Friday, June 21, 2013

The Southwick Jog



If you look at maps of Massachusetts and Connecticut, you will see an odd notch west of Springfield, Massachusetts, where Massachusetts dips into Connecticut for a few miles.  The two states argued about the border between them for a hundred years and in 1802 they finally reached a compromise that gave the "Southwick jog" to Massachusetts.

I can see why Massachusetts wanted this bit of Southwick so much.


11 comments:

Kate said...

Was it important for voting?

Malyss said...

Humans always like to put fences and then to find a reason to fight for them. No matter the reason is .

Taken For Granted said...

Ironic that the states argued about this land for a century, and now no one wants to live there. The addition to the barn is all that's left, and the real estate sign is hidden behind a bush. Interesting.

Unknown said...

Nothing that has to do with politics makes any sense -- then and now!! Hope you've had a great trip, Jack!

RedPat said...

People are funny - will fight over the oddest things!

jennyfreckles said...

Boundaries often don't make much sense unless you know a lot of history. There must have been some reason this little patch was desirable.

William Kendall said...

Curious now about what would have driven the argument in the first place...

Bob Crowe said...

Connecticut hillbillies?

Randy said...

Oh the fights over a few miles.

John "By Stargoose And Hanglands" said...

Doesn't surprise me at all. Have you seen the wasteland they're willing to die for in Afghanistan?

Stefan Jansson said...

Ha ha, sure looks like an important piece of property.