The Ware-Hardwick Covered Bridge is also known as the Gilbertville Covered Bridge because of its…read morelocation - specifically, it spans the Ware River at the village of Gilbertville, which lies within the town of Hardwick. The bridge connects the towns of Ware and Hardwick, but its immediate setting in Gilbertville gives rise to the alternate name. This dual naming reflects both geographic and historical context. Gilbertville was a 19th-century industrial village founded by the George H. Gilbert Company, and the bridge served as a vital link between the mills and surrounding communities. Built in 1886, it stands as one of only four wooden covered bridges in the state still located on their original sites. It is a single-span Town lattice truss, a design patented in 1820 by Ithiel Town. This system uses a dense web of diagonally crisscrossed planks, creating a strong yet economical structure without relying on arches. The bridge is about 137 feet long and 25 feet wide, with vertical board siding and a gabled metal roof. Notably, the siding leaves a strip open along the sides to allow natural light inside. The mills and tenements that once defined the village of Gilbertville were largely destroyed in a flood during the 1930s, but the bridge endured. In 1986, underwent major restoration in 1986-87, and was closed again in 2002 due to structural concerns including insect damage. After a $1.9 million rehabilitation, it reopened in 2010 with no weight limit. I wasn't sure if there was a place on the other side to make a U-turn, even though it has a high height limit so I opted not to drive the Sprinter through. I walked across to appreciate the bridge from inside and both sides of the span. It's a beautiful bridge. [Review 1123 of 2025 - 1268 in Massachusetts - 24676 overall]

This was the 9th covered bridge I visited in the course of 1 day. By the time I got here, all I…read morethought was that I didn't like the red on the front. I guess after 9 covered bridges you start getting petty. It's located off Route 32. Which is not a Scenic Road. And it really isn't visible from Route 32. But Waze happily gets you there. This is a bucket list bridge.

We had an amazing time visiting this school house. The scenery was beautiful and the area was…read morewell-kept. The surrounding area was serene and beautiful. I can't wait to come back and enjoy the view.

AN ABSOLUTELY MUST DO! A FREE EVENT & FREE PARKING! THIS IS THE MOST FAMOUS SCHOOL IN THE WORLD…read moreTHAT YOU NEVER KNEW REALLY EXISTED. Every kid from 1-101 has learned the Mary had a Little Lamb nursery rhyme. It goes Mary had a Little Lamb it's Fleece was white as Snow & Everywhere that Mary went the lamb was sure to go. It followed her to school one day etc. Well, this is the School in that famous classic story that Mary attended. This is part of the Secret Hidden Gems of America that most people have never heard of or been to before. The tiny red schoolhouse is called The Redstone School & was built in 1798. Mary Elizabeth Sawyer was the Mary in the story born in 1806. Rebecca Kimball was the School Teacher. John Roulstone wrote the first 12 lines of the Classic. Sarah Josepha Hale completed the work. The building originally stood in Sterling Massachusetts. It was moved by Automobile Kingpin Henry Ford in 1927. When you talk about Old School this is the Original Old School! There are Plaques on the rocks outside that give you more information about the nursery rhyme. The Schoolhouse itself is open weekends only from May- October on Friday Saturday & Sunday from 12- 4:45 PM & is FREE! Unfortunately when we went it was closed but you can still look through the windows & check out the inside. Well I'll have to catch the inside the next time around. Go next door & visit the Martha Mary Chapel an all white picturesque church that appeared in the Matthew McConaughey film with Jennifer Garner & Emma Stone "Ghosts of Girlfriends Past". Also visit across the street there's the Grist Mill ( a great place to picnic), The Waterfall, The Pond, The Glacier Rocks from an Ice Cap 18,000 years ago. Also check out The Old Barn Farm Stand where they sell plants, local honey & other products & The Inn itself has lodging, a restaurant & a bar. What a Great Spot! It used to be, you had to have Mega Bucks & be really rich to have the Good Life, not anymore. The Game has changed. You've been Upgraded. Now You Can Live Like a King on a Limited Budget!

A local hiking and wildlife Gem created decades ago . Eagles , Bobcats Turkeys and tons of other…read morewildlife. Too bad they can't figure out the simple task of adding parking lot spaces at the Windsor Dam facility.

One of the few places to get a view of the vastness of Quabbin Reservoir. Free admission. It's a…read moreself guided tour. About 80 steps to the top. 360 degree views. Maps to tell you what you are looking at. Huge parking lot.

Love my new town! Moved here at the start of the pandemic (ha!) and I've loved how close it is to…read morehighways, the woods, Worcester.... Great location with lots of options!! Good people, amazing and supportive community. There's also a public pool! Haha

A MUST DO! A FREE EVENT & FREE PARKING! It's Time to jump into The TimeMobile & scour the Earth &…read moretake you to places from a different time that you won't believe still exist. We have set the dial to the year 1791 in the town of Harvard MA. located less than an hour's drive from Boston. We've arrived at the Harvard Shaker Cemetery nicknamed The Lollipop Graves. The graves look like rows & rows of Giant Lollipops. There's not too many cemeteries that you can go to & say " Hey this is pretty cool looking!" This is one of the Secret Hidden Gems of America that most people have never heard of or been to before. This is the final resting place of least 331 Shakers who were buried here between the 1790's & the early 1900's. They used to have individual stone markers. In 1879 the Harvard Shakers replaced them with cast iron markers that were round on the top with a stick in the center like a Giant Lollipop. This is the only cemetery where the Lollipop iron markers still remain. In 1945 the Shakers handed over the deed to the cemetery to the town of Harvard. They currently provide all of the upkeep to the property. The stone marker that reads "Harvard Shakers" was later added by the town of Harvard. Because of their look The Harvard Shaker. Cemetery was later nicknamed The Lollipop Graves. There's a very interesting fact about this cemetery. The Lollipop Graves were here some 29 years before The Modern Day Lollipop was even invented. What? Yup! There was boiled sugar on a stick that dates back to the Middle Ages. But the modern day Lollipop with hard candy & a stick in the center was invented by George Smith of New Haven, Connecticut. In 1908 Mr Smith made large hard candies that were anchored on sticks. George named them after a race horse of the time called Lolly Pop. In 1931 George trademarked the lollipop name. But where did George get the original inspiration for the shape to make his legendary candy. It could be just a coincidence but on the other hand there is Anecdotal evidence that may suggest something different. Connecticut is the next state over to Massachusetts. New Haven is only a mere 128 miles away from Harvard MA. In 29 years anyone could have visited or heard about or drew a picture of these unusual looking graves. Mr. Smith could have got wind through the grapevine or even subconsciously hearing something about them. The graves could have been the inspiration for the Modern Day Lollipop. No matter if it was just a coincidence or was the inspiration for the candy the fact remains The Lollipop Graves were here 29 years before The Lollipop was even invented. Amazing & True! To make it worth your trip go visit the Beautiful Cryptic Remains of The Bancroft Castle which is about 15 minutes away in Groton MA. You can read my review of that as well. Happy Trails! It used to be, you had to have Mega Bucks & be really Rich to have the Good Life, not anymore. The Game has changed. You've been Upgraded. Now You Can Live Like a King on a Limited Budget!

Small but alot of great offerings! Particularly a large museum/experience passes to use that I 'm…read moreappreciative of as a resident!

More than just…read morebooks More than just books is the official motto of the Millville Library and it definitely suits. Every though the building itself is fairly small all kinds of cool things are inside. The first thing I noticed were the cool dinosaurs painted on the walls. Some nice art that shows off these Mesozoic critters to good effect. Then if you look more closely you will see a cool old lamp, a old doll house and even a wizard named Harry. Even an old desk and a nice rocking chair. Not a whole lot of books but a kids section that looks like great fun. Of course computers and wifi are available and a very nice and wonderful librarian. The one big negative are the hours. Only open four days a week for a couple of hours a day. What a shame. Such a cool and friendly library should be appreciated and open a whole lot more

Beautiful updated space with work/study rooms and nice spaces for teens and kids too. I got my…read morelibrary card a few months ago and then ended up moving, so I guess this is no longer my library, but I had good interactions with the staff here. They have a lot of discounts/passes for museums and stuff in MA.

As someone who needs to getaway from a toxic living situation, the library, and specific corners…read morewithout much traffic are perfect for settling my nervous system and relaxing. Unfortunately, the staff, specifically a young lady (maybe 30) with brunette hair, enforces library rules with so much hostility that I don't care to go back. She has communicated rules with unwarrented hostility on multiple occasions. I have seen other people kicked out with little warning simply for speaking a little loudly in the eating area. If you're going to have rules, have rules that serve a benevolent purpose. If you're going to enforce the rules, maybe take a deep breath before doing so and consider the human you're speaking to.

Airplanes quilts and…read moreAndrew The Millbury Library is one of the zillions of libraries in New England that was funded by Andrew Carnegie. It was complete in 1915 in sort of a Tudor Revival style but has had so many additions and changes over the years that the original is hardly recognizable. This is one of those libraries that just seems to ramble on in a pleasant sort of a way. Lots of different things to look at, including the ubiquitous library quilts to a whole bunch of cool photos of airplanes. Lots of space to spread out and study or do research or to find a comfy spot to read a book. Everything here is logical and convenient and very functional. A pleasant library that has friendly and helpful staff, working wifi and computers but still manages to retain a link to the past.

The Millbury Public Library is a treasure. I have been coming here for over a decade even though I…read moredo not live in Millbury. (Honestly my town library is not that great and I drive by the Millbury one every day.) The librarians are wonderful - special shout out to Marie. They all could not be more helpful. They are happy to order any material that you might need that is not there. When my kids were little the children's programs were great and the children's department was and still seems excellent. All in all a great place!