If you’ve ever watched Pirates of the Caribbean and thought, "Honestly, that looks fun," here is your chance to channel your inner Jack Sparrow. Starting tomorrow, for the next six weeks, the Farmington Community Chest is hosting its Summer Treasure Hunt, and it is the perfect excuse to get outside. To play along, just follow them on Facebook, Instagram, or by email to grab the weekly clues, then head out to track down the real life treasure chest. Kids get to snag a physical prize from the box, while the grownups scan a QR code to log the find. Every successful quest earns you an entry toward a massive grand prize packed with gift cards, swag and experiences donated by Farmington-area businesses. Go grab your first clue and start searching today.

If you’ve ever spent a Saturday grabbing a lavender latte or dodging bikes on the bike trail, you’ve felt the vibe of Collinsville. It’s charming, it’s brick-heavy, and it’s very "New England postcard." But before it was a haven for antique hunters and kayakers, it was essentially the tool belt of the world.

In 1826, 24-year-old Samuel Collins, who clearly didn’t believe in "starting small", bought a sawmill on the Farmington River for $2,800. Along with his brother and cousin, he launched The Collins Company. Their business plan? Make the best axes on the planet and don't cut corners. Period.

It worked. These guys didn't just make a few wood choppers; they became the world’s largest manufacturer of edge tools. We’re talking machetes, picks, shovels, and hundreds of specialized gadgets that earned the nickname "The Standard of the World." If you were building a railroad or clearing a forest in the 1800s, you wanted a Collins in your hand.

Samuel wasn't just a boss; he was a bit of a visionary. He built houses, stores, and a church, creating a self-contained village (hence Collinsville) where his workers actually wanted to live. He had a reputation for integrity, which is a nice way of saying he wasn't a corporate villain.

The factory hummed for 140 years until the lights went out in 1966. But instead of letting the buildings rot (we see you, abandoned malls), the town got creative. They repurposed the history.

Today, those same beautiful brick buildings anchor the village with a new purpose with local shops and even the Canton Historical Museum. It’s inside a former factory building where you can see the original tools and a recreated 19th-century village. It’s the closest thing to time travel we have in the Valley.

And of course don't forget Antiques on the Farmington. It's a massive multi-dealer maze. Go in for a vintage mirror, come out three hours later with a mid-century lamp and a story. It's easy for all ages to feel the excitement of the hunt here.

📜Did You Know?
One of the buildings now used by the Canton Historical Museum once served as a recreation center for Collins employees with a reading room, lunch room, and even a six-lane bowling alley upstairs before becoming a museum.

🔍Valley Trivia
Which of the following events did NOT involve tools made by the Collins Company?

A) The California Gold Rush
B) Construction of the Trans-Siberian Railroad
C) The building of the Eiffel Tower
D) Admiral Robert Peary’s 1909 North Pole expedition

Know the answer? Send your guess to [email protected]. Get it right, and I’ll give you a shout out in next week’s issue so everyone knows you’re one of the smartest people in the valley.

Here’s what’s on deck this week around the Valley — mark your calendars!

Look for icons to find your crowd: 🎈 kid-friendly • 👤 adult • 🌞 all ages

Library Events

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