After leaving Ware, Laetitia and her group drove north around Quabbin Reservoir. It’s a man-made lake created in the 1930s by damming the Swift River. The project required that four towns and 6,000 graves be relocated. With 39 square miles of water surface, it’s the largest inland body of water in Massachusetts. Because it’s a reservoir, public access is limited. Vehicles are not allowed, but since Laetitia’s group was on foot, they were given permission to go on an extended hike. Given that the area does not receive heavy tourist traffic, they saw abundant wildlife, including Bald Eagles.

Belchertown, their destination for the evening, was settled in 1731. Previously it was called Belcher’s Town or Cold Spring. Though one might be inclined to think that the town’s name had something to do with releasing gas through the esophagus and mouth, it was more likely named after residents whose surname was Belcher. As is commonplace in English surnames after the Norman Conquest in 1066, this name is derived from Old French. It was likely Bel Cher, (Good Cheer) or Bel Sur (Good Sir).

The limerick of the day was derived from a joke overheard by Laetitia when she went to happy hour after dropping her guests at their hotel.

Old Oliver came to despair
‘Bout his habit of swallowing air
‘Til a Doc of renown
Said, “Try Belchertown
For you’ll have lots of company there.”