Tucked away off Canton Road lies an abandoned elementary school— named the Frank Kearns School. Though the building now stands empty and may soon be replaced by new development, the legacy of the man behind the name should not be lost to time. Frank Kearns, a dedicated public servant and visionary, made lasting contributions to education and agriculture in Granby. His story deserves to be told.
Frank Kearns was born in Suffield and raised with a strong understanding of farming. In 1915, he married Christine Heffernan, a schoolteacher from Maynard, Mass. The couple lived briefly in Maynard, then a suburb of Boston, before returning to Suffield to raise their family.
In 1920, Kearns began his civic involvement as a member of Suffield’s 250th Anniversary Committee. Shortly after, the couple moved to Granby and started a dairy farm at 241 North Granby Road. Kearns’ dedication to community and agriculture quickly took root. In 1928, he became chairman of the Granby Board of Education, a position he held with distinction for 24 years.
Living near Granby Grange #5, Frank and Christine immersed themselves in the local Grange movement. Frank served as grange master and later as president of the 4-H Fair. With permission from landowner Fred Colton, Kearns used the fairgrounds—now known as Harness Way—to host livestock exhibitions and community gatherings. His goal was simple but profound: to inspire the next generation to continue farming in Granby.
During the depths of the Great Depression, Kearns spearheaded the formation of the Farmers Production Credit Association—a coalition of nine farmers that provided crucial lines of credit to struggling local farms. He was elected treasurer-secretary of the association, a role he held until his retirement in 1958.
Operating out of an office in Hartford, Kearns helped distribute federal aid through the Farm Credit Act of 1933. His prudent leadership encouraged farmers to accept their funds in installments, ensuring money was used effectively and sustainably. Through this same association, he also launched scholarships for aspiring young farmers.
Despite his own deep roots in farming, Kearns ultimately had to auction off his cattle and equipment in the late 1930s. His tireless work for others—on the board of education, the grange, and the credit association—left him little time to tend to his own farm. In true Kearns fashion, he found solace in knowing that others would benefit from the resources he passed along.
As Granby’s population grew—from 1,400 in the 1930s to more than 6,000 by 1970—Kearns foresaw the town’s educational needs. In 1938, he advocated for the construction of a consolidated school to replace the outdated one- and two-room schoolhouses. The new consolidated school opened in 1948 and later became Granby Memorial School. He also served on the Wells Road School committee, overseeing the development of that school, which opened in 1955.
Even after leaving the board of education, Kearns remained active in town politics as he was elected to the board of finance. He was approached by Malcolm Goslee, new BOE chairman and Jane-Ann Pease, who became a chemistry teacher at Granby Memorial High School, to serve on yet another school planning committee. He agreed—on one condition: “I will, as long as they name the school after me.” And so, in 1957, the Frank Kearns Elementary School started construction.
Today, while the Frank Kearns School sits abandoned and may one day be demolished, the legacy of its namesake must not be forgotten. Frank Kearns dedicated nearly half a century to the betterment of Granby through his leadership in education, agriculture and public service.
To learn more about Frank Kearns, Granby’s agricultural history or local education, consider joining the Salmon Brook Historical Society, by calling 860-653-9713 or go online at salmonbrookhistoricalsociety.com