a guest post by Peter Heed, author of Canoe Racing
"All of us who race canoes and kayaks for fun have the great fortune of spending significant time on New England's beautiful rivers and lakes. Back and forth we go, training, getting fit, and getting a perspective on the world that few enjoy.
What many miss is the fact that our sport literally lets us paddle through history. If you are aware of what happened, you can almost sense the presence of people from important events of the past - which occurred right where you are paddling! And you don't have to believe in ghosts to appreciate the river's history!
So much of New England's early history involved the rivers we train and race on. It was along the rivers that the original Native Americans lived and fished, and it was by these same rivers that the early explorers and settlers came. Unfortunately, clashes were inevitable, and the result was often bloody violence and real life drama focused along the rivers we now take for granted.
Nearly everywhere you paddle in New England, there are compelling true stories of real people, courage, violence, determination, and redemption along the riverbanks. The Connecticut River Valley is particularly rich in this heritage, as it served as the major "superhighway" for Native Americans and early settlers alike - usually by canoe or flat bottomed boat! Nearly every island, every bend in the river, every rapid (now mostly hidden by dams) comes with a fascinating story attached.
Having just a little sense of history can give you a whole new level of appreciation while you paddle, train, and race on the rivers we love so much. I have always enjoyed learning about these true life stories of real people who lived and died along our rivers, and I thought that some of you might be interested, too.
Last fall, a number of canoe racers were at the Potato Race on the Conn. River - the last race of the season. Not far upstream, is the section of the river near the Pachaug boat launch on the northern side of Northfield, Mass. Many paddlers train in this beautiful stretch, and Nick Lyesiuk used to run a race from there in which the course took racers upstream, around an island, and back. That island - right across the river from where the Ashuelot enters the Conn. River - is called Pomeroy's Island. 
This quiet island today has great upstream eddies and shallows to challenge canoe and kayak racers going by, but years ago it was the location of a canoe event of another sort - a bloody, running gun battle involving canoes, a dramatic rescue of children, and the death of three men. Here is the story:
It appeared to be a calm and quiet early evening at the North Meadow Farm along the Conn. River in Hatfield, Mass. (Just upstream from Elwell, where the Potato Race starts). The weather was unusually hot that July day in 1698. There was still much unrest and distrust between the early farmers along the river and the Native Americans, who once freely roamed and enjoyed the river valley without interference from white settlers. Nathaniel Dickinson, and several other farmers with young boys, were finishing up there chores of hilling corn. Nobody was overtly concerned, as there had been no trouble for months. That was about to change.
canoe racing
Canoe Racing has been a staple of nearly every canoe racer for the last 12 years. It is now revised with updated photos and advice. You can now 
Peter Heed, a veteran canoe racer and author of 
