Greenfield Reconnaissance Report - MA Heritage Landscapes ...

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The MeadowsThe Meadows is located in the western part of Greenfield, and offers some of the mostspectacular scenic landscapes within the city. Well preserved historic homes surrounded byrolling fields of active farmland offer a stunning display of the historic and agriculturalsignificance of this area. The Meadows area includes farmland along Green River Road, ColrainRoad, Plain Road, Meadow Lane, and Nashs Mill Road and contains Punch Brook, HinsdaleBrook, and Allen Brook, which all flow into the Green River. The Green River is roughly theeastern boundary of the Meadows.The Meadows region was the first area settledin Greenfield, predominantly by Deerfieldresidents granted homesteading rights in theearly 18 th century. Samuel Hindsdale, thoughtto be the first white settler in Greenfield, cameto the meadows in the early 1700s, establisheda home and farm, and later, a tavern. Originalsettlers of the Meadows formed troops toprotect themselves against Native Americanraids in the mid 1700s and were extremelyactive in town government and civic andEbenezer Wells House ca. 1747cultural affairs, contributing to theeducational, cultural and commercial development of the Town. Historic farmhouses andoutbuildings within the north and south area of the Meadows have been well preserved,including the Allen Brook House (1766), Arms House (1775), Ebenezer Wells House (1747),Old Tavern Farm, and the Thadeus Coleman House (1813), as well as two cemeteries.The Green River contributes to the prime, fertile soils that haveprovided the natural resources to support sustained, viableagriculture in this corridor over the years that is still very activetoday. There are a variety of types of farm operations currently inthe Meadows, including dairy, nursery, vegetable, hay and foragecorn operations, most of which utilize large acreages. Farms are invarious status of protection. Some land, such as the Myers Farm,is permanently protected with an Agricultural PreservationRestriction (APR) with the state Department of AgriculturalResources. Other land is temporarily protected under the Chapter Clover Nook Farm in the Meadows61A program, which requires the City to reduce assessments onfarm property in return for the landowners keeping their land in active agricultural production.Massachusetts Heritage Landscape Inventory Program 26Greenfield Reconnaissance Report
Without permanent protection of this land underthe Agricultural Preservation Restriction (APR)program, development pressure is a threat tokeeping this land open and in agricultural use,especially given current economic conditions. Itis important for the town to advocate that thisarea remain as an agricultural district given itsimportance to the community. Among itsimportant values are its historic significance inthe development of Greenfield, preservedhistoric homes, the scenic views it providesFarmland in the Meadowsfrom the road as well as for long-range viewsfrom the Mohawk Trail and Poet Seat Tower, its impact on the local and regional economy,supply of farm products for area residents and businesses, and the provision of wildlife habitat onits open fields.Opportunities:• The Meadows is a significant resource to the town, containing multiple important valuesto the community including active agricultural land, wildlife habitat, and scenic views.• This area is the most rural area in Greenfield, providing a scenic landscape to balancedowntown and densely populated residential neighborhoods.• Fresh, local produce is available from local farmers that if purchased by local andregional consumers will increase access to healthy food, limit transporation costs, andreduce emissions associated with transporting produce from other areas of the country.Issues:• Residential development pressure is a threat to this area for land that is not protected.• Land in the Chapter 61 program is not permanently protected, so if it comes on themarket to be converted to another use and the City of Greenfield does not exercise itsright of first refusal, this land could be developed.• Long-term sustainability of many small, family farms is a challenge with high productioncosts and ongoing maintenance needs for farm infrastructure and equipment.• Historic houses in this area have been well preserved, but as turnover occurs with a newgeneration of owners, knowledge may be lost about the significance of these homes andthe maintenance needed to preserve original architectural features.Massachusetts Heritage Landscape Inventory Program 27Greenfield Reconnaissance Report
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Page 3 and 4: INTRODUCTIONHeritage landscapes are
Page 5 and 6: station and depot located in the do
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Page 9 and 10: The process that follows shows the
Page 11 and 12: William Coleman House, 1934 Histori
Page 13 and 14: the bank has always been run by mem
Page 15 and 16: the Historic Commission, Local Hist
Page 17 and 18: Franklin County FairgroundsThe Fair
Page 19 and 20: to use the same roof style and colo
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Page 23 and 24: elated to the byway and the potenti
Page 25 and 26: Council for conservation purposes a
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Page 31 and 32: 6. The Town might consider adopting
Page 33 and 34: PART II: PLANNING FOR HERITAGE LAND
Page 35 and 36: High, E. Main and Franklin Streets.
Page 37 and 38: IMPLEMENTATIONSTATUSCOMMUNITY PLANN
Page 39 and 40: IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIESOutreach,
Page 41 and 42: RESOURCES:Draft Overview of Economi
Page 43 and 44: APPENDIX A: GREENFIELD HERITAGE LAN

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