Greenfield Reconnaissance Report - MA Heritage Landscapes ...

MethodologyThe methodology for the Heritage Landscape Inventory Program was developed in a pilotproject conducted in southeast Massachusetts. It is outlined in the DCR publication Reading theLand, which has provided guidance for the program since its inception. In summary, eachcommunity organized a heritage landscape identification meeting during which residents andtown officials identified and prioritized the natural and cultural landscapes within town thatembody the community’s unique character. This meeting was followed by a fieldwork sessionled by the project team, including the local project coordinator and staff of FRCOG or PVPC,accompanied by interested community members. During the fieldwork session the PriorityHeritage Landscapes were assessed and opportunities for preservation were explored anddiscussed. The final product for each community is an individualized Heritage LandscapeReconnaissance Report. This report outlines the community’s landscape history, describes thePriority Heritage Landscapes along with associated opportunities, issues, and recommendations,and concludes with implementation strategies.PART I: HERITAGE LANDSCAPE INVENTORYLOCAL HISTORYThe Town of Greenfield is located in the center of Franklin County. It is bordered by Shelburneto the west, Colrain to the northwest, Leydon and Bernardston to the north, Gill and Montague tothe east, and Deerfield to the south. The Town of Greenfield was incorporated in 1773 from anoriginal Deerfield 8,000 acre grant, with the eastern boundary along the Connecticut River. TheCheapside District was annexed to Greenfield in 1896.The central portion of town is characterized by lowlands with rich soils and abundant waterresource legacy of Glacial Lake Hitchcock. A long bedrock ridge along the west side of theConnecticut River forms its east boundary. To the south the Deerfield and Green Rivers join theConnecticut at Cheapside. The Green River, town namesake and major natural feature, drains theFall River on the east and many small streams originating on Greenfield Mountain to the west. Thehighest elevations include Greenfield Mountain (874 feet) to the west, and Sachem Head (452 feet)and Poet’s Seat (494 feet) on the eastern ridge. These provide a sense of enclosure for the town.The Town of Greenfield was developed as an important commercial center after the Revolutionwith a Connecticut River port at Cheapside and civic activity in the center of Town around CourtSquare. Greenfield was a hub of railroad activity during the Early Industrial period, with aMassachusetts Heritage Landscape Inventory Program 2Greenfield Reconnaissance Report