About Monson Center
Stone walls and cellar holes are all that remain of Monson, a colonial settlement that lasted from 1737 to 1770. Its short life left a puzzle: why did the community disappear? The protected site now lies between Hollis and Milford, where old roads have become walking trails rather than town streets.
A three-mile trail network passes seven former home sites, with markers introducing some of the people who lived here. You can see foundations in the woods, a restored Gould House, open fields, and a beaver wetland that has claimed its own place in the story. It is often called a ghost town, but there is no need to invent a haunting. The genuine mystery of an abandoned early settlement is enough. Park at the small Adams Road access off Federal Hill Road, follow the established routes, and leave the archaeological remains undisturbed. Winter access and parking can change with conditions.