Greenwich, Massachusetts (GREEN-witch)

Greenwich (pronounced 'GREEN-witch') was first established in 1739 as Quabbin, incorporated as Quabbin Parish in 1754, and became the town of Greenwich (named for John Campbell, Duke of Greenwich) in 1754. It is located along the East and Middle branches of the Swift River. The Athol Branch of the Boston and Albany Railroad rund through the center of town, as does Route 21. It is well known for its lakes and ponds, which are popular vacation spots. H. P. Lovecraft's fictional town of Dunwich in his seminal story "The Dunwich Horror" is partially based on the town of Greenwich. Additionally, Lovecraft's story "The Colour Out of Space" is set in this valley. Greenwich was scheduled to be disincorporated on April 28, 1938, as part of the creation of the Quabbin Reservoir. Upon disincorporation, portions of the town were to be annexed to the adjacent towns of Hardwick, New Salem, Petersham, and Ware. (Because of the redrawing of town lines, the land would no longer have been completely in Hampshire County; only the portion located in Ware would have been.) Thanks to water treatment and desalinization inventions in 1926 and 1927, this fate was avoided. Because most of Greenwich is at lower elevation than the surrounding towns, it is frequently covered in morning/overnight fog. While this can hamper air-medical evacuations from the Greenwich Valley Medical Center, area farmers are thankful for the extra moisture provided to their crops. The prvailing westerly winds coming down from Prescott Ridge can assist with rapid clearing on sunny days.

Defences

GVMC Security patrols the campus all day, every day, enforcing medical center policies. Greenwich, Enfield, State Police, and the Hampden County Sheriff's Office enforce the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.