Posted in Massachusetts September 20, 2020 by

Hoosac Tunnel Is A Desolate Tunnel From 1851 Hiding In Small Town Massachusetts

There are plenty of relics from long ago throughout the Bay State, but some have an eerie vibe about them. Hoosac Tunnel is a desolate-feeling tunnel that starts in North Adams and ends in the small town of Florida, Massachusetts. Not only does this tunnel date back to the 1850s, it also holds a scary history within. Given the nickname “The Bloody Pit.” it’s easy to see that Hoosac Tunnel isn’t just any railroad tunnel. There’s a dark and gruesome past hiding behind this small town tunnel, and it’s downright bone-chilling. Let’s learn more about this historic, desolate tunnel hiding in the tiny town of Florida, and afterwards you can go visit if you dare.

We’re aware that these uncertain times are limiting many aspects of life as we all practice social and physical distancing. While we’re continuing to feature destinations that make our state wonderful, we don’t expect or encourage you to go check them out immediately. We believe that supporting local attractions is important now more than ever and we hope our articles inspire your future adventures! And on that note, please nominate your favorite local business that could use some love right now: https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/nominate/
Hiding in Berkshire County is the historic Hoosac Tunnel.
Sam LaRussa / Flickr
This historic tunnel starts in North Adams and ends in the small town of Florida.
This desolate tunnel dates all the way back to the 1850s when construction was started. It's 4.75 miles long and despite feeling completely desolte, it's the longest active railroad tunnel east of the Rocky Mountains.
C Hanchey / Flickr
When the tunnel was built, it was the second largest in the whole world.
Hoosac Tunnel is also known as Hoosick Tunnel, and the east portal can be found in the small town of Florida.
C Hanchey / Flickr
The term "Hoosac" is Algonquian for "place of stones." This tunnel has quite the history, and has even earned a spot on the list of Historic Civil Engineering Landmarks in 1975.
The tunnel was originally proposed in 1819 as a canal project to connect Boston and Upstate New York, but the finished project wasn't decided on until 1851.
Public Domain / Wikipedia
Construction of the tunnel finished in 1875, but along the way, there were many deaths.
In fact, so many people died during construction of Hoosac Tunnel that it earned the nickname "Bloody Pit."
Doug Kerr / Flickr
Throughout construction, almost 200 men died from explosions from black powder. Though, some stories of the deaths were more gruesome than others.
One incident during construction is particularly dark.
Eric Herot / Flickr
The deadliest and most horrific incident to happen at Hoosac Tunnel was the Central Shaft accident. There's a chimney within the tunnel that goes down nearly 1,000 feet so that exhaust can leave the tunnel. On October 17, 1867, the shaft was ignited by fumes and an explosion killed 13 men and destroyed the pumps that kept the chimney from flooding.
The most chilling part about this story is that it was assumed all men died in the explosion.
C Hanchey / Flickr
However, that wasn't the case. Months after the explosion work continued in the shaft and manmade rafts were found. Some men survived for a time and tried to deal with the flooding.
Hoosac Tunnel is still used by some freight trains to this day, but its eerie history makes it feel completely desolate.
Doug Kerr / Wikimedia Commons
The east portal of Hoosac Tunnel is the most viewable side of this tunnel, and can be found in the small town of Florida, Massachusetts.

Did you know the gruesome history behind Hoosac Tunnel in small town Massachusetts? Have you ever visited it? We’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences in the comments!

Address: Hoosac Tunnel, Florida, MA 01343, USA