Editing Granville, Massachusetts (section)

== History and description ==
Granville was first settled by English colonists in 1736 and was officially incorporated in 1754, after the end of the Indian wars in 1750. Early settlers could get a {{convert|100|acre|km2|adj=on}} lot for free, providing they built a house and "put four acres in English hay". Perhaps the most famous resident of that era was [[Oliver Phelps (politician)|Oliver Phelps]], whose purchase of {{convert|6|e6acre|km2}} in western New York (the [[Phelps and Gorham Purchase]]) following the [[American Revolutionary War]] remains the largest real estate purchase in US history. The population in Granville expanded quickly, peaking at 2,100 in 1810, when it rivaled Springfield. However, likely due to the rocky soil in New England, many settlers eventually migrated west, some establishing the town of [[Granville, Ohio]].

Many historic homes dot [[Massachusetts Route 57|Route 57]], the main road through town. The village center, the old center, and West Granville center are all designated as historic districts listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]]. Historic buildings include Granville's Old Meeting House (superb acoustics), the Stevenson house to its west, the West Granville Academy, and the West Granville Church. The village center features an old-fashioned country store, known for its cellar-aged cheese.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.masslive.com/business-news/index.ssf/2010/10/granville_cheese_store_aged_to_perfectio.html | title=Granville cheese store aged to perfection | date=October 3, 2010 }}</ref>

In addition to period architecture, Granville is the watershed for three reservoirs: [[Barkhamsted Reservoir|Barkhamsted]], the main source for the [[Hartford, Connecticut|Hartford]] metropolitan district; Cobble Mountain, the main source for the city of Springfield; and Westfield, the main source for the city of [[Westfield, Massachusetts]].  Much of the land in town is owned by the various water districts. Granville also has a number of active apple orchards.