Outdoor recreation and a small-town feel define Charlestown
Stretching along the eastern banks of the Connecticut River, Charlestown appeals to the outdoorsy, who love to fish, boat and canoe. The Sullivan County town of around 4,800 people is mostly dense forest with several small villages close to the river. “I went to primary school in Charlestown,” says Ross Doody, a Realtor with Century 21 Highview Realty who lived in the enclave for nearly 30 years. “Charlestown is a very small community. It’s tight-knit. You feel like you’re in the middle of nowhere, but fear not, you’re 15 minutes from the biggest city in the county.” Doody is referring to Claremont, where many people commute for work at manufacturers, Valley Regional Hospital and River Valley Community College.
In addition to its historic riverside fort, which is tied to the community’s 18th-century beginnings, Charlestown is known for being the hometown of Baseball Hall of Famer Carlton E. “Pudge” Fisk. Fisk played for the Boston Red Sox and the Chicago White Sox, notably hitting the game-winning home run during the 1975 World Series. A historical marker in front of Charlestown Middle School honors his decorated career.
Single-family homes in a range of architectural styles
With properties built as early as the 19th century, Charlestown offers a variety of home styles, including Victorian farmhouses, Cape Cods and classic New Englander two-story homes with steeply pitched roofs. There are also shingle-sided cottages, log cabins, midcentury ranch-style homes and historic Georgians. Properties either rest on short blocks near the town center or along winding rural roads that slice through the community’s heavily wooded landscape. The median price for a single-family home is around $350,000, well below the national median. Prices range from around $230,000 to $470,000. There are also manufactured homes that cost between $35,000 and $270,000. According to flood maps from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, some properties close to the Connecticut River rest within or next to flood hazard areas.
Year-round recreation includes fishing in the Connecticut River
Spending time outside is part of the lifestyle in Charlestown. The Charlestown Picnic Area and Boat Launch provides access to the Connecticut River for boating, fishing and paddling around in a canoe or kayak. The community has a few public parks, including Patch Park, which offers a playground and several baseball fields. Hiking through the trees at Hubbard Hill State Forest and hunting in the Spaulding Wildlife Management Area are also popular pastimes. Residents can drive to Claremont for more outdoor fun, from skiing and snowboarding at Arrowhead Recreation Area to a round of golf at Claremont Country Club, which offers a 9-hole course that’s open to the public.
Shopping and dining on Main Street
As Main Street enters the village of Charlestown, the two-lane road suddenly widens with rows of angled parking spaces welcoming shoppers who’ve likely driven several miles to reach the center of town. Along this walkable stretch sit Victorian-era churches, government offices, the local library and mom-and-pop shops. Boutiques include Cobb Co. Arena Games, where gamers can pick up supplies and the latest trading cards, and Heart & Soul Music, which draws in gearheads, classically trained musicians and hobbyists. Charlestown House of Pizza serves Italian cuisine, while pub fare is on the menu at The Sumner House Restaurant. Ralph’s Supermarket is the stop for groceries. National retailers line Washington Street in Claremont, less than 15 miles from the village of Charlestown. Springfield Hospital is the closest full-service hospital, around 7 miles away.
C-plus-rated public schools serve Charlestown
Fall Mountain Regional School District, also known as School Administrative Unit 60, earns a C-plus overall rating from Niche. The district has eight schools, including Charlestown Primary, Charlestown Middle and Fall Mountain Regional High. All three schools receive C-plus ratings. The high school partners with the Fall Mountain Career and Technology Education Center to offer career-focused programs in fields such as animal science, digital design and horticulture.
Honoring history at the Fort at No. 4 Open-Air Museum
Charlestown began as a small settlement along the Connecticut River in 1740. Today, residents and tourists can step back in time to see what life was like back then at the Fort at No. 4 Open-Air Museum. The museum, which is a recreation of the military installation that once stood there, puts on reenactments and special events, such as Homestead Days at The Fort in October. The historic landmark is often used for field trips during the school year. “All the schools go there and learn about the settlers,” Doody says. “They have an active blacksmith, people churning butter and shearing sheep.”
Driving is the main way to get around Charlestown
Charlestown is mostly car-dependent. State Route 12A is the main road through town, connecting the community to Claremont to the north and Walpole to the south. Commuters can use the Cheshire Bridge to cross the Connecticut River and get on Interstate 91. Sullivan County Transportation offers bus service around town and to Claremont. Lebanon Airport offers daily flights to Boston and White Plains, New York, via Cape Air. More diverse flight options are available at Manchester-Boston Regional Airport, around 80 miles away.
