Town of Granby - Granby, MA

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is considered to be of state and local importance to farming. These areas occur around
prime farmland, in the central area of town to the Belchertown border. These areas may
not be as economically productive as prime farmland but should be considered for
protection.
B. Landscape Character
Granby's industry
was based in part on the
horse trade, and its
landscape has contributed
to its growth. Large
volumes of horses that were
used primarily for
agriculture and the
distribution of products
were sold through the
Meadowcroft Farm in
Granby during the 1930's.
These horses were
purchased by the railcar
load and delivered to
Holyoke and Belchertown.
From there the horses were
Charlie Lyman with prize draft horses
hand walked or driven
down the major roadways
to Granby. Farmers from throughout the Connecticut River Valley relied on the
consistent source of horse power that was provided by the Hatch Family at
Meadowcroft Farm.
The excise tax that was placed on the value of horses still exists today. Granby is
one of the only remaining towns in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts that taxes
horses. Five dollars per every thousand dollars of value is collected by the town
annually.
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