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Town Greens | New England Icons

Town greens established in the 18th century, or village greens as they’re more commonly known today, were thought to have been used for militia training, the grazing of livestock, and, at times, public punishment. Cast your vote for the prettiest town green in New England in the comment section below! And if you have a […]

By Yankee Magazine|Jan 25 2015| Print icon

A large tree with bare branches stands next to a white wooden fence. In the background, there is a white church with a steeple surrounded by green grass and scattered autumn leaves.

The Craftsbury Common — a handsome 2.2 acre patch of grass surrounded by pretty white buildings — may be the site of a soccer game, a farmer’s market, a concert, a Hitchcock movie, or the finishing line of cross county ski race, depending on the season.<br> <a href="http://www.yankeemagazine.com/vermont-life/the-craftsbury-common-lessons-in-building-community">Read more about the Craftsbury Common</a>

Photo Credit: Julia Shipley
Town greens established in the 18th century, or village greens as they’re more commonly known today, were thought to have been used for militia training, the grazing of livestock, and, at times, public punishment. Cast your vote for the prettiest town green in New England in the comment section below! And if you have a photo of your favorite town green that you’d like to share with us, submit it to our photo gallery.
The Craftsbury Common — a handsome 2.2 acre patch of grass surrounded by pretty white buildings — may be the site of a soccer game, a farmer’s market, a concert, a Hitchcock movie, or the finishing line of cross county ski race, depending on the season. Read more about the Craftsbury Common
The Craftsbury Common — a handsome 2.2 acre patch of grass surrounded by pretty white buildings — may be the site of a soccer game, a farmer’s market, a concert, a Hitchcock movie, or the finishing line of cross county ski race, depending on the season.
Read more about the Craftsbury Common
Photo Credit : Julia Shipley
The monuments scattered about a green offer a narrative of a town’s past—like the cube of granite with the hook poking out of its top in Amherst, New Hampshire's green. Read more about Amherst, New Hampshire's town common.
The monuments scattered about a green offer a narrative of a town’s past—like the cube of granite with the hook poking out of its top in Amherst, New Hampshire’s green.
Read more about Amherst, New Hampshire’s town common.
Photo Credit : Alyson Horrocks
Perhaps the most famous green in New England, Boston Common stretches over almost fifty acres. Some of its attactions include a wading and skating pond, multiple historical monuments, ballfields, and a stately fountain. Send this photo as an e-card.
Perhaps the most famous green in New England, Boston Common stretches over almost fifty acres. Some of its attactions include a wading and skating pond, multiple historical monuments, ballfields, and a stately fountain.
Share this photo with a friend.
Photo Credit : Adrian Major
The lush green of the common, and the full canopy of the many mature trees, in Hancock, New Hampshire, make this one of our favorite greens. Read more about the town of Hancock, New Hampshire.
The lush green of the common, and the full canopy of the many mature trees, in Hancock, New Hampshire, make this one of our favorite greens.
Read more about the town of Hancock, New Hampshire.
Photo Credit : D. Despres
The green space the runs alongside the Mousam River in downtown Kennebunk, Maine, may be small, but the shelter offered by its bandstand makes it the perfect place for picnic lunch. Read more about Kennebunk, Maine.
The green space the runs alongside the Mousam River in downtown Kennebunk, Maine, may be small, but the shelter offered by its bandstand makes it the perfect place for picnic lunch.
Read more about Kennebunk, Maine.
Livestock would’ve grazed on the expansive, park-like Broad Street Green in Wethersfield, Connecticut, back in the day, and in 1776 the nation’s first cavalry unit assembled on this grassy area. Read more about Historic Wethersfield, Connecticut.
Livestock would’ve grazed on the expansive, park-like Broad Street Green in Wethersfield, Connecticut, back in the day, and in 1776 the nation’s first cavalry unit assembled on this grassy area.
Read more about Historic Wethersfield, Connecticut.
Photo Credit : D. Despres
In the serene village of Weston, the Village Green and the surrounding homes and buildings are untouched by time. Read more about Weston Vermont's most famous attraction — The Vermont Country Store.
In the serene village of Weston, the Village Green and the surrounding homes and buildings are untouched by time.
Read more about Weston Vermont’s most famous attraction — The Vermont Country Store.
Photo Credit : Heather Atwell
Town Green in Litchfield, Connecticut. Send this photo as an e-card.
Town Green in Litchfield, Connecticut.
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Photo Credit : Jacek Dolata
Town Common in Warren, Rhode Island. Send this photo as an e-card.
Town Common in Warren, Rhode Island.
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Photo Credit : Butch Lombardi
"The Green" in New Milford, Connecticut.
“The Green” in New Milford, Connecticut.
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Photo Credit : Judy B. Yarochowicz
Gazebo on the commons in Rochester, New Hamsphire.
Gazebo on the commons in Rochester, New Hamsphire.
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Photo Credit : Jackie Normile
   

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  1. The Guilford Town Green is the pride of the town and has been there since the 1600’s, for grazing farm animals, as a cemetary, and then community events and daily relaxation ! The Town Green Committee and Parks and Recreation work diligently to preserve and sustain its beauty, health, and public use.

    Reply

  5. I lived in Natick, MA while my children were growing up and the concerts on the Town Coimmon were always a high light of every summer. Just bring yourself and your lawn chair and sit down and enjoy the concert while you catch up with lots of people in town you may not see all the time. It may not be the largest common, but the music and social opportunities were great!!

    Reply

  6. Craftsbury Common, Craftsbury, VT. Looking for that “just right for me” small New England town to relocate to from Florida! Thanks for all this lovely information!

    Reply

  7. Living so far away now, I loved all the pictures to remind me of my beloved New England, but I must submit the Washington, NH green and the Rye, NH green. You might guess that I am from NH.

    Reply

  8. Bradford Common on Rt.125 in the Bradford section of Haverhill is a quintessential New England common, flanked by a white Congregational Church and first era houses. It is truly beautiful.

    Reply

  9. My choices are, of course, in the area where I grew up…Haverhill Common (Haverhill,NH); Orford common, where the band I was in played every Old Home Day — I loved seeing all the neat white houses around its perimeter as we rounded the corner into town. And, across the Connecticut River, Newbury (VT) common…and its annual Cracker Barrel Bazaar. Lyme’s (NH) common is small, but I’ll always remember it & the elderly gentleman who recited the Gettysburg Address there every Memorial Day (or was it July 4th?).

    Reply

  11. Since I live a stone’s throw away from it, I have to cast my vote for the green in Lebanon, NH.

    Reply

  12. My vote is for Craftsbury Common in northern Vermont ,said to be the most photographed town common in New England,spectacular in the Fall,continually used as it was in the 18th century.Antique and Uniques in July,Old Home Days,graduations,farmer’s markets,Sunday evening concerts in the Summer,etc,etc quintessential!!

    Reply

  13. Middlebury, VT – The green is unusual in at least 3 ways: it’s triangular, it’s on a hillside, and what other green has an active railroad running through it, albeit well below grade? And across the street sits the Congregational Church with my vote for the most beautiful steeple in all of New England, having 5 distinct tiers! Throw in Middlebury College and the occasional passenger train trip to Burlington on Vermont Rail System (former Rutland Railroad main line), and what more could anyone want?

    Reply

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