Julie Cavacco: The Valley was a dangerous territory

Back in the 1990s when I was training for the Ed Staff of the Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association in Deerfield, I learned that Deerfield was the northern most town of the frontier in the later 1600s.

The first towns along the Connecticut River were Springfield (1636), Northampton (1654), Hadley (1659). Deerfield was established in 1673.

The people who settled in the valley were the pioneers of their time. What we refer to as King Phillip’s War began in 1675. Many of these towns had conflicts and raids. It was dangerous territory. The area was also vulnerable to the French effort to claim more territory.

Our country’s further westward movement overshadows the early history of the pioneering efforts in our state. It may seem like a silly name now, but it does acknowledge Massachusetts history.

Julie Cavacco

Deerfield