● Guilford 250th Anniversary Celebration - 2011 ●

Guilford, Vermont’s 250th Anniversary

THE BIG WEEKEND, August 12-14, 2011

Friday, August 12

CONTRADANCE -- 6:30 pm -- Broad Brook Grange

The yearlong series of 250 events in 2011  features a Dance a Month at Broad Brook Grange. The 8th dance in the series returns to the style of the first one, way back in January, with a contradance.  Admission is free with donations to the 250 fund welcome.

Amy Cann, fiddler and caller, will lead the musical band, with includes Laurie Indenbaum, fiddle, and Carol Compton, piano, winds and accordion.

From 6:30 to about 8 pm, the emphasis will be on families and beginners.  Intermission will feature refreshments with a blueberry theme, available by donation to the 250th fund.  The second half of the evening, until we say goodnight about 9:30 pm, will be tailored toward more experienced dancers.  Everyone is welcome, and even those who just wish to watch and listen are encouraged to attend.  Reels, old Guilford dances, and waltzes will all be included.

Guilford Cares has offered to give rides to people who wish to attend events in the 250th  celebration.   Please call at least one day ahead of the event!  Those wishing to get a ride to an event should phone Susan Davis at 254-2240.

From Brattleboro Exit 1, proceed south to the Country Store & turn right on Guilford Center Rd.  Drive 4 miles: the Grange is on the right at 3940 Guilford Center Road.

Saturday, August 13

Big Day at Guilford Fairgrounds -- Parade -- Barbecue -- Fireworks 
ALL ADMISSION-FREE!!!!

We recommend you SPEND THE DAY with us, to avoid the traffic, get a good parking place, and have a convenient way to see and participate in everything.

GUILFORD FAIRGROUNDS OPEN 11:00 am

From Brattleboro I-91 Exit 1: South on Rte. 5, 1.3 miles to Algiers (Guilford) Village.  At the Country Store turn right onto Guilford Ctr. Rd.  About 2 miles on left turn onto Guilford Ctr. Rd.  Now you’re driving along the parade route, so don’t come at parade time!  Come early -- by 1 pm latest.  1 1/4 miles to Guilford Fairgrounds.  Free parking.  Spend the day!

11:30 am -- Kid's Baseball Tournaments on adjacent Whittemore Field

11:00 – 8:30  -- Food Vendors -- Includes: Mike's Park Bench (great fries          & more);
Anon's Thai (always a favorite); Blueberry Haus ice cream; Guilford Volunteer Fire Dept. Booth (hot dogs, burgers, drinks &c); Wood-fired Brick Oven Pizza

12:00 – 1:00 Horse Drill Team (from Bernardston) -- Horse Show Ring

2:00 pm -- Parade (all activities at fairgrounds “on break”)
(see end of this schedule for a sample of the 50+ units (!!!) in the parade.

3:30 – 5:00  All 5 Parade Bands and Baton Twirlers perform

4:00 – 8:00 -- Kids Games (most free, WITH PRIZES!) Face Painting.
                  Plus, other free stuff for kids during the day

4:00 – 8:00 -- Inflatables and Clowns
4:00 - ?? (depending on wind!)         Tethered Balloon Rides ($10)

5:00 pm -- We begin serving the much-anticipated FRANKLIN BARBECUE II
a re-creation of Guilford’s most famous event, the original,1957 Franklin Barbecue, with the same great side dishes (potato salad, sweet corn, rolls, & a drink) $15  Tickets on sale thru Thurs, 8/11, 5 pm at the Guilford Town Office, 236 School Rd.  Only 300 tickets available.  Remaining tickets, if any, at the entrance gate to the fairgrounds on Saturday.

5:00 – 9:00 Barn Dance with DJ Eric John

9:00 approx. -- FIREWORKS!!  Did we say “Fireworks”?  This will be the biggest fireworks display in Guilford’s 250 years.

And it’s all admission-free.  Donations to the Guilford 250th yearlong celebration cheerfully accepted.  AND, you may support us through purchase of a limited edition medallion keepsake, or key ring -- very few left!  Also our T and other shirts, handsome coffee mugs, fridge magnets, and, debuting at 5 pm a Franklin BBQ Commemorative Pint Glass.

 

SUNDAY, AUGUST 14 -- GO TO CHURCH(ES) IN GUILFORD!

On Sunday, August 14, all five of Guilford’s churches will be open to the public, and the day will begin and end with special church services for the 250th.

At 10:00 a.m., a service observing the anniversary will be held  in the Guilford Community Church, United Church of Christ, located at 38 Church Road, Guilford. This Church is one of two in East Guilford Village, popularly known as Algiers.  The service will be led by the Rev. Dr. Larrimore Crockett, Pastor Emeritus of the Guilford Community Church and author of  Safe Thus Far, a History of the Guilford Community Church, 1787-1997.

The morning  service will feature the hymns of Isaac Watts (1674-1748), whose hymns were extraordinarily popular in the American colonies, and undoubtedly were sung in all five of the town's churches, regardless of their denomination, or the era of their existence. In addition to several congregational hymns by Watts which will be sung,  anthems which are settings of his hymns will be  sung by the acclaimed 9:00 o'clock Choir of the Church, under the direction of Peter Amidon. Carole Moody Crompton, a member of the Community Church and one of the editors of Northern Harmony, a hymnal which includes many Watts hymn settings,  will contribute her knowledge of Watts’ background. Don McLean, co-chair of the Guilford 250th Anniversary Committee, will welcome the congregation.

The Rev. Dr. Crockett will reflect on the importance of music as a unifying force historically and in the ongoing life of the church. The service will remember and give thanks for those who contributed over the years to the religious life of the town and left a wonderful legacy both of architectural monuments and vital faith.

The service will be followed by a potluck luncheon which will be held downstairs in Rosa Zeller Hall and to which all are invited.  For further information about the service, you may call Rev. Crockett at 802-380-3669.

(From I-91, Exit 1, Brattleboro: Route 5 south about 1 1/2 miles.  Pass the Country Store.  Next road on left is Bee Barn Rd.  Turn left, go around the big red Bee Barn to the Community Church.)

Following the luncheon, all five of the Town’s churches will be open from 1:15 to 4:30 pm.  In addition to the Community Church, the village’s Christ Church will be open.  Also open will be churches in Guilford’s other three villages.  These buildings all date from the early to mid 19th century and no longer support congregations.

In West Guilford, the Baptist Church will be open for visits:  (If already in Guilford, turn opposite Country Store onto Guilford Ct. Rd.  About 4 miles & you’re in the village of Guilford Center.  After the Grange, on the corner with the Library, turn right onto Carpenter Hill Road, & take it all the way til it ends at Hinesburg Rd.  Turn right & very soon you’ll come to a curve in the road, and the church is on your right on the knoll.)

(If you’re going directly from Brattleboro to West Guilford, you may go to West Brattleboro and take Hinesburg Rd.  After the road enters Guilford, keep going until you come to the Church -- you’ll see it on the left.)

The Guilford Center Meeting House, in that central village, will also be open.  This is the former Universalist Church.  (From Algiers (Guilford) Village, opposite the Country Store turn onto Guilford Center Road, & travel about 4 miles to the village of Guilford Center.  Pass the Grange, then the Library & the Church is on your right.)

The Green River Church, in that village, will welcome the public to this, the Town’s former Methodist Church.  (Proceed as to Guilford Ctr, pass thru the Center, shortly after take the right fork & take the Jacksonville Stage Rd to the Village of Green River.)

At 5:00 pm, back in Algiers Village, Christ Church will conclude the day with a Service of Choral Evensong.  The first Episcopal Church in the State of Vermont, this building is still owned by the Diocese, and is managed by a non-profit community group, Christ Church Society.

Officiating at the Evensong Service will be newly-appointed Rector of St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, Brattleboro, Rev. Mary Lindquist.  Robert Anderson, of Guilford, a congregant at St. Michael’s, and former president of Christ Church Society, will read; and Carolyn Taylor-Olson, also of Guilford and St. Michael’s congregation, will deliver the Homily. Also reading will be Robert Barney, now of Concord, Mass., whose ancestors lived in Guilford from the early days of settlement.

The Service includes the Evening Prayer from the Prayer Book, and choral music.  Susan Dedell, Music Director at St. Michael’s Church, will play on the 1880 Patterson reed organ which has been at Christ Church since 1892, and will lead the St. Michael’s Choir.  Old hymns, which would have been sung at Christ Church in 1818, when the building was new, will be sung.

(From I-91 Exit 1 in Brattleboro, Rte 5 south 1 1/2 miles through Algiers (Guilford) Village, past the Country Store, past the road to the Community Church on the left, & go over the concrete bridge.  Christ Church is straight ahead of you, right side of road, & you may enter the churchyard either on the first right turn, then left, or pass the church on Rte 5 & turn right by the old district schoolhouse.

COME TO GUILFORD FOR OUR BIG WEEKEND!!!

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A sampling of the 50+ Units in the Big Parade:

Grand Marshal - Vermont Senator Stuart Hunt, of Guilford
Co-chairs, 250 Committee - Addie Minott and Don McLean (1963 Jeep)
Miss Vermont - Katie Levasseur with car courtesy of Auto Mall of Brattleboro
State Rep. Mike Hebert

 

Five major bands:

 

American Legion Band Post 5
Quaboag Highlanders Pipes & Drums
Middlesex County Volunteers Fifes & Drums
Seth Warner Mount Independence Fife & Drum Corps
Hills Bandwagon

 

Fire Departments:

 

Guilford Volunteer Fire Dept.
Brattleboro Fire Dept.
W. Dummerston Fire Dept.
Putney Volunteer Fire Dept.
Vernon Fire Dept.
Halifax Fire Dept.

 

State of NH Smokey Bear
with Chesterfield Fire Rescue

 

Wana B Fire Department with 2 mini fire trucks

 

Red Knights International Motorcycle Club VT Chapter

 

Animals:

 

Surprise Unit
Unit with Two riding Horses (Debbie & Erin Gendreau)
Two units with Horse and Buggies ( Gaines Farm & Carl Porrovecchic)
One unit with Horses and Wagon ( Tim Tyler )
One calf ( Cutting Farm, will be on their wagon)

 

Tractors, trucks and floats:

 

Guilford 250th Birthday Surprise
Guilford Community Church - choir and band
Guilford Excavating
Guilford Mineral Springs Float
Guilford Historical Society
Green River Village Preservation Trust
Gaines Farm
Cutting Farm 
Crossman Farm & Guilford Slate
Kerber Farm
Evans Family Float
Mayotte's Tree Service & General Maintenance
The Cast & Brass Antique Club
George Moore antique tractors
Hal Kuhns - 1952 Payloader "Hough"
Reed and Sons Rubbish
INSPIRE School for Autism
Brattleboro Area Baton Twirlers
Morris Dancers
Brattleboro Winter Carnival Princess
Southern Vermont 4 Wheelers
MORE!

A Year-Long Celebration of Guilford, Past and Present