Wednesday, July 15, 2020

Food Options North of the Hoosic River: Then and Now

In May 2019, I led two walking tours of former food locations in conjunction with the North Adams, MA, O+ (O positive) festival and Jane's Walk North Adams.  Since then, I've done additional research, all of which is included in an art exhibit.  The exhibit was prepared in conjunction with the River Street Art Project, Jane's Walk North Adams, and the 125th anniversary of the City of North Adams.

I am interested in both geography and history.  In geography there is the concept of the permeable barrier -- a physical barrier that can easily be crossed, but still serves to prevent crossing.  In North Adams, examples of permeable barriers are Route 2 (the Mohawk Trail), the railroad tracks, and the Hoosic River.  We tend to stay on our own side of these barriers unless there is a particular need to cross them.  Thinking about the Hoosic River as a permeable barrier led me to focus on food options north of the north branch of the Hoosic River.

The exhibit (further information is available HERE) provides a glimpse into the changing landscape of food provision, both in North Adams and in the nation as a whole.  Many years ago we walked to different stores for meat, baked goods, and vegetables, typically buying one or two days' food at a time.  Over the years this type of shopping excursion evolved to the supermarket of today, where all the shopping can be done within a single location, and food may be purchased for a week or more at a time.

A hand-drawn map, shown below, identifies 61 unique locations where food was once or is currently available.  Companion videos and printed materials are available on-line at the above link to the River Street Art Project.


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