Sheep on the Common in Colrain Center.
Undated photo. Note that it is a reverse image.
Photo from the CHS collection.
Meeting at 7 pm and program at 7:30 pm
Stacy Barn 8 Main Rd Colrain
By 1837 there were 55,308 sheep in Franklin County. Most were pastured in the upland towns of Ashfield, Colrain, Charlemont, Leyden, and Conway. Changes in the landscape will be discussed as a result of this “sheep fever”. By 1850 things began to change politically including ending tariffs on wool from England. The early changing market conditions will be outlined as well as the change to dairy cattle as an alternative.
