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"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 travellers. 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 tanneries, paper and card board mills, but the
major emphasis in the 19th century was dairy farming. Blandford led the county
in cheese production in 1845 and then again 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. Development
pressures in modern times come from those creating recreational or suburban
homes."
-Source: Massachusetts' Department of Housing and Community Development
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