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02/06/2024 03:40 PMThe Guilford Preservation Alliance (GPA) has completed the installation of new murals at the town’s Amtrak train station. The project began over a decade ago when the photo murals were installed on the station's south side; this new project, which emphasizes Guilford’s economic history, will see similar artwork go up on the north side of the tracks.
Ellen Ebert, chair of the Installation Committee at the GPA, said the project was a group effort that members have been diligently working on since the initial installation.
“We have been working for some time on this project. [Former GPA President] Harry [Haskell] had the original idea of putting pictures of the old train buildings of how they used to look to create interest on the south side of the tracks,” said Ebert. “It gets a bit complicated because Amtrak owns the tracks and CDOT [Connecticut Department of Transportation] owns the platform so we needed to get permission, but they were extremely helpful. Ellie Green was chairing this project originally, and she and Harry Haskell originally spearheaded the effort.”
The photo murals for this new installation on the north side will focus on Guilford’s commercial past. According to Ebert, gathering potential photos for the project was a travelogue through Guilford’s past.
“We were quite pleased with the original installation. And right away, there was thought as to what we might do on the northside platform. When you look across the tracks and see what used to be the canning factory, we thought, someday let’s do another exhibit on the other side that has to do with the things that were made and then shipped by railroads,” said Ebert.
Eventually, the group made the decision to expand the scope of the images to include a more complete overview of Guilford’s economic impact and history.
“When we began working on it, we decided to broaden the focus to all of the different ways people made a living in early Guilford, many of which used the tracks to transport their goods. So, we used the Keeping Society archives, the historical room at the library…and even Carl Balestracci, our former selectman, also was a great resource because he had such a great collection of images,” said Ebert. “Though Guilford was mainly an agricultural center, there were many other kinds of industries, and we wanted to highlight that.”
Three long panels will encompass the theme of “Made in Guilford.”
Featured images will include the local quarries, greenhouses, tomato canning, ice cutting, fishing, farming, and tourism industries, which all had a critical impact on the town’s economy throughout its history, according to Ebert.
“We have a great picture of workmen at the quarry working on the granite that is part of the base of the Statue of Liberty; we have a beautiful picture of an old canning label…there were all different ways of making a living, and there were so many beautiful images of this. That is the theme for this exhibit: how people lived and worked,” Ebert said. “It’s wonderful to capture it and to make history hold still and be able to picture life as it was in Guilford. We feel it gives a depth to what we see around us. The station is really special and unique in many ways.”
Since 2012, the GPA has been working with Amtrak to help preserve the brick water tower, a once critical component of the railroad service as it supplied the water to trains to make the steam for propulsion, and the old engine house, which still exists. According to the group’s website, they are currently in the process of finding a solution to stabilize the structures.
“For a number of years, the GPA has been working to preserve Guilford’s 19th-century railroad depot buildings and to identify development opportunities that would make the station a more attractive and integral part of our community. Recently, we received permission from Amtrak to bring professionals to the site to measure, photograph, and collect data on the buildings; to develop a stabilization plan; and to evaluate restoration requirements,” the site states.
GPA President Shirley Girioni said the project highlights the organization’s focus to inform both residents and visitors of Guilford’s unique history.
“Part of our mission is to educate people about Guilford. We wanted to emphasize the hub surrounding the station, and we did that with the original installation,” Girioni said. “This new exhibit focuses on products leaving Guilford by train. Guilford made ivory buttons at the old Clinipad, which is now condos; the whole town would come out for the tomato harvest and help with the canning process…everyone in town was encouraged to help. We feel it’s important to educate people as to what economic activities were occurring in Guilford. The committee has been tirelessly researching for photographs…it was really key that all of the same folks who worked on the original also worked on this project on the north side. It is such a wonderful project, and we are very grateful to all the participants who persevered and got it to be so accurate and informative. I think the more people understand the history of this little town…it makes their appreciation of our special town grow.”
The GPA is anticipating the final installation of the murals to occur in early to mid-February
For more information, visit www.guilfordpreservation.org.