Granville is a rural industrial town surrounded by nature
At the edge of New York’s border with Vermont, Granville is one of those rare communities that has held onto its original industry through the centuries. Granville's slate quarries, known for a wide range of colors, continues to fuel the growth of its small downtown. Other major industries have also moved in, including furniture and maple syrup production. “Even though you think of Vermont as being maple syrup territory, we’re right on the border of Vermont,” says Cynthia Hollister, broker and owner of the NY and VT Real Estate Company, who has sold homes in Granville for 20 years. The area's rural surroundings also provide outdoor recreation, and Hollister says lower home prices compared to nearby Vermont are another major draw for buyers.
Farm-fresh food and maple syrup are staples in Upstate
Granville has a small but well-established town center. In the evenings, friends meet up at On the Rocks Pub for drinks and burgers or gather on the patio at Jen’s Pit Stop to cool off with ice cream. Pine Grove Diner has pancakes and maple syrup in the little downtown, but heading into more rural areas shows just how prominent maple production is here. “There’s Grottoli’s Maple, there’s Rathbun’s Maple Sugar House, which is a restaurant,” Hollister says. The restaurant draws people from surrounding towns for its pancakes topped with maple syrup so fresh that diners can see how they make it — and stock up with bottles before they go home. Hollister says other farms provide access to fresh milk, meat and produce. Hicks Orchard is among the most popular. “They do wine making and they produce strawberries and blueberries and cherries and apples and peaches,” Hollister says, adding that they also have fresh honey, donuts and cider.
In addition to farm-fresh food, Granville is also close to grocery stores; Price Chopper is in the downtown area. It’s not the town’s only notable amenity, either. “It has nice hardware stores, it has an assisted living home, it has a medical center, it has a dentist, which is something a lot of small communities in Upstate New York don’t have,” Hollister says. Granville even has a museum dedicated to its slate mining history.
Historic homes in downtown Granville or properties along country roads
Granville’s Victorians and colonials were often built between 1830 and 1900. Homes near downtown tend to sit closer together and are more likely to be historic. Rural homes, which include more ranch-style houses and Cape Cods, are often situated along narrow, wooded country roads. These homes often have acreage, so they carry a bigger price tag, but fewer taxes. “The homes that are out in the country have two taxes a year, and the village homes that have municipal water and sewer have three taxes a year,” Hollister says, adding that this makes Granville’s rural homes particularly sought after. In Granville’s more suburban areas, historic homes in need of major repairs and renovations can sell for as little as $40,000, but most cost between $130,000 and $300,000. Rural houses have a bigger price range because of their desirability and the potential for acreage, typically costing between $150,000 and $450,000.
Youth sports in Granville, easy access to fishing and hiking
Local sports teams hold practices and games at Granville Little League Park and Granville Youth League Soccer Fields. The Mettawee River has great trout fishing, and the Delaware and Hudson Rail Trail, which is popular among bikers and daily joggers or walkers, runs right through town. Just off the road, the Mettawee River Falls offers a small, picturesque waterfall. It’s a popular spot for exploring, picnicking and fishing. Hollister says a lot of people also enjoy going out on ATVs or snowmobiles. Some residents take summer day trips to Lake George, which is 31 miles away.
Career prep at Granville Junior/Senior High
The Granville Central School District earns a C from Niche and consists of three schools, all of which local children pass through during their educational careers. Mary J. Tanner Primary School, which also has a C, teaches pre-kindergarten through third grade, while the C-plus-rated Granville Elementary School teaches through sixth grade. Granville Junior/Senior High School has a C and offers career and technical education courses including cosmetology, criminal justice and welding.
Festive tractors and ATVs for the holidays, summer concerts
Every holiday season, the Lighted Tractor Parade fills Granville’s streets with decorated, lit-up tractors, ATVs and fire trucks, spreading cheer and competing for prizes. There’s also an annual 5K and a free summer concert series. Just 14 miles away, Whitehall’s annual Sasquatch Festival draws a few thousand people.
Route 22 and 149, heading to Glens Falls Hospital
State Route 22 connects Granville to other New York communities, including the neighboring towns of Poultney and Whitehall. State Route 149 leads into Vermont. Granville has its own medical clinic for minor illnesses and regular appointments, but it’s a 24-mile drive to Glens Falls Hospital.
Heavy rain can cause Mettawee River or its brooks to flood
With the way the Mettawee River forks around downtown Granville, heavy rain can bring flood warnings. Occasionally, overflowing brooks cause streets and driveways to flood.
Written By
Christina Norwood
