
Lost Massachusetts
By Garth Bruen
Here we rediscover the vanished and forgotten places in one of America's oldest states, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It could be a ghost town, it could be a former neighborhood reclaimed for industrial use. Sometimes we hike into the wilderness, sometimes the lost world is beneath a busy street. Maybe you live on top of a forgotten settlement? Walk along with us on the lost road. More at LOSTMASSACHUSETTS.COM

Lost MassachusettsJan 20, 2025
00:00
12:01

Zylonite, Mass. E91
Got Zylonite? You might. A mysterious space between two towns in Western Mass...Photos and contact: https://www.instagram.com/lostmassachusetts/ Sources, credits, blog, etc.: https://lostmassachusetts.com/a-lost-place
Apr 20, 202506:56

Vince Aut Morire E90
Vince Aut Morire - "Victory or Death", the battle cry of April 19 1775...
Apr 19, 202510:03

Listener Comments - End Season 3 E89
Your comments, postcards, etc...Photos and contact: https://www.instagram.com/lostmassachusetts/ Sources, credits, blog, etc.: https://lostmassachusetts.com/a-lost-place
Apr 04, 202517:23

Quiet Zone of Mass. (Season 4 Preview) E88
Preview of Season 4 in the Quiet Zone of Massachusetts, police interaction and podcast software failure... https://www.instagram.com/lostmassachusetts/ Sources, credits, blog, etc.: https://lostmassachusetts.com/a-lost-place
Apr 04, 202508:16

Maaswauseexay Wuwaana'kwthik E87
The Place of the Arranged Stones....Photos and contact: https://www.instagram.com/lostmassachusetts/ Sources, credits, blog, etc.: https://lostmassachusetts.com/a-lost-place
Apr 04, 202508:06

Mechanic Street, Quincy Mass. E86
Continued investigation into Mechanic Street. Today in historic Quincy...Photos and contact: https://www.instagram.com/lostmassachusetts/ Sources, credits, blog, etc.: https://lostmassachusetts.com/a-lost-place
Apr 03, 202507:16

Boston and Providence Depot E85
You call it Park Square, but before South Station opened this was the gateway to the city from all points south between Boston and Rhode Island...Photos and contact: https://www.instagram.com/lostmassachusetts/ Sources, credits, blog, etc.: https://lostmassachusetts.com/a-lost-place
Mar 25, 202507:03

Where the River Bends Back E84
What is Assabet? It's more than you'll ever know...Photos and contact: https://www.instagram.com/lostmassachusetts/ Sources, credits, blog, etc.: https://lostmassachusetts.com/a-lost-place
Mar 02, 202506:50

Mechanic Street, Worcester E83
Continuing saga of the mysteries of Mechanic St. This time in Worcester, Mass. Photos and contact: https://www.instagram.com/lostmassachusetts/ Sources, credits, blog, etc.: https://lostmassachusetts.com/a-lost-place
Jan 31, 202506:02

Five Mile Wood E82
Precious public park spanning several towns with a mysterious stone on a tiny island... Photos and contact: https://www.instagram.com/lostmassachusetts/ Sources, credits, blog, etc.: https://lostmassachusetts.com/a-lost-place
Jan 31, 202506:13

Beacon Street Dam E81
Long road from the State House to Lower Falls was once a narrow dam with water on both sides. Photos and contact: https://www.instagram.com/lostmassachusetts/ Sources, credits, blog, etc.: https://lostmassachusetts.com/a-lost-place
Jan 28, 202506:09

Part of Northampton E80
Part of Northampton? Not any more. Some of the Mysteries of Mount Tom... Photos and contact: https://www.instagram.com/lostmassachusetts/ Sources, credits, blog, etc.: https://lostmassachusetts.com/a-lost-place
Jan 28, 202508:34

Lost Drive-In E79
Lamenting the lost of our 80 or more Massachusetts Drive-In theaters but celebrating the three still open...Photos and contact: https://www.instagram.com/lostmassachusetts/ Sources, credits, blog, etc.: https://lostmassachusetts.com/a-lost-place
Jan 20, 202512:01

Mechanic Street Great Barrington E78
Mechanic Street Great Barrington. More investigations into the mysterious Mechanic Street (see Episode 41 for full context). Photos and contact: https://www.instagram.com/lostmassachusetts/ Sources, credits, blog, etc.: https://lostmassachusetts.com/a-lost-place
Jan 19, 202503:54

Chaipinville, Mass E77
Workers housing in Northborough, Mass. Photos and contact: https://www.instagram.com/lostmassachusetts/ Sources, credits, blog, etc.: https://lostmassachusetts.com/a-lost-place
Jan 19, 202504:59

Marconi Site E76
Marconi Site in Wellfleet Mass. Location of massive experimental tower array that is slipping into the ocean. Photos and contact: https://www.instagram.com/lostmassachusetts/ Sources, credits, blog, etc.:https://lostmassachusetts.com/a-lost-place
Jan 19, 202510:12

Mechanic Street - Tri-county Corner E75
Continued exploration of the Mechanic Street mystery (see Episode 41.), this time the looping Mechanic Street route in Bellingham, Holliston, Hopkington, Medway and Upton. Photos and contact: https://www.instagram.com/lostmassachusetts/
Sources, credits, blog, etc.: https://lostmassachusetts.com/a-lost-place/
Jan 18, 202513:51

State of Boston E74
Reading from the text Altered States by Michael Trinklein and a brief note on the Boston Police Strike of 1919... Show notes: https://lostmassachusetts.com/a-lost-place Photos and social: https://www.instagram.com/lostmassachusetts/
Jan 17, 202510:50

Wooden Nickels E73
People will tell you they are worthless, but in reality they can be used as admission to interesting history.... Show notes: https://lostmassachusetts.com/a-lost-place/f/wooden-nickels-e73 Photos and social: https://www.instagram.com/lostmassachusetts/
Oct 16, 202417:53

Ripton, Mass. - Paper Towns E72
Ripton only exists on paper, or in people's minds (or does it?) Show notes: https://lostmassachusetts.com/a-lost-place/f/ripton-mass-paper-towns-e72 Pictures and social: https://www.instagram.com/lostmassachusetts/
Oct 13, 202415:53

Trailer for Lucasian Legacy Podcast E71
This is an announcement for our second podcast: Lucasian Legacy - History of the Lucasian Chair at Cambridge University. See http://lucasianchair.org Social: https://www.instagram.com/lucasianlegacy/
Oct 11, 202402:35

ZOLTAN E70
This Lost Massachusetts Episode is about a secret identity... Show notes: https://lostmassachusetts.com/a-lost-place/f/zoltan-e71 Pictures and social: https://www.instagram.com/lostmassachusetts/
Oct 01, 202417:37

Comments and Notes E69
Postcards from listeners, emails, IG comments, online reviews and preview of upcoming shows... Show notes: https://lostmassachusetts.com/a-lost-place/f/comments-and-notes-e69 Photos and social: https://www.instagram.com/lostmassachusetts/
Sep 29, 202419:58

Elm Street E67
Revolutionary meaning behind the Elm Street in your town. Photos and contact: https://www.instagram.com/lostmassachusetts/
Sources, credits, blog, etc. https://lostmassachusetts.com/a-lost-place/f/elm-street-e67
Sep 18, 202408:16

Billingsgate Island E66
A lost town that reveals itself occasionally and disappears again. Photos and contact: https://www.instagram.com/lostmassachusetts/
Sources, credits, blog, etc. https://lostmassachusetts.com/a-lost-place/f/billingsgate-island-e66
Sep 15, 202419:34

Lost Fragment E62
A fragment of the True Cross can be found in East Boston.
Photos and contact: https://www.instagram.com/lostmassachusetts/
Sources, credits, blog, etc.: https://lostmassachusetts.com/a-lost-place/f/lost-fragment-e62
Sep 02, 202406:54

Abattoir E65
The Brighton Abattoir, a mass slaughterhouse between the Charles River and the Boston-Albany Railroad. Photos and contact: https://www.instagram.com/lostmassachusetts/
Sources, credits, blog, etc.: https://lostmassachusetts.com/a-lost-place/f/abattoir-e65
Sep 02, 202411:28

Mechanic Street, Marlborough E68
Continuing saga of the mysteries of Mechanic St. This time in beautiful Marlborough, Mass. Photos and contact: https://www.instagram.com/lostmassachusetts/
Sources, credits, blog, etc.: https://lostmassachusetts.com/a-lost-place
Sep 02, 202410:02

The Lost Cable, Part 1: Cable Hut E60
The French Cable Hut in Eastham Mass. and where it leads. Photos and contact: https://www.instagram.com/lostmassachusetts/
Sources, credits, blog, etc.: https://lostmassachusetts.com/a-lost-place/f/lost-cable-part-1-cable-hut-e60
Aug 03, 202412:27

Province of Massachusetts E64
Multiple colonies reorganized in 1691 by King William and Queen Mary after decades of turmoil in England and the various territories. Photos and contact: https://www.instagram.com/lostmassachusetts/
Sources, credits, blog, etc.: https://lostmassachusetts.com/a-lost-place/f/province-of-massachusetts-e64
Aug 03, 202408:15

Mechanic Street, Easthampton Mass. E61
Mechanic Street Easthampton, Mass. Photos and contact: https://www.instagram.com/lostmassachusetts/
Sources, credits, blog, etc.: https://lostmassachusetts.com/a-lost-place/f/mechanic-street-easthampton-e61
Aug 03, 202406:05

Matheson, Mass. E63
Fictional town of Matheson, Mass. from the show Locke & Key. Photos and contact: https://www.instagram.com/lostmassachusetts/
Sources, credits, blog, etc.: https://lostmassachusetts.com/a-lost-place/f/matheson-mass-e63
Aug 03, 202409:43

Listener Notes, End Season 2, Season 3 Preview E59
We respond to various listener comments, recap season 2 and preview Season 3... Photos and contact: https://www.instagram.com/lostmassachusetts/
Sources, credits, blog, etc.: https://lostmassachusetts.com/a-lost-place/f/end-season-2-begin-season-3-listener-comments-e59
Jun 15, 202424:09

Devens, Mass. E58
Fort Devens, is it a town now? What went on here for over 100 years? Why is so much of it restricted and abandoned? Many stories to tell? Photos and contact: https://www.instagram.com/lostmassachusetts/
Sources, credits, blog, etc.: https://lostmassachusetts.com/a-lost-place/f/devens-mass-e58
May 28, 202417:42

Mechanic Street Leominster E57
Mechanic Street, Leominster. Continued investigation of the mysterious Mechanic Street and where it leads... Photos and contact: https://www.instagram.com/lostmassachusetts/
Sources, credits, blog, etc.: https://lostmassachusetts.com/a-lost-place/f/mechanic-street-leominster-e57
May 21, 202409:04

Lost Ice Age E56
What made Massachusetts first millionares? Pond Ice. Photos and contact: https://www.instagram.com/lostmassachusetts/
Sources, credits, blog, etc.: https://lostmassachusetts.com/a-lost-place/f/lost-ice-age-e56
May 11, 202413:04

Dune Shacks E55
Dune shacks off Route 6 outside Provincetown. Solitary and sublime, A place to forget and be forgotten. The mind expands when it is bathed in light and then wrapped in darkness without the noise of the modern world. Photos and contact: https://www.instagram.com/lostmassachusetts/
Sources, credits, blog, etc.: https://lostmassachusetts.com/a-lost-place/f/dune-shacks-e55
May 05, 202423:01

Valley Acre E52
Valley Acre, aka Pemberton Square, aka Cotton Hill, aka Center Plaza, etc. Original English settlement on the foot of Beacon Hill. Photos and contact: https://www.instagram.com/lostmassachusetts/
Sources, credits, blog, etc.: https://lostmassachusetts.com/a-lost-place/f/valley-acre-e52
Apr 30, 202412:50

Apologies & Listener Comments E54
Apologies & Listener Comments. Where have we been? Explained. Where we are going? Explained. Thanks for listening and thanks for the ideas an encouragement. Photos and contact: https://www.instagram.com/lostmassachusetts/
Sources, credits, blog, etc.: https://lostmassachusetts.com/a-lost-place
Apr 29, 202416:51

Brook Farm, MASS E53
Brook Farm West Roxbury, a short-lived Transcendentalist Utopian Communal experiment with some well-known Massachusetts intellectuals involved. The preserved site is in the center of an enormous cemetery complex, worth a visit for many reasons. Photos and contact: https://www.instagram.com/lostmassachusetts/
Sources, credits, blog, etc.: https://lostmassachusetts.com/a-lost-place/f/brook-farm-e53
Apr 29, 202411:37

Mechanic Street, Upper Falls E51
Mechanic Street, Upper Falls. Continued exploration of the mysterious Mechanic Street across Massachusetts (and maybe elsewhere?). This one is in a post industrial section of Newton. Photos and contact: https://www.instagram.com/lostmassachusetts/
Sources, credits, blog, etc.: https://lostmassachusetts.com/a-lost-place/f/mechanic-street-upper-falls-e51
Apr 27, 202411:49

Mudville, Mass. E50
Mudville, Firecracker Alley, Whiskey Hollow...all colorful names but not ones that would remain in place for modern polite society. Follow Lost Massachusetts down a quiet side street to a shady park and well-used baseball diamond. Photos and contact: https://www.instagram.com/lostmassachusetts/
Sources, credits, blog, etc.: https://lostmassachusetts.com/a-lost-place/f/mudville-mass-e50
Apr 27, 202411:30

Spa E49
No, you cannot get your nails and hair done here...but you can get Tonic, Grinders, Tall Cans, Slushies, Butts, Frappes, Batteries for your Clicker, Hoodsies, Roadies...you have no idea what I'm talking about? Photos and contact: https://www.instagram.com/lostmassachusetts/
Sources, credits, blog, etc.: https://lostmassachusetts.com/a-lost-place/f/spa
Jun 27, 202335:38

Comments and Notes E48
In this episode we respond to listener postcards, letters, emails and Internet comments. The comments cover recent episodes including MVM E46, Myrtle Village E45, Workmans Circle Camp E44, Southerton, Mass: Velvet Mill E43, Vos Haven E42, Mechanic Street E41 and The Arsenal E40. Listeners provide additional personal context for these stories and tell us which topics were their favorites. More information at LostMassachusetts.com
Jun 16, 202319:13

Out There E47
In Out There Episode 47 we discuss some of the odd history and findings out in Boston Harbor, particularly the Bug Light. We also demonstrate how to dial into various navigational devices and collect data from them... Photos and contact: https://www.instagram.com/lostmassachusetts/
Sources, links, blog, etc.: https://lostmassachusetts.com/a-lost-place/f/out-there-bug-light-e47
Jun 05, 202318:26

MVM E46
Did you grow up near or have you ever seen mysterious castle buildings with the enigmatic "MVM" carved over the door? In this episode of Lost Massachusetts we will explain the meaning behind MVM and the history of the castle buildings... Photos and contact: https://www.instagram.com/lostmassachusetts/
Sources, links, blog, etc.:https://lostmassachusetts.com/a-lost-place/f/mvm-e46
May 29, 202320:08

Myrtle Village, Mass. E45
Major highway projects can bring prosperity, ease of travel but can also cut through the soul of a community and make it vanish. In this episode we learn about how the Turnpike Authority cleared out swaths of homes in West Newton and Auburndale Mass. Photos and contact: https://www.instagram.com/lostmassachusetts/
Sources, links, blog, etc.:https://lostmassachusetts.com/a-lost-place/f/myrtle-village-e45
Apr 22, 202320:57

Workmans Circle Camp, Mass. E44
If you are driving through Ashland Mass you might notice something odd pop up on your GPS: a designation called “Workman’s Circle Camp” Photos and contact: https://www.instagram.com/lostmassachusetts/
Sources, links, blog, etc.:https://lostmassachusetts.com/a-lost-place/f/workmans-circle-camp-e44
Apr 06, 202310:00

Southerton, Mass. & the Velvet Mill E43
Join Lost Massachusetts on this mystery road trip and what we found at the end of it...We take an unexpected tour of a liminal space inside the lost town of Southerton Mass. Never heard of Southerton? It was and still is there. You can see it too. Photos and contact: https://www.instagram.com/lostmassachusetts/
Sources, links, blog, etc.: https://lostmassachusetts.com/a-lost-place/f/southerton-mass-velvet-mill-e43
Mar 27, 202311:30

Vos Haven E42
We continue our investigations into Lost Dutch Mass (See Episode 25 Niew Nederlandt). On most early maps the area of current Boston Harbor is recorded as “Vos Haven”. Vos Haven is Dutch for Fox Harbor. This was no doubt named because of the abundance of foxes which are still prevalent in Massachusetts today. Photos and contact: https://www.instagram.com/lostmassachusetts/
Sources, links, blog, etc.: https://lostmassachusetts.com/a-lost-place/f/vos-haven-e42
Mar 17, 202318:32