When I first moved to the Pioneer Valley five years ago, I lived in Williamsburg. Shortly after settling into my new apartment, I went to the library and checked out a book on local history. It was the first time I heard of the Mill River flood caused by the catastrophic failure of the Williamsburg Reservoir Dam on May 16, 1874.
Now, thanks to Williamsburg Woodland Trails, as of June 2018, you can hike to the location of this dam and learn about its history and what caused it to fail. Its well worth the drive to check out this hidden gem of local history and beautiful nature! Please note that some of the trail is steep and rocky and the trail will be closed for winter.
Trail information: http://www.williamsburgwoodlandtrails.org/historic-dam.html