1994

Land Values Shift Rapidly

Granger land values have been fairly constant over time. About a decade ago you could buy 25 acre parcels in Granger for about $200 an acre. Over a period of ten years that price went up to $300 an acre. Within the past year there has been a major shift in our land prices.

Actively farmed land now has the lowest value. In parcels of 25 acres or more, actively farmed land will cost from $250 to $350 an acre, depending largely upon the distance from a good road. Bottom land down by the river is an exception and will cost about twice as much.

Overgrown or wooded hunting land is now the next in price. It is typically selling for $400 to $600 an acre. The price range is controlled both my perceived hunting quality and distance from a hard surface road. Building lots are in high demand. Building lots off of County Routes 15 or 4 are selling in a range from $5,000 to $8,000 without improvements.

As usual, supply and demand are driving the prices. There are practically no building lots for sale on the hard roads. The young generation trying to get started are looking for a good lot to start with a trailer and then build. I regret having no price information regarding building lots on the dirt roads. The sales I am familiar with are between family members. I am also aware that improved existing properties are increasing in value much more than earlier years. This is largely due to the ability to commute to the Rochester area for work.

The farm land is not bringing higher prices because few people want to come to Granger to farm. Our growing season is very marginal and the soil is generally of poor quality for farming. Hunting properties are in higher than usual demand. Granger has good deer, turkey and other small game hunting. The increase in hunting land prices probably also reflect an increased tendency toward posted hunting lands.

Granger Town Hall

The Granger Town Hall structure situated in the hamlet of Short Tract is a long-standing community landmark. It has served as a center of local government as well as countless meetings and receptions.

Prior to 1839 the area in which the Town of Granger is located was known as West Grove. On March 6, 1839, at the suggestion of William Van Ostrand, the town was renamed Granger. The name was derived from that of Postmaster General Francis Granger of Canandaigua. Within the Town of Granger 25,000 acres were designated as the hamlet of Short Tract. That name derives from a former owner of the tract of land, William Short. Short Tract and Granger were settled largely during 1816 – 1840.

In the mid nineteenth century Short Tract became a station on the underground railroad as several residents provided refuge for former slaves.

In 1872 “a commodious town hall” was built by Jonas R. Collister, (born in 1834). The two-story wood frame structure is located on the north end of town facing County Road 15 and the corner of English Hill Road. It was known as Collister Hall. At about this time (1878) the Village of Short Tract was thriving. With approximately one hundred residents, it supported three stores, two churches, a cheese factory, two wagon shops, three blacksmith shops and a school house. Mr. Collister worked as a merchant with a store, and as a sewing machine agent. He served as the Town Clerk from 1867 – 1878. Collister was the treasurer of one of the first groups to utilize the town hall for meetings. The Maple Grove Lodge, composed of the prominent citizens of Granger, met on the second floor in the late 1870’s.

Collister was married to Elizabeth Bennett, whose father, Henry Bennett, owned the land upon which the town hall was built. Henry Bennett and his wife Olive, owned land adjacent to the town hall as well. Their house, built in 1846 was located north of the town hall, where Dick Hastings lives now. It served as a stop on the underground railroad. In 1847 the house was sold to William Van Ostrand.

Collister Hall was sold at an unknown date to Colonel John S. Pitt, (1843 – 1929) and became known as Pitt Hall. Pitt participated in the Civil War as one of the 104th New York Volunteers. He served as a musician and also engaged in some forty-three battles from the second Bull Run to the surrender of Lee at Appomattox. In 1879 he returned to work the family farm of 142 acres. He also became a merchant in Granger, excise commissioner and leader of a large band. The Pitt family residence, built in 1844, was across Route 15 from the town hall. In 1894 Colonel Pitt gave the Women’s Relief Corps a lifetime lease on the building. This local chapter was founded with eleven members.

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