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Blandford Blandford is situated in the eastern foothills of the Green Mountains and is criss-crossed by streams. It is a rural hill town on the historic western corridor between Connecticut and the Housatonic Valley and is on an early route of travel from Springfield to Albany. This was an important military highway from New York during the revolution as is testified by the number of taverns that were recorded on the post road servicing travelers. The town was originally cut up into lots and sold to Scotch-Irish Presbyterians who immigrated from Hopkinton and created an agricultural and grazing based economy. There were some early tanners, paper and cardboard mills, but the major emphasis in the 19th century was dairy farming. Blandford led the country in cheese production in 1845 and then again in 1870 and despite becoming a favored summer resort for Springfield and Westfield families, has remained in modern times a community of dairy farms and orchards. The town has retained a cluster of notable buildings in the center, including a handsome Greek revival church, and residents are proud of the historic character of the center.(Narrative provided by the community) |
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