Whenever we tell someone we live in Gill, their immediate question is "Where's that?" Well, for starters, it's in Franklin County, neighbored on the north by Northfield and Bernardston, on the west by Greenfield, on the south by Turners Falls and on the east by Erving. Incorporated in 1793, Gill was originally part of Deerfield and was included in the portion set off from Deerfield as the district of Greenfield in 1753, which became a township that same year. It was named for Moses Gill, a member of the Massachusetts' Executive Council who became lieutenant governor in 1794 and acting Governor in 1799 when Governor Sumner died. When Gill himself died in 1800, he left the state without a governor or lieutenant governor for the first and only time in its history.

Just 15 square miles with a population of somewhere around 1700 (the town is disputing the latest census, so it's hard to pinpoint exactly), Gill is a peaceful country town. Geographically, its southern and western borders are defined by the Connecticut River. In fact, river access is one of its biggest draws. Gill is home to the Barton Cove boat ramp, where camping and boating facilities are available as well as an opportunity to view a pair of American Bald Eagles who have been nesting on an island off shore for the past five years. The Quinnetucket II riverboat offers historical tours and sunset cruises along its shores as it passes through one of Franklin County's most well-known landmarks, the French King Bridge, half of which "belongs" to Gill (the other half is Erving's).

For many years, Gill benefited from river traffic. In 1881, the "Grass Hill" section became home to noted evangelist Dwight L. Moody, who established his Mount Hermon School. Twenty years ago, the school merged with the Northfield School for girls to become Northfield Mount Hermon. Gill's other businesses include small businesses like ours (marketing and web design), horse farms, dairy farms like Justadream (part of the Our Family Farms milk cooperative), fruit and vegetable farms like Upinngil (which features yummy organic strawberries) a 200-acre tree nursery, a golf course (Oak Ridge, one of the county's largest public courses), and an emu farm. Yes, just down the road from Barton Cove (right next to the town boat ramp) you'll find Songline Bird Farm. Songline raises emu for their meat (it's really tasty, like extremely lean beef), oil (known for its healing properties, feathers and eggs. They also sell breeding stock. If you've never seen these amazing creatures (who are native to the Australian outback), stop by the farm or visit www.allaboutemu.com to learn more.

Another interesting fact about Gill is that it's the former home of the Renaissance commune. Though the commune days are gone (ah, the Sixties, I remember them well!), the Renaissance center still exists as a place for meditation retreats. And one resident, Dan Botkin, is setting up a farm community, Laughing Dog Farm, on the site, where he plans to raise herbs, vegetables and dairy goats and teach workshops on health and agriculture.

But no trip to Gill would be complete without a trip to the Gill Center. One of those "don't blink or you'll miss it" places, the town center features a small town hall, a 200-year old church, a library and an 1803 country store where you can still have your sale rung up on a cash register with no computerized parts.

As we drive out our driveway past the cows, chicken and sheep on the neighboring farms, we're happy there are towns like Gill still left in this world. Places where people know your name. Folks who help you out if you're in trouble. Beautiful pastoral fields. Dreamlike misty mornings and spring evenings when the peepers sing. It's these things that keep us sane and grounded in what really matters. Go ahead, call us Gillbillies. That's just the way we like it.

Official Website for the Town of Gill, Massachusetts

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