Tucked into the southern foothills of the Mount Holyoke Range in western Massachusetts, Granby is a typical New England country town. It was first settled in 1727, incorporated in 1768, and developed by its founders with small farms and limited industries. By 1875, dairy farming had become the town's economic base. World-renowned Meadowcroft Dairy thrived in Granby during the twentieth century. In modern times, diverse businesses have prospered here, including Nash Dino Land, one of the world's largest repositories of dinosaur tracks. Today, Granby's population is varied, and the town serves as a bedroom community and affords a quiet New England lifestyle for retirees. The Church of Christ, Congregational (constructed by architect Elias Carter in 1820), the parish house, the parsonage, the town schoolhouse, the library, and Aldrich Hall recall the town's Colonial heritage. Granby is a tribute to the town's founders and to its rich heritage of farming, small industry, and New England tradition. The book offers a glimpse into Granby's past and features images of cutting ice on Aldrich Lake and fishing in Batchelor's Brook. It also shows Bell's General Store, Kellogg Hall, the Granby Cooperative Creamery, and the Carver Mill and Blacksmith Shop.

The area around Granby was developed in the late 1800s and today remains true to the "Spirit of the West." It once was the Utes' summer hunting ground and was shared by fur trappers and mountain men in the winters. Later, prospectors came to Lulu City and mined for gold while loggers and homesteaders built schools and churches, forming the towns of Monarch, Selak, and Coulter. In 1905, the Moffat Railroad created a new town, putting Granby on the map. Dependable railroad access allowed ranches and businesses to thrive. The Victory Highway offered motorcars a route through the Arapaho National Forest and Rocky Mountain National Park, bringing tourism to dude ranches, where guests wanted to be cowboys. After World War II, the completion of the massive Colorado-Big Thompson Water Project changed the landscape when Lake Granby buried ranches and the Lindbergh airstrip. Soon, locals discovered "white gold" when skiing and winter sports expanded the four-season, mountain-resort community.