Love where you live. That has been the tagline of Middleton since it made Granville its home five years ago. Middleton has strived and certainly achieved this sense of belonging by building an active and lively retirement community that is tightly woven into the fabric of this wonderful town. Its proximity to downtown Granville allows residents to feel connected to, and to partake in, a variety of local events and activities.
Some residents have lived in Granville for many decades, having raised their own families in this town. Andy Sterrett, a former Mathematics professor at Denison University, was one of Middleton’s first residents. He has resided in Granville for over 60 years. When asked why he chose Middleton to be his permanent home, Andy said he admired the aesthetics of the building and immediately fell in love with his two-bedroom apartment. As for staying put in Granville, he said this is where a lot of his lifelong friends live.
Jack and Sara Kirby have been in Granville since the time when Jack was offered a teaching position in Denison’s History Department. In late 2019, they made a final move to Middleton in the newly built Independent Living Cottages, which they said immediately felt like “home”. It was an easy transition, allowing them to remain in Granville and near all that they have loved since 1971. This underscores the overlapping ties, bonds, and commitment shared by the Middleton and Granville communities that enrich the lives of all.
At Middleton, there is a wonderful interactive ambiance where residents can take strolls down verdant paths and join each other for meals and exciting activities throughout the day. This is one of the many reasons Susan Watson, a French teacher who taught in the Newark Schools for 40 years, chose to move to Middleton. On her first visit, Susan said she just knew it was the right place to be. “I feel at home at Middleton and realize that I have a lot of connections with the other residents,” she adds. Susan is no stranger to Granville as she has always visited shops and restaurants here, and even once modeled clothes for the former Phoebe’s Dress Shop.
As Middleton celebrates its fifth year, it is a wonderful opportunity to look back at how it has grown not only in scale, but also in personal relationships and its ties to the Granville community. Executive Director Debbie Hartshorn has witnessed the friendships that the residents, families, and staff have built, as well as how Middleton has fully integrated itself into this beautiful, quaint town. She said, “It is truly a wonderful place and Middleton provides the most ideal setting in one’s golden years. Middleton has always believed it is about the people, the staff, the residents, the sense of community, and being surrounded by all that is worthwhile and meaningful. Middleton has added great value to the Granville community by sharing in the spirit of small town living where people know, care, and look out for each other.”