Selectman John Field, left, accepts the Knox Trail plaque for the Town. Ron Bernard of the Sandisfield Historical Commission holds the Governor's Citation. Photo: Jean Atwater-Williams.

A colorful re-enactment of Col. Henry Knox's epic "Noble Train of Artillery" proceeded through the snowy streets of South County towns, Alford, Egremont, and Great Barrington on Saturday, January 10. The march concluding in front of the Town Hall and across from the Mahaiwe Theater where ceremonies followed.

Exactly fifty years ago a similar re-enactment continued over State Route 23 through even snowier Monterey and Otis. The route that year bypassed Sandisfield, and for a good reason. The Sandisfield section of the original 300-mile route, then as now, is impassable except by foot or horse. In many places, then as now, you'd have to get off and lead the horse.

Knox's amazing feat of endurance and resolve involved hauling some sixty tons of captured British artillery from Fort Ticonderoga, New York, for 56 mid-winter days to deliver them to General Washington who had the city of Boston under siege. With the cannons, Washington forced the British to abandon Boston, altering the beginning if not the course of the War.

The Knox contingent passed through Sandisfield on January12-13, 1776. To visit this trail in the deep "Greenwoods" and walk in the footsteps of the Knox teamsters (as well as earlier military expeditions), is a moving experience. Think of our trail as American history sacred ground, a window into 1775-76 when much of the route through the Berkshires appeared as the Sandisfield section is today.

The section in Sandisfield is about five miles long. Secluded and unmarked, until now it has been a virtual 'secret,' even from historians. That, together with protection of the Otis State Forest, has spared it of development of any kind. The Sandisfield trail is the longest undeveloped section of the colonial-era road from Boston to Albany known by more than two dozen colloquial names including "Ye Trodden Path" and "The Great Road."

Thanks to two years of planning by expert committees under the banners, "Massachusetts 250" and in the Berkshires, "Knox Trail 250," Sandisfield has finally joined the chain of towns that proudly claim connection to one of the most critical yet largely overlooked events of the Revolution.

The 680-seat Mahaiwe Theater was nearly at capacity and buzzing with excitement by reserved seat-only visitors before dignitaries and event planners from New York and Massachusetts took turns honoring Knox and the brave Patriot-teamsters who risked injury to themselves and their animals and equipment in the brutal winter expedition.

Handsome wall plaques and Governor's Citations were accepted by representatives from Alford, Egremont, Great Barrington, Monterey, Sandisfield, Otis, Blandford, and Russell. Each spoke briefly about their town's special connection to the Trail and the significance of these ceremonies and their plans to commemorate the 250th.

Over the years, as more and better information was gained about the actual route taken by the Knox caravan, markers or sign posts were installed or relocated. In recent times, 57 prominent markers were placed at historic sites along the trail.

Sandisfield does not have a marker but that is going to change because the State has promised to see that Sandisfield finally has a monument. The marker is proposed to be installed at the 'nose' between the two Spectacle Ponds, near the site of the legendary Henry Spring Tavern which hosted the teamsters.

The hope is that one day the Sandisfield section will be improved for both hiking and educational purposes by the Mass. Department of Conservation and Recreation. Moreover, it is not out of the question that our trail could be considered for recognition by the U. S. Park Service/National Register of Historic Places. It is, after all, a national treasure. The events of this month and increased public awareness and commitments from the State about a marker will do much to raise awareness and outside interest. Until then, hikes are conducted periodically by trail expert and cartographer, Tom Ragusa of Otis, and the Hilltown Hikers club. For information, go to westernmasshilltownhikers.com.