"...one of the prettiest towns in Ohio."

Those words, written of Granville in 1940, are equally true today. An interesting work of history helps us understand why. The Writer's Program of the Work Projects Administration - a New Deal program designed to put people to work - published a fascinating guide to Ohio cities and towns in 1940. The guide described our village: "Its New England tradition stands out sharply in its present-day houses. Granville has character and poise; it conveys the impression of people living here in pleasant permanency." Read the full description of Granville circa 1940.

The Ohio Guide ignores many small towns or casts them in an unflattering light. Granville is unusual in the extent of the guide's praise. The book also offers concise insights into the economic history of Granville.

Of Newark, The Ohio Guide says, "Come upon suddenly from the hills, Newark is an attractive little city under the trees of a rambling valley." Could the same be said today?

Of Bexley, The Ohio Guide says, "Bexley (8,652 pop.) is a strictly residential community of new frame, brick, and stone houses embodying various architectural styles. Here are the large and sometimes pretentious estates of many of the capital city's more affluent families."

The book's complete account of Granville:

"Granville (1,110 alt., 1,495, pop.), a college community whose green-foliaged hills, numerous elms and maples, and chaste white Colonial and Classic Revival buildings make it one of the prettiest towns in Ohio. Granville was laid out in 1806 and named for the Massachusetts town of the same name from which early settlers came. Its New England tradition stands out sharply in its present-day houses. Granville has character and poise; it conveys the impression of people living here in pleasant permanency.

"Before the National Road was flung across Ohio, Granville was nearly as important a commercial center as Columbus. The routing of that road along the most direct east-west line left towns like Newark, Granville, and others miles from the traveled way; and thereafter Granville experienced little commercial development. It turned to education and founded, in December 1831, the Granville Literary and Theological Institute, whose modest purpose was ¡to furnish the means of obtaining a thorough Classical and English education, which shall not be inferior to what can be obtained in any institution, of whatever name, in the Western country. The school became Denison University in 1856, and, by this institution and trade with the prosperous livestock farmers of the vicinity, the town has lived comfortably ever since.

"Denison University is on a horseshoe-shaped hill whose winding drives and thick masses of trees make it one of the most beautiful campuses in the State. The handsome buildings, some of Georgian Colonial style, are artfully situated on different levels half-hidden by the trees. Swasey Chapel is a notable structure, and the dormitories for men on Fraternity Hill are exceptionally well-designed. A Baptist institution, Denison University is coeducational and has approximately 900 students. Besides offering bachelor degrees in the arts and sciences, it also provides for advanced work in theology.

"A fraternity now occupies the Avery-Downer House, 221 E. Broadway, a Classic Revival residence built in 1841 for Alfred Avery. The white frame structure has two stories with flanking one-story wings. The small side porches have Doric columns, but the entrance portico has four of the Ionic order; its pediment is an extension of the gable roof. The gabled doorway with two modified Corinthian pillars is said to have been copied from the doorway of the Temple of the Winds in Athens.

"Buxton Tavern, 313 E. Broadway, built in 1812, was for many decades a popular hostelry and is still a hotel and restaurant. The two-story frame structure is painted a gleaming white and has a wide, two-story porch across its front. Many of its furnishings are representative early nineteenth-century pieces."

The Ohio Guide is available in the Granville Public Library (917.71, W93). Author names are not given.