Catamount is a former village of

Colrain, Massachusetts Colrain is a town in Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 1,606 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Springfield metropolitan area, Massachusetts. History Colrain was first settled in 1735 as "Boston Township No. ...

. In 1812, the schoolhouse that once stood in Catamount was the first schoolhouse to fly the

United States Flag The national flag of the United States, often referred to as the American flag or the U.S. flag, consists of thirteen horizontal Bar (heraldry), stripes, Variation of the field, alternating red and white, with a blue rectangle in the Canton ( ...

. From the mid 18th century until the late 19th century, Catamount was mainly a farming community. Nearby Pocumtuck Mountain was often a popular destination for people around the state. In 1880, the Old Home Days festival on Pocumtuck Mountain was visited by Massachusetts Governor John Davis Long. Due in part to the remote, mountainous location, Catamount was abandoned in the early 20th century. Much of the land was acquired by the

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Massachusetts ( ; ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Maine to its east, Connecticut and Rhode ...

in 1967, leading to the creation of the Catamount State Forest. Catamount is currently accessible to hikers and snowmobilers. McLeod Pond is a popular destination for local fishers and canoers. Catamount State Forest is managed by the

Mohawk Trail State Forest Mohawk Trail State Forest is a publicly owned state forest in the U.S. state of Massachusetts with recreational features located in the towns of Charlemont, Hawley, and Savoy. It covers more than of mountain ridges, gorges, and old-growth fore ...

References

*Davenport, Elmer. ''Puzzle of Catamount Hill'', 1969.

External links

Catamount State Forest – FranklinSites.com
{{authority control History of Franklin County, Massachusetts Former populated places in Massachusetts Villages in Franklin County, Massachusetts Villages in Massachusetts