The Granville brothers Zantford (Granny), Thomas, Robert, Mark, and Edward, along with sisters Pearle and Gladys, were born nearby. With Madison natives Hiram Jones, Harry Jones, and Elson Ward, they formed the Granville Brothers Aircraft Co. in Springfield, Massachusetts, where they designed, manufactured, and flew notable racing aircraft of the Golden Age of Aviation. In 1932, the Gee Bee Model R-1 set a new world speed record of 296 mph. Their high-performance designs represented the cutting edge of technology and dramatically influenced military and civilian aviation.