Who knew there was an old ghost town in the middle of Milford and Hollis New Hampshire? We sure didn’t until Bill’s sister told us about it! What a cool place! And secluded. It took a bit for us to find the location. Trip Advisor had us on the right road (483 Federal Hill Road) but not at the actual destination. Luckily, there are still some helpful pedestrians around and a gentleman on his lawn mower volunteered directions to us. We never would have found it otherwise. It’s where the tar ends and the dirt begins on Federal Hill Road.
Honestly, you would have no idea this place exists. There are no signs and the old road has a chain across it. The only indication we were in the right place was the dirt parking area. We cut in around the chain and walked down a hill on dirt road. About a 1/4 mile in, the woods opened up to Monson Village. I can see why in 1737, settler’s landed here. Beautiful.
Monson, New Hampshire was one of New Hampshire’s first European inland settlements. Due to disagreement on where to put their meeting house and much of the area being barren, the village dissolved in 1770. In the beginning Monson Village covered over 17,000 acres. Today, what remains is 269 acres of trails, fields, cellar holes. One lone building stands in the center of town.
If you are in the Hollis or Milford New Hampshire and looking for things to do, put this on your list! It’s a great easy hike for all members in your family. We’ve been there a couple times now and it’s never overpopulated, always beautiful and the house has been open each time. There is no admission cost for the house or the trails. And as I mentioned above, it’s the perfect spot for a picnic!
Check out some of our other favorite spots to picnic.
