Blandford, Massachusetts facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Blandford, Massachusetts
Town
Town of Blandford
The First Congregational Church of Blandford, known locally as "The White Church" and featured on the town's flag and corporate seal.
Flag Seal
Location in Hampden County in Massachusetts
Country	United States
State	Massachusetts
County	Hampden
Settled	1735
Incorporated	April 10, 1741
Government
• Type	Open town meeting
Area
• Total	53.4 sq mi (138.4 km2)
• Land	51.6 sq mi (133.6 km2)
• Water	1.9 sq mi (4.8 km2)
Elevation	1,452 ft (443 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	1,215
• Density	22.737/sq mi (8.779/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (Eastern)
ZIP Code	01008
Area code(s)	413
FIPS code	25-06085
GNIS feature ID	0619383

Blandford is a small town in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. In 2020, about 1,215 people lived there. Blandford is part of the larger Springfield area. It was also once home to the Blandford Ski Area, a popular place for winter sports.

Blandford's Early History

How Blandford Got Its Name

Blandford was first settled in 1735 by families from Scotland and Ireland. They officially made it a town on November 10, 1741. The settlers wanted to name their new home "New Glasgow" after Glasgow, Scotland.

However, the new governor of Massachusetts, William Shirley, had other ideas. He named the town "Blandford" instead. This was the name of the ship that brought him from England.

This name change had a small consequence for the town. The people of Glasgow, Scotland, had promised a church bell if the town was named after their city. Since the name was changed, the bell was never sent. Today, Glasgow Road in Blandford reminds everyone of this story.

First Settlers and Their Homes

Blandford and other "hilltowns" were settled later than the flat lands near the Connecticut River. The soil in the hilltowns was rocky and not great for farming. This made life a bit harder for the early farmers.

The first settler, Hugh Black, arrived in the fall of 1735. James Baird came soon after. Many other families followed, like the Reeds, McClintocks, and Youngs. Most of these families had first lived in Hopkinton, Massachusetts.

Not all settlers were from Scotland or Ireland. For example, the Boies family was originally French. They came to Ireland to escape religious problems. Later, their descendants moved to Blandford.

Building the First Meeting House

In 1740, the first meeting house was built. This building was used for both church services and town meetings. It was paid for by the men who owned the land sold to the settlers.

For many years, the building was very simple. It had no proper floor, just dirt and rocks. The seats were blocks and benches. It took 65 years, until 1805, for the meeting house to be fully finished.

Religion and Music in Early Blandford

The church in Blandford was originally Presbyterian, which was different from most new settlements. Its first pastor was William McClenathan. The church's history actually goes back to 1735, when the settlers formed their religious group before moving to Blandford.

Music in the church was very traditional. In 1771, people even debated if singing should have a "beat." Many were shocked when a singing-master from Westfield used a beat, and some even left the church!

Eventually, around 1800, the community decided to change. They switched from the Presbyterian church to the more common Congregational Church.

Blandford During Wartime

King George's War

King George's War (1744–1748) caused problems between the settlers and local Native Americans. In 1744, four forts were built because people were scared. In 1746, leaders went to Hartford and Northampton to get soldiers.

By 1749, most settlers left town for safety. When they returned, they built three new forts. These forts were used until 1750. People carried weapons to work and church. Luckily, there were no major fights between the settlers and Native Americans during this time.

American Revolutionary War

Blandford played an active part in the American Revolutionary War. When the first alarm came from Lexington, Massachusetts, in 1775, 36 men from Blandford and Chester went to help. They were led by Captain John Ferguson of Blandford.

During the war, General Henry Knox led troops through Blandford. They were moving cannons from Fort Ticonderoga to Boston. This amazing journey helped the Americans make the British leave Boston. His path is now called the Henry Knox Trail.

Later Wars

Blandford did not support the War of 1812. The town sent a delegate to a special meeting to show their disagreement. About 65 men from Blandford served in the American Civil War. They fought in various regiments for the Union.

Changes in Population and Economy

Around 1800, many young people left Blandford. They moved to places with better farming land, like western New York. However, older generations and some children usually stayed.

Later, the Industrial Revolution drew more workers away from farms. This happened especially after 1850 when factories used steam engines. Many hilltown farms were left empty and slowly turned back into forests. You can still find old stone walls and cellar holes in the woods today.

Because of these changes, Blandford's population dropped. In 1850, there were 1,418 people, but by 1880, only 979 remained. Even so, Blandford was still an active community.

Blandford Center and North Blandford

In 1879, Blandford Center had about 300 people. It had two churches, a hotel, stores, a post office, a school, and fairgrounds. Farming was the main activity, but the poor soil meant hay was the main crop. Farmers bought grain to raise animals and make butter and cheese.

Three miles away was North Blandford. It used to be a big manufacturing area because of its strong water power. In the 1850s, there were woolen mills and paper mills. By 1879, most of these had closed. North Blandford still had a church, school, stores, and a post office, with about 300 people.

Cheese and butter making were important businesses in Blandford throughout the 1800s. Amos Collins, a merchant, started this in 1807 and became very successful.

Minerals and Transportation

Blandford is known for its minerals, like carbonate of lime and quartz. There's a story that John Baird found lead and silver ore around 1795. But he never told anyone where it was, and the secret died with him. Many people tried to find it later, but they never could.

Blandford has always been on important travel routes. In the early 1800s, turnpikes (toll roads) passed through the town. Today, the Massachusetts Turnpike, also known as Interstate 90, goes through Blandford, but there is no exit in the town.

Trolleys in Blandford

For a short time, trolleys also passed through Blandford. In 1912, electric street railways connected many towns in Massachusetts. They offered cheap and fast travel.

The last major trolley line built in Massachusetts went from East Lee to Huntington through Blandford. It opened on August 15, 1917. However, it closed for the winter in October 1918 and never reopened. Today, you can still find parts of the old trolley line in the forest, especially around North Blandford.

Blandford's Geography

Route 23 westbound through the center of Blandford

Blandford is located near the eastern edge of the Berkshire Hills. The land rises from about 400 feet (122 meters) near streams to hilltops as high as 1,700 feet (518 meters). If you look east from the higher points, you can see across the Connecticut River Valley all the way to Mount Monadnock in New Hampshire.

Many old fields and pastures have grown back into forests. These forests have trees like beech, maple, and pine. Because logging has slowed down, some forests are starting to look like very old forests again. Animals that were rare for 200 years are also returning.

Blandford has important water sources. The city of Springfield uses the upper part of the Little River, which flows through Blandford, as its main water supply. This water is stored in the Cobble Mountain Reservoir.

The town of Blandford covers about 138.4 square kilometers (53.4 square miles). Most of this is land, and a small part is water. Most of the town's water flows into the Westfield River. The southwest corner of Blandford drains into the Farmington River. Both rivers eventually join the Connecticut River.

The center of Blandford is in the eastern part of town, along Massachusetts Route 23. From Blandford, it's about 21 miles (34 km) west to Springfield. Pittsfield is about 27 miles (43 km) to the northwest.

Places to Visit in Blandford

Porter Memorial Library

Blandford public library in 1899

The Porter Memorial Library is a public library that opened in 1891. It's a great place to find books and learn new things.

Other Interesting Spots

• The Blandford Ski Area was a small ski mountain. It opened in 1936 and was the oldest club-owned ski area in North America until it closed in 2020.
• The Blandford Fairgrounds hosts the yearly Labor Day weekend Blandford Fair. This fair has old-fashioned farm exhibits, fun rides, and live music. Many volunteers work hard to make it happen each year.
• South of the fairgrounds is an old white church building. It has recently started holding services again.
• The oldest cemetery, next to Route 23, has graves of the first settlers. Some of them were born in Ireland.
• The Blandford Club is a private nine-hole golf course with tennis courts. It opened in 1909 and is located at 17 North Street, near the historic White Church.

Blandford's Population

In 2000, there were 1,214 people living in Blandford. Most people (98.76%) were White. A small number were African American, Native American, or Asian. About 0.33% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

There were 456 households in the town. About 33.3% of these households had children under 18 living with them. Most households (65.4%) were married couples.

The average age in Blandford in 2000 was 40 years old. About 24.1% of the population was under 18.

The average income for a household in Blandford was $52,935. For families, it was $59,375. A small number of families (1.7%) and people (3.4%) lived below the poverty line.

Famous People from Blandford

• George Ashmun: Born in Blandford, he became a United States congressman for Massachusetts.
• Winifred E. Lefferts: A painter, designer, and generous person.
• Charles A. Taggart: He received the Medal of Honor for his brave actions during the Civil War.

See also

In Spanish: Blandford (Massachusetts) para niños