The Copeland Farm

In the undated photo above, Edgar Copeland stands at the foot of Van Nuys Road on what is now the Scranton farm. A Civil War veteran, the young Copeland worked on farms in southern Vermont before buying the house and 160 acres which were to become perhaps the largest apple orchard in Colrain, once the apple capital of Massachusetts. 

Around 1875, Edgar set out 300 apple trees and many peach trees covering some 15 acres of the farm. Later he planted another 400 trees, mostly Baldwins. He introduced the Macintosh apple to the area and raised prize-winning Holstein cows.

Below is the original Copeland farmhouse, built along with the barn about 1740. The women and girl in the photo are unidentified. The house was replaced in the early 1900s (1912 - see newspaper clipping below) with the house now occupied by Mark Scranton. One of the old barns was in use until 1975.

Above source: [November 2024 issue of the Colrain Clarion.]

The Brattleboro New England Farmer

Saturday, June 12, 1909, page 6.

Halloween Extravaganza!

Welcome to the Colrain Historical Society’s Halloween Extravaganza! A Walk Through the Ages of Antique and Vintage Halloween. It is a partially narrated tour through a house fully decorated for the holiday with hundreds of items on display from the 1900s to the present. 

Please join us to celebrate Halloween and support our ongoing fundraising efforts to get our museum up and running! 

Cost: $25.00 

Dates: October 25th – 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm and 26th & 27th -12:00 pm to 9:00 pm 

Location: Shelburne Falls address. Exact location will be on your ticket!

Where to buy your tickets: 

 Catamount Country Store, Main Rd, Colrain 

 Pine Hill Orchards, Greenfield Rd, Colrain 

 Mo’s Fudge Factory, State St., Shelburne Falls 

Limited tickets available at the door. Call ahead if you need a ticket at the door: 413-624-8800. Please try to buy ahead of time.

Light refreshments will be served. Three vendors will be selling holiday items.

This is intended to be a review of Halloween through the 20th century, its traditions and how it was celebrated. This is not intended for children under 12. It is not a haunted or spooky house event.

If you have any questions, please contact Debby Wheeler 413-624-8800 or Deborahjeanwheeler@gmail.com. 

No photos will be allowed. No large purses or bags (Please leave them in your car.) Park at the town garage on Sears St. and walk a short distance to the house. The house is not handicapped accessible; there are stairs.

Top image: a vintage Halloween postcard.

Bottom image: a Jack-o-lantern wax candle.