As I travel around the 35 towns that comprise The Last Green Valley National Heritage Corridor and speak to community groups about our region, I sometimes am surprised when I learn that Massachusetts folks from Oxford or Southbridge have never been to Lebanon or Norwich or that folks from Norwich or Lebanon have never been to Oxford or Southbridge.I guess sometimes we are so busy working, raising families and just plain living that we forget to explore the region and local communities where we live.

Yet there is one town that, when I mention it, everyone says they have visited – Sturbridge!

I have to admit I am very biased when it comes to Sturbridge. I moved to this region in 1978 to work at Old Sturbridge Village and spent 28 memorable years there as an employee. I know the town very well even though I have never lived in it.

For the past 35 years, I have lived in northeast Connecticut and for many of those years my compass would usually turn north toward Sturbridge for work, shopping and dining.

If there is a town that oozes history and things to do, it is Sturbridge, and not just because of Old Sturbridge Village.

The town is located at the crossroads of interstates 84 and 90 and routes 20 and 131, and its proximity to these major roadways makes it truly the gateway to central and southern New England.

Even in earlier times, the area was a crossroads as Native American paths that would later be known as the Connecticut Path and the Providence/Oxford Path came together in Sturbridge to become part of the Bay Path, running west from Boston.

Today, Sturbridge has several hotels and historic inns, interesting antique and boutique shops, award-winning restaurants, excellent hiking trails, beautiful parks and more.

The name Sturbridge comes from Stourbridge (Bridge over the River Stour), a town in England’s West Midlands. Originally called Tantiusques by members of the local Nipmuc tribe, the word means “the place between two hills.” The town was also known as Dummer and New Medfield before assuming its present name when it was incorporated on June 24, 1738.

Settled as an agricultural community, Sturbridge became a manufacturing town in the 1700s when the Quinebaug River was harnessed to provide waterpower for gristmills, sawmills, hammermills and eventually cotton and woolen textile mills.

The Quinebaug River begins as a brook flowing from a swamp and Leadmine Pond on the south side of town into Mashapaug Pond in Union. The river then flows north to Holland and Brimfield, Mass., before curling back into Sturbridge and then southward down to Norwich.

Sturbridge is also known for the discovery of graphite in 1633 and, subsequently, the first mining operation in New England.

The graphite was originally used by the Nipmuc tribe for making ceremonial paints. In 1644 the land was purchased by John Winthrop the Younger.

Traces of the original graphite mine operation can now be found on 54 acres of preserved land that is owned by The Trustees of Reservations and is a wonderful location for hiking.

For several decades, one of the major industries in Sturbridge has been tourism. The establishment in 1946 and subsequent growth and expansion of Old Sturbridge Village as the largest living history museum in New England has brought millions of people to Sturbridge to learn about early 19^th century New England life.

Old Sturbridge Village can be enjoyed any time of year but this month is very special with the Christmas by Candlelight program.

Providing a wonderful escape from the craziness of the holiday season, the historic village is enchanting when lit by candlelight. Visitors learn history while enjoying gingerbread, roasted chestnuts, music, dance, sleigh rides and a meeting with Santa Claus.

The program started last weekend and continues through Dec. 23. For more information, visit osv.org/event/christmas-by-candlelight.

In addition to the historically-recreated Town Common at Old Sturbridge Village, the real Sturbridge Town Common is a scenic, quintessential New England Town Common.

The Publick House Historic Inn is on one end of the common and has been a popular destination for dining and lodging since it was first opened by Ebenezer Crafts in 1771.

Sturbridge Common was originally a six-acre plot of common land that was used as a Revolutionary War training ground.

Each year on the last Saturday in June, a reenactment of the Sturbridge militia leaving for Boston in 1776 takes place on the Common.

Surrounding the Common are the Old Burying Ground (1740-1894) where the earliest settlers are interred, the 1855 Center School, 1838 Town Hall, 1897 Joshua Hyde Library, 1910 Federated Church and residences dating from the early 1800s.

A bandstand built by volunteers in 1995 is used for summer concerts as well as for weddings, prom pictures and a live nativity pageant, while the Common itself is the site of an annual October Harvest Festival, scarecrow contest and various other events.

Over the past several years, Sturbridge has become known as a wonderful destination for those seeking the great outdoors and hiking. Several excellent hiking trails are available to the public that are maintained by a dedicated group of volunteers with the Sturbridge Trails Committee.

The trails committee builds and manages trails and maintains a website to provide residents and visitors with important information including maps, access points and events. Visit sturbridgetrails.org for more information.

If you’re looking for a day or weekend of exploring here in The Last Green Valley, then consider Sturbridge. It has it all, from lodging, dining and shopping to museums and hiking, and is the perfect opportunity to create family memories.

Each and every one of the 35 towns that comprise The Last Green Valley National Heritage Corridor has its special attributes, qualities and opportunities for exploring and learning. I hope you’ll join me in taking the time to visit each of them and come to appreciate all we have here in The Last Green Valley.

Bill Reid is chief ranger of The Last Green Valley National Heritage Corridor and has lived in the region for more than 30 years. He can be reached at bill@tlgv.org.

The Norwich Bulletin is granted first serial rights and associated electronic rights to publish the preceding article. The Last Green Valley, Inc. retains all other rights to the work.