Northampton and Beyond Scene

Posted on August 6, 2025


We didn’t just stay in Northampton during our visit to Western Massachusetts. We ventured out to Easthampton, which like the name suggests, is close to Northampton.

Easthampton was first settled by European immigrants beginning in 1664 as the village of Pascommuck and was originally part of Northampton. On 24 May 1704 during Queen Anne’s War, a party of 72 Native Americans attacked the village, killing 19 of 38 residents.

Easthampton is the home of the famous Easthampton Diner, Mr. Ken’s new favorite diner. 🙂 It is also home to a crystal store. Of course, I cannot pass up a crystal store. There was an ice cream parlor next to the crystal store, so I bribed Mr. Ken to go get ice cream so I could peruse crystals at my leisure. He doesn’t quite get my obsession with crystals. He calls them pet rocks.

Here is my take from the Crystal store. For your reference the crystals, from left to right, are:

  • Dalmation Jasper – for joy and playfulness
  • Petrified Wood – for cleansing and energizing
  • Raw Red Jasper – for inner strength and courage
  • Raw Rhodochrosite – for love and compassion.
NOHO9 Easthampton Crystal Store
NOHO9 Easthampton Crystal Store

We also took a drive to South Hadley. Mr. Ken is a music lover and used to play the trumpet. We stopped at Gerry’s Music Shop and Mr. Ken was in 7th heaven. (Kind of like me in a crystal store.)

NOHO9 Gerry's Music Store
NOHO9 Gerry’s Music Store

Of course we had to make a stop at my alma mater, Mount Holyoke College. Here I am in front of Williston Library, one of my favorite buildings at Mount Holyoke. I was a total nerd in college and spent most of free time here. I even had my own study carrel.

NOHO9 Mount Holyoke College Williston Library
NOHO9 Mount Holyoke College Williston Library

Where have your road trips taken you?