Granville Gorge then….In the 1890’s the rapidly growing Town of Westfield, where the industrial revolution was in full swing, needed water. They came to Northeast Granville and liked what they saw. In 1894 they sought the authority to begin taking the land by eminent domain. Authority was granted. The fate of Northeast Granville and everyone who lived there was sealed.

By 1897 the need for water increased to the point where two more reservoirs were required. The Winchell Reservoir in Granville and the Sackett Reservoir in Southwick were constructed and placed on line. A 14″ water main was laid through the Granville Gorge connecting these two reservoirs. These same pipes are still in use today bringing water into the City of Westfield.  The Winchell Reservoir is located in the Town of Granville and was built in 1899. Its capacity is more than three million gallons. This reservoir was designed to supply water to the Sackett Distribution Reservoir, located in Southwick at the site of the Water Filtration Plant. It no longer is used to supply water.  The Japhet Reservoir, constructed in 1897, is located in Granville and was built to supply water to the Sackett Distribution Reservoir. It is no longer in use.

On April 1, 1898 the land takings began. The Westfield Water Works (today the Westfield Water Resources Department) worked swiftly to demolish homes and other structures, clearing the way for the construction of pipelines and reservoirs, and to provide watershed land surrounding the reservoirs. Courtesy Granville Historical Commission.

Join us this Saturday at Granville Gorge Group Hike  to hike the Gorge and travel back in time to when Northeast Granville was a significant village, see the Winchell Reservoir remains and climb Drake Mountain.  Registration at www.ticketleap.com per car.

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