Granby Road, Jockey Corners, Holcomb Blacksmith Shop and 1976 Replica
Pictures of the blacksmith shop that was located at the south end of what is now the village green. It was owned by Augustine Holcomb (1818-1893). He is buried in Silver Street Cemetery with his wife, Alvira (Dickinson) Holcomb.
According to Matthew Jones, the area of the present green was widely known as "Jockey Corners" because of the Holcomb blacksmith shop. The family legend that has been passed down for generations is that Matt's 3rd great grandfather, Augustine Holcomb, was a "horse whisperer" when it came to watching how a horse moved and deciding exactly how to craft the precise shoes needed to maximize the balance, comfort and speed of the horse. Because of this talent it was said that the owners and jockeys of the area's fastest horses would bring them to Holcomb's shop, and because of the frequency of these visits the area was given the nickname, "Jockey Corners."
This legend is supported by the fact that Columbus Wilcox, owner of the Wilcox Hotel, had his own race horses in the hotel's stable right behind the hotel and the blacksmith shop. It has been theorized that owners and jockeys likely frequented the hotel during their visits to the Holcomb shop. It must have been a lively place!
The Wilcox Hotel is visible to the left of the blacksmith shop in the photos. The blacksmith shop was torn down before 1920. Wilcox Hotel was torn down in the 1960's. The steeple in the background is the Universalist Church (also now gone) on Main Road.
The blacksmith shop was recreated by Ted Wackerbarth and a team of volunteers for the 1976 Bicentennial celebration. Articles relating to the new structure appear here. The 1976 building was taken down years later. If you know when, or whether it was put up somewhere else, please use the Comments facility below. Your Comment will be private until it is reviewed by the site administrator.
Prior to 1920
Mabel Root Henry Historical Museum, 2023, Granville, MA.
Granby Road and Main Road Intersection, Seymour / Stacker House (Gone)
This house, built circa 1830, was torn down when the Village Green was improved in the 1990's. It was built around 1830 by Barlow and Spellman and occupied for many years by the Seymour family. <br /><br />Milo Seymour and his ancestors had been active in town matters over many years and through various Town Hall relocations. As a result they ended up with many old town records stored in boxes in the attic. <br /><br />In the 1950's the house was owned by Max and Dot Stacker, who ran the filling station and a small store across the street. When Max bought the house he cleaned out the attic. Not realizing the importance of the old papers in the boxes, he took them to the town dump where they were burned.<br /><br />Comments from Facebook discussion, January 2022: <br /><br />Dan M: "The last building to come down [on the village green] was Dorothy Stacker's house. She was affectionately known as "Ma" Stacker whose store/garage was across the road. I believe that her nickname was derived from the sign over the store that originally had her late husband's name Max C Stacker on it, but the X had worn away showing only "Ma". As a kid I remember hanging out at her store frequently with friends. She knew everyone in town and if you needed any gossip about what was going on, Ma would be the one to see. I'm sure many of you have fond memories of Ma Stacker."<br /><br />To see pictures of the Stackers' store <a href="https://granvillehistory.omeka.net/admin/items/show/849">CLICK HERE</a>.
1941 Photo: Herb Hiers
Digital Images: Granville Public Library and NCCHP
Pumpkins On The Green, 2005
2005
Bill Owens, Photographer (used here with permission)
Village Green, October Snow 2020
The Granville Village Green, October 2020. Photo by Scott Loomis, copyright 2020.
October 2020
Scott Loomis, copyright 2020. Photo used here with permission. May not be used further without permission of the photographer.
Main and Granby Roads Intersection, 1957 or 1958
A photo taken at the library corner looking west southwest (see map). The library is just out of sight on the left. Main Road (it was called Maple Street in 1958) proceeds up Granville hill on the right. The buildings in the center of the photo are gone. The village green now occupies the space.
Photo by Herbert Hiers, developed Jan 1958.