When we heard that Monson was another Massachusetts manufacturing town where most of the industry left 30 years ago, we expected to find all of the hallmarks of an old factory town…abandoned brick buildings, a desolated downtown, residents out of jobs, and so on. But our recent outing to this Hampden County town proved us wrong.

Bordered by Palmer on the the north, Brimfield and Wales on the east, Wilbraham and Hampden on the west, and Stafford, Connecticut, on the south, Monson is nestled in the Chicopee River Valley between steep hills. This geography played a big part in the town's founding. Early settlers found access to the Brimfield town center so difficult that they petitioned the court for permission to establish a new town. Permission was granted and Monson was incorporated in 1760.

Because waterpower was abundant, small mills sprouted up throughout the 48-square mile town where they flourished for more than 100 years. Some of the more prominent ventures were a hat factory, several woolen and cotton mills and the Flynt Granite Company. Now with a population of over 7,500, Monson's largest employers are plastics companies and the Monson Developmental Center, a 700-acre facility that houses severely handicapped residents. Easy access to the Pike and convenient to Route 84 to the south, the town is also a perfect location for those with jobs in Springfield, Worcester or Hartford.

Walking along the downtown streets, passing the granite buildings (evidence of its granite-quarrying past) and the well-kept shops, Monson seems like an idyllic small New England town. We investigated several stores, including Woodbine's Country Store (a small town convenience store), Jillson's Opticians and Nature's Pantry (the area's only natural foods store). We also poked into a couple of the town's eating establishments, the Norcross House Café and the Captain's Inn. The later of these is the former Horatio Lyon House built in 1859. Inside, it has the impressive mahogany woodwork of an age gone by and a menu that reflects today's eclectic tastes.

But all this menu perusing was making us hungry and as we weren't dressed for an elegant dinner, we headed straight for Hoagie Heaven, a sub and pizza shop on Main Street. Two things struck me right off — the sign on the door proclaiming the home of the best cheese steak in the area, and the note that while they try to keep regular hours, they can only stay open as long as their supply of fresh ingredients allow. What with all the fanfare, I had to try the cheese steak, and it was a winner. Tasty, juicy, all the things you want a cheese steak to be. Of course, if your tastes don't run to meat and cheese meals, Hoagie Heaven has subs, pizzas, wraps and soups to please the most discriminating tastes. The owner, a longtime Monson resident who left his Springfield manufacturing job some years back to start the place, plans to expand in the next several months, knocking out the wall and taking over the space next door. This is a business that isn't suffering. In fact, they go through 15 dozen sub rolls a day! And you know the place is popular when you see the constant stream of local contractors who come in for the lunchtime fare.

Properly fortified, we took to the car and drove up to take a look at the Keep Homestead Museum. The home of Myra Keep Moulton, the last of a long line of Keeps in Monson, the property was willed to the town upon her death in 1988 with the stipulation that it be opened to the public on one day a year (the first Sunday of the month from April to December). Mrs. Moulton was an avid collector, with one of the largest button collections in the United States (hey, there's a collector for everything). She also cared deeply about nature, so a nature trail winds through the 75 acre property, passing a small granite quarry, stands of mixed hardwood and coniferous trees and other woodland plants. Quite a lovely setting.

So Monson indeed has its charms. Not the wealthiest town in the Valley, but not the poorest either, it's a town where the kids can ride their bicycles down Main Street, the local business are hanging in there and life is generally good. If you ever find yourself near the Palmer Exit on the Pike, take some time to investigate Monson. Visit the Keep Homestead. Make friends with Buster, the library cat, at the Monson Free Library. Have a sandwich at Hoagie Heaven. It might just make your day.

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