Walls, Rock & Rum: The Colonial History of the Middlesex Fells

Authors Alison C. Simcox and Douglas L. Heath will discuss their book, Walls, Rock, and Rum: Colonial History and the Founding of Middlesex Fells, exploring its rich history beyond its trails and forests. Drawing on new research, they examine how Indigenous communities shaped the landscape for thousands of years before the Puritans transformed it through timber harvesting, quarrying and agriculture. The presentation also highlights colonial Charlestown—the first capital of the Massachusetts Bay Colony—and how its natural resources fueled the creation of English-style settlements across what is now 10 modern-day towns.