View Full Version : Cheshire Hostel Re-Opens
Folks, the St Mary of the Assumption Church in Cheshire Mass has re-opened. It was closed temporarily on April 21st due to the caretaker's illness. Page 144 of the '04 Companion is now correct. Nice folks.
Cosmo
Mass AT Committee
www.amcberkshire.org/at (http://www.amcberkshire.org/at)
mooseboy
07-29-2005, 12:14
Stayed there mid-July 2005. It's a great place to stay if you need to get indoors for a change. The priest is friendly and welcoming, and you have bathrooms and electricity, plus access to a few stores & restaurants, including a good pizza place.
A good place to hole up if you want to tackle Greylock early in the morning. Also, thru-hiker Draggin's mom lives across the street and loves to talk to hikers.
Cookerhiker
08-06-2005, 09:08
Folks, the St Mary of the Assumption Church in Cheshire Mass has re-opened. It was closed temporarily on April 21st due to the caretaker's illness. Page 144 of the '04 Companion is now correct. Nice folks.
Cosmo
Mass AT Committee
www.amcberkshire.org/at (http://www.amcberkshire.org/at)
Do you know if it's open off-season, i.e. November?
Don' t know for sure about the off season. Certainly the church will be operating. They might be surprised to see a hiker in November, though. Here is their phone number:
413-743-5423
Let us know what you find out,
Cosmo
Cookerhiker
08-07-2005, 19:29
Don' t know for sure about the off season. Certainly the church will be operating. They might be surprised to see a hiker in November, though. Here is their phone number:
413-743-5423
Let us know what you find out,
Cosmo
Thanks - will do, that is if the hike occurs.
FYI - Stayed there overnight in Oct 97,
were and how far off the trail is it,we will be going thrue there in oct08
were and how far off the trail is it,we will be going thrue there in oct08
Wolf--
It's about 2 blocks trail west of the AT in Cheshire, right down the street from the PO. They might not expect to see hikers in October, but I'm sure they would take you in (413-743-2110).
Cosmo
Homer&Marje
08-18-2008, 21:24
I suggest the little Ice Cream Shop that you come to right off the trail in Cheshire about a 1/4 mile. Little blue house on the right, wonderful lady, and soft serve ice cream. A delight.
how is the trial inthis section
Flush2wice
08-18-2008, 21:53
how is the trial inthis section
It has it's ups and downs.
Homer&Marje
08-19-2008, 07:42
I did the 37 miles in between Tyringham at Goose pond Rd and Cheshire back in may or june, It was wonderful except for the flooded out sections because of beavers. They weren't too bad but it gets a little sloppy in areas. In conjunction with that comment there are quite a lot of foot bridges and the terrain is not too bad. Combine that with fantastic shelters and you've got a pretty good section of trail:D
Grayhair
01-19-2012, 17:22
Stayed at St Mary of the Assumption Church inCheshire July 2011. Great experience, parishionerscheck in with you to see if you needed anything. You can use the rest rooms, unfortunately noshowers. Must cook outside. Was happy to comply with this request. The town is small, but they have some basic amenitieswithin walking distance. There are acouple of local restaurants, bars, ice cream shop, an old fashion generalstore, and a convenience store that serves good deli sandwiches. There was an outfitter, but it is no longerin business. The Post Office is right onthe trail and the regional transit service (bus) stops there too. Great big two thumbs up!
An update on St Mary's Church in a Cheshire Mass: The church no longer allows hikers in the church hall overnight, only until 8pm for bathroom access, charging cell phones, etc. Hikers may tent on the grounds.
Not sure if anything in particular has caused this policy change, the church has been undergoing a change in staff over the past year or so.
Cosmo
Father Tom Begley (the priest who first opened St Mary's to hikers) has passed away. Here is his Obit:
https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/berkshire/obituary.aspx?n=thomas-b-begley&pid=190898877&fhid=4866
As you can see, Father Tom had a significant connection to the Trail for many years. While he was not as active in the past few years, he always managed to attend our annual gathering of AT volunteers.
Cosmo
An update on St Mary's Church in a Cheshire Mass: The church no longer allows hikers in the church hall overnight, only until 8pm for bathroom access, charging cell phones, etc. Hikers may tent on the grounds.
Not sure if anything in particular has caused this policy change, the church has been undergoing a change in staff over the past year or so.
Cosmo
I am grateful for the opportunity to stay at in the church when I went through in 2017, especially since it was raining and had been raining for a couple days.
RIP Father Tom.
Your contribution to the hiking community was awesome.