Bolton has long been an agricultural community, where limestone deposits and ample wood were used to produce potash and bricks.  A major East-West travel route went through Bolton in the 1700s, supporting several well-known taverns; some are still standing today. Orchards and dairy farms once dominated the landscape, enhanced by the Mass Central RR providing transportation to Boston markets after 1887.  As dairy farms closed in the 20th century, Bolton became more of a residential town, with residents commuting by train the roads to points East and South, yet still preserving its rural character. Bolton has over a dozen large conservation areas with trails not far from the MCRT in Berlin. 
 
The MCRT in Bolton
The MCRT travels through Bolton for about 300 feet between Hudson and Berlin, crossing the Southwest corner of town. The South Bolton station was located in the middle of this section. The tracks have been unused since the early 1970s, and were acquired by the MBTA in 1979. The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) obtained a lease from the MBTA to develop the entire Weston to Berlin section as a rail trail in 2011, and has successfully finished most of this section in collaboration with towns and utilities.