Dalton is a town in the Berkshires, Massachusetts. Next to the city of Pittsfield, it is perhaps best known for Crane Currency, formerly Crane & Company, which produces the paper used in United States national currency.
Get in
[edit]By car
[edit]If coming from the west, take MA Route 9 from Pittsfield. This route starts in the center of the town at the junction of US Route 7 with East St. If on US Route 20, turn north onto South St, then go east on East St and this will become MA Route 9. If coming from the northwest, take either US Route 7 south to East St in Pittsfield to turn onto MA Route 9, or take Route 8 south and then turn left at the junction of Dalton Ave and Merrill Rd. Route 8 then runs concurrent with Route 9 into the center of Dalton. If coming from the northeast, take MA Route 9 west. In Windsor, Route 9 will then merge with MA Route 8A; continue west into Dalton. If coming from the south, take either US Route 20 north into Pittsfield and then turn east onto East St to join MA Route 9, or take MA Route 8 into Dalton.
On foot
[edit]The Appalachian Trail runs north-south through the center of Dalton and can be entered and exited from the town. The BRTA Route 4 bus line makes a stop at the Park Ave / High St trailhead.
By bus
[edit]Route 4 of the Berkshire Regional Transit Authority runs from Pittsfield to Hinsdale and makes two stops in Dalton on both the inbound and outbound routes. See the website for the schedule: https://berkshirerta.gov/plan-your-trip/route-4-schedule-2/
Get around
[edit]
The best way to get around Dalton is by car. The town center and much of the residential area is also fairly traversable on foot.
See
[edit]- 1 Crane & Company (Crane Currency), Pioneer St, [email protected]. One of the oldest papermaking businesses in Berkshire County, founded in 1801. It has the contract for producing United States currency paper. Many of the buildings of the complex are historic. Unfortunately, these buildings are closed to the public. The associated museum now only does pop-up workshops. See the website if interested.
- 2 Cranesville Historic District, Main St, west of Park Ave. A complex of historic buildings associated with Crane & Company and listed on the National Register of historic places. The industrial buildings south of Main Street are generally near the Housatonic River and screened from public view. More prominent on Main St is the 1816 home of Zenas Crane, the company's founder. Continuing east along Main St are some late 19th century houses. Most of these were built for company executives. Southwest along South Street, and then along Crane and Porter Aves south of the river, is old company-built worker housing. Most of these were built in the 1910s and 1920s. More worker housing is northeast of the Crane family estates off of Park Avenue; in this area the Cranes in the 1950s built some Capes for World War II veterans.
- 2 Cranesville Historic District, Main St, west of Park Ave. A complex of historic buildings associated with Crane & Company and listed on the National Register of historic places. The industrial buildings south of Main Street are generally near the Housatonic River and screened from public view. More prominent on Main St is the 1816 home of Zenas Crane, the company's founder. Continuing east along Main St are some late 19th century houses. Most of these were built for company executives. Southwest along South Street, and then along Crane and Porter Aves south of the river, is old company-built worker housing. Most of these were built in the 1910s and 1920s. More worker housing is northeast of the Crane family estates off of Park Avenue; in this area the Cranes in the 1950s built some Capes for World War II veterans.
- 3 Crane and Company Old Stone Mill Rag Room, Pioneer St. Built in 1844, it is one of the oldest buildings of the company still extent. Listed individually as a National Register of Historic Places building.
Do
[edit]Eat
[edit]Buy
[edit]Sleep
[edit]- 1 Shamrock Village Inn, 633 Main St (MA Rt 8/9), ☏ + 1413-684-0860.
Cope
[edit]Go next
[edit]| Routes through Dalton |
Ends at  ← Pittsfield ←
|
W  E
|
→ Cummington → Boston |
| Pittsfield ← | N  S
|
→ Hinsdale → Becket |
| End ← | S  N
|
→ Savoy → Charlemont |
| Adams ← Cheshire ← | N  S
|
→ Becket → Lee |