town of Goshen. Definitely one of the best logos I've seen on a firehouse so far. The side of the building faces the road, hence the two pictures below. There was a blood drive going on at the time of our visit, unfortunately I can't donate so soon after my last donation so we didn't stay long. 

Side view of firehouse from Route 9

We continued from Goshen a little ways down Route 9 and detoured to the town of Chesterfield shortly after Goshen center. About 10 minutes later we reached the center of town and the Chesterfield firehouse on North Road. This is also a volunteer firehouse-like many others in the hilltowns. I think its a cute looking little building! 

 On our way back down to Route 9 we stopped in the town of Haydenville to get a shot of one of the firehouses there. There are technically two firehouses for the town of Williamsburg, one of which is located in Haydenville on South Main Street. This building also houses the Williamsburg police department(located in the rear of the building). What I like especially about this firehouse is that it still houses the old bank "vault" alarm on the front of the firehouse, which can see on the second floor of the building to the left of the bay doors. Next time I am up in town I will be sure to get a photo of the second location. 

UPDATE: 6/5/14 I was able to return to the town of Williamsburg  

Mailbox outside firehouse

and get photos of the second firehouse location near the center of
 town. I was glad I did so, simply for the little details on this firehouse that make it "home-like  "