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10/24/2023 11:51 AMThe Guilford Preservation Alliance (GPA), a steadfast guardian of Guilford’s historical and cultural treasures, is on the lookout for new volunteers to help guide the organization into its next phase. With a mission dating back to its incorporation in 1980, GPA has been active in promoting the preservation of the diverse buildings, landscapes, and streetscapes that contribute to the quality of the town of Guilford.
Board member Tracy Tomaselli, who conducts the downtown history tours around the Town Green, said the GPA is something that all residents can and should take advantage of.
“Preserving historic assets of the town, not only the physical ones, but the cultural ones, are really important to Guilford. These aspects are not only why people live here, but also what draws in tourists traffic,” said Tomaselli. “Heritage tourism tends to get overlooked a little bit, but people come in obviously for the big events such as the Guilford Fair and the Handcrafts Fair, but we also get a steady stream of visitors who come to Guilford because of what they’ve heard about our town history and the quaintness of Guilford, which includes the shopping and the dining and our location on the Sound. We also get a steady stream of descendants of Guilford’s founders who come to Guilford to explore their roots and to find out their personal history.”
Tomaselli said the GPA’s work is wide-ranging and includes sponsoring public educational forums on preservation and conservation, along with providing financial assistance to worthy restoration or preservation projects and publishing historical guides, among other things.
Board member Bernie Titterman said he joined the GPA not long after moving to Guilford in 2020 because of his love of history and his passion for the town.
“For me, preserving Guilford’s history, especially in terms of old homes. That’s what Tracy and [GPA president] Shirley [Girioni] do for this town. They are real advocates, and to me, critically important,” said Titterman. “We were lucky enough to find a home, and we really fell in love with Guilford. So for me, it’s just so enjoyable to be part of the town and be part of its preservation.”
The history that the GPA strives to preserve includes the regicide cellar where the rebels who deposed Charles I hid from the British, visits by George Washington and the Marquis de Lafayette, and the skirmishes fought in the salt marshes of Leetes Island and elsewhere against the British during the Revolution. Guilford’s past is steeped in both slavery and abolition, peace and war, with residents participating and, in many instances, sacrificing their lives in every conflict from the Revolutionary War to the Civil War to Korea, Vietnam, and Afghanistan.
According to Tomaselli, anyone interested in volunteering for the GPA can contact her directly. The organization needs not only permanent volunteers, but also for specific projects and events.
“We are always looking for board membership, and then also for everyday volunteers, and also for donations and contributions,” said Tomaselli. “I’m not sure folks in town know that all of the groups and organizations in town are in need of board members and volunteers. These types of organizations, like the alliance, can’t really exist without volunteers, so we encourage everyone to come and find out about us and what we do. We welcome anyone who is interested, whether they’ve lived in Guilford for one month or for 50 years.”
Tomaselli added that potential volunteers can assist around their own schedules and without being over-committed to monthly meetings or investing huge amounts of time.
“It’s really based on what their interest level is. Volunteering with the board is based on an individual’s time, as well,” Tomaselli said. “It doesn’t have to be overwhelming; it can simply be working on a sub-committee and working on a project that most interests them. They don’t have to be involved with every single project that the GPA does.”
For more information, visit www.guilfordpreservation.org.