The Shakers settled in Enfield in hopes of creating Utopia. Today, some would say this small town is close to perfect. Enfield is a place you can really slow down and enjoy life.
But don’t mistake Enfield for a sleepy town that’s behind the times. As one of the communities Hub66 services, the businesses, schools, and residents are as digitally connected here as they are in Boston. Enfield offers a taste of the simple life, but it’s also got high-speed fiber internet to keep folks connected when they need to be.
History of Enfield
Situated in Grafton County around the Mascoma River, Mascoma Lake, and Crystal Lake, Enfield is a picturesque New England town rich in history. Founded in 1761, the town was once known as a farming community that also manufactured brooms, brushes, spinning wheels, and furniture.
During the late 1700s, the Shakers started a village in Enfield with the dream of creating a utopia. This religious sect grew in popularity as men and women lived together but separate celibate lives. The Shakers valued piety, simplicity, and industry, and were known for their fine craftsmanship, including the well-known Shaker furniture.
The Enfield Shaker Village was a large part of the town for decades and included what was for a time the largest residential building outside of Boston. Though the Shakers ceased living at the site in 1923, the building and its surrounding homes, plus a neoclassical chapel, are now the location of a wonderful Shaker Museum open seven days a week.
Visiting Enfield Today
We love Enfield because it’s a great mix of small-town charm, beautiful natural scenery and a connected business community.
Enfield offers plenty to do outdoors, whether it’s kayaking on one of the town’s lakes, fishing along the river or hiking through the Shakeer Mountain Range. One of the most popular year-round spots for getting outdoors in Enfield is the Northern Rail Trail, a 58-mile trail that runs along a now-defunct portion of a Boston and Maine rail line. It has a beautiful route through Enfield, taking cyclists and hikers along Mascoma Lake with views of the Shaker Mountains. Keep an eye out for the unique rock outcrop blasted by the railroad company.
Enfield also has a lovely, picturesque downtown with a number of stores and restaurants. If you love artsy shops, you can visit Mascoma Embroidery, or if you’re looking for gear for your next ride, head to Drummond Cycles. You’ll find artists and architects, bookstores and bed and breakfasts here within this small but active business community. The Enfield Village Association supports the local businesses, providing a business directory, resources and networking opportunities for the businesses in town.
You’ll also find some high-tech companies here, including Erigo, which specializes in batteries, lightweight metals and data streaming, and Leading Edge Design Group, which creates high-performing data centers and smart buildings. Small companies like this can be found across New England, but part of what helps Enfield keep businesses like this is the high-speed internet available in town.
To learn more about Hub66’s high-speed fiber internet service and the towns we serve, go to hub66.com/home-fiber-internet.