In 1829, an interstate canal finally arrived in Westfield, Massachusetts from Long Island Sound. This canal reached Northampton in 1839. Author Bob Madison will talk about current updates linking this rails-to-trails pathway that started out as a canal, with a particular focus on sections here in Westfield.

Bob's book, "New Haven and Northampton Greenway: Bike and Rail Trails Following the Historic Canal", takes the audience on a historic trip through sixteen towns into the interior of Western New England—from New Haven, CT to Northampton, MA. His rails-to-trails book is a comprehensive guide which includes trail maps, trailhead descriptions, original watercolor paintings by the author, attractions, distances and a little history of each of the sixteen towns along with the history of the canal and the railroad as the modern rail trail works its way along the 81-mile greenway or 87-mile canal length.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Bob is an outdoor enthusiast who has lived in Western Massachusetts most of his life. He was educated and employed in both Connecticut and Massachusetts. Bob uses his watercolor paintings to help readers of his book visualize what it was like to travel through New England in the early 1800's. Bob’s second book is a biography of Lt. Richard Falley, Jr.—a Westfield native and Revolutionary War Patriot who had a secret and hidden armory in the foothills of Mt. Tekoa.