A historic mill town east of Pittsfield
In the 1700s, Dalton was settled as a mill town in the rolling Berkshire Hills of western Massachusetts. More than 200 years later, residents now have indoor plumbing and electricity, but the town atmosphere is largely the same. “We’re a very close-knit and family-oriented community, basically a suburb of Pittsfield. But the unique thing about Dalton is its stability,” says John Boyle, a member of Dalton’s Select Board. The community’s steadiness is partially due to the fact that it’s had the same main employer since 1801: Crane Currency, a paper mill and bank note manufacturer. The consistency also comes from Dalton’s classic New England architecture and lack of chain retailers/restaurants. “There are literally no fast-food chains, no big box stores. Folks are very traditional, and voters are very conscientious about keeping the town’s traditional values,” Boyle says.
Classic New England single-family homes
Though the town is almost 22 square miles, homes are clustered in the middle, most within a 2-mile radius of Main Street. Old farmhouses, classic Colonials and Cape Cods are common. So are split-levels and ranch-style homes. Prices range anywhere from $150,000 to $875,000, but the median is about $190,000, lower than the state median.
In-town indoor/outdoor recreation, hiking in the Berkshires
Pine Grove Park and Chamberlain Park have playgrounds and baseball fields. The W. Murray Crane Community House, on Main Street, serves Dalton and surrounding towns as the Central Berkshire Community Center with an indoor pool and fitness center. Dalton’s Youth Center, nearby, hosts youth sports and after-school programs. “There’s lots of recreation for the youngsters. And the oldsters, as well. The Council on Aging is very active, with events and crafting activities and things,” Boyle says. Wahconah Country Club’s 18-hole golf course has panoramic views of the Berkshire Hills. Hiking trails are available in Wahconah Falls State Park. The Appalachian Trail runs through the middle of town, too, connecting north to Cheshire and beyond to Mount Greylock.
May Day Races, Dalton Day and Light Up the Holidays
The Community Recreation Association hosts an annual fundraiser called the May Day Races. “It’s like the town marathon, there’s a 5K race and a 10K race, and a few walking and strolling races,” Boyle says. For kids, there’s the half-mile Obstacles & Popsicles Race and the 1-mile Splatter Sprint. In July, the Cultural Council hosts the annual Dalton Day celebration, with local vendors, food booths, live music and kids’ activities, like clowns and fire truck tours. “And the first Saturday night in December is a big outdoor festival called Light Up the Holidays. Volunteers place candles along Main Street, and there’s a small parade with Santa Claus and a fire truck. People come out and walk the streets, and merchants do festive food. It’s quite a fun event,” Boyle says.
Central Berkshire Regional School District serves Dalton
The Central Berkshire Regional School District gets a B grade from Niche. The district serves just over 1,500 students across three elementary schools, one middle and one high school, with an average student-teacher ratio of 13 to 1. School choice is available. B-rated Wahconah Regional High has been around since the 1960s, but its current building opened in 2021. The $72 million campus features a bright, airy common area, an auditorium big enough for the entire student body and pod-style classrooms. St. Agnes Academy is an unrated, private Catholic elementary through middle school in Dalton.
Dining in Dalton, shopping in Pittsfield
“We directly join Pittsfield, and their major shopping areas are right on our border, so it’s less than a minute from the center of Dalton to the commercial district of Pittsfield sometimes,” Boyle says. The bordering commercial corridor has big box retailers like Walmart, Tractor Supply and Stop & Shop, along with chain restaurants like Ninety-Nine and Applebee’s. Locally owned spots, like Otto’s Kitchen & Comfort and Patrick’s Pub, are in downtown Pittsfield. The vintage storefronts on Dalton’s Main Street are filled with small businesses and locally owned restaurants. Dewey’s Public House is a popular pub-style spot; portaVia is a family-owned Italian eatery; Dalton Restaurant is a classic diner.
Quick commuting to Crane Currency and employers in Pittsfield
The Crane Currency campus, on the Housatonic River, is within a couple miles of most homes. Other major employers, like Berkshire Medical Center and General Dynamics, are in Pittsfield, about 5 miles away. Massachusetts Route 8 runs north toward Vermont and south toward Connecticut. International airports in Albany, New York and Windsor Locks, Connecticut, are within about 55 miles of Dalton.
