Route 2 is a highway that runs from Boston across Massaschusetts, straight through North Adams and the middle of campus, over Petersburg Pass, through Troy to Albany and points west. The portion in Williamstown is also known as Main Street (though West Main Street refers to the street that you'd take if you went due west at the town green, instead of following Route 2 south along Route 7).
See also the logic behind road numbers and route/highway argument.
According to Prof. Wood, Route 2 cutting through the middle of campus would make Williams College very difficult to defend were we attacked by two Roman legions.
Bob Quay '04 authored a senior history thesis [1] about its history.
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