Support celebration of Gilford's 200th birthday by passing Article 20

To the editor,

As the Gilford Historical Society’s representative to the Gilford Bicentennial Celebration Committee I would like to let Gilford residents know that in 2012 Gilford will be celebrating its 200th birthday. On June 16, 1812 Gilford was officially declared a town, no longer a part of Gilmanton, and on Saturday, June 16, 2012 it is planned that the official proclamation will be read in Gilford Village. Governor Lynch has been invited and plans are underway to invite other dignitaries as well. Jane Ellis is busy composing an official Bicentennial song for the occasion.

The Bicentennial Committed would like the celebration to be a town-wide celebration, with many organizations and volunteers taking part during the planning stages in 2011 and during the yearlong celebration in 2012. The committee sees itself fulfilling two roles, that of a coordinator ensuring that there are a variety of special events offered by various organizations, as well as planning events itself. It is hoped that the events will spotlight different eras of our town history.

Plans are underway for an official Bicentennial T-shirt, both to promote the event and as a fundraiser. A contest is planned to create an official Bicentennial logo that will appear on the front with a schedule of the year’s events on the back. The Bickfords, owners of Kitchen Cravings, are offering a gift certificate to their restaurant to the creator of the winning design. The Committee needs seed money to order the T-shirts so that they can be sold during Old Home Day in 2011 and at the Gilford Middle High Craft Fair in December of 2011. We are hoping the town will advance this money to be reimbursed by the sale of the T-shirt (an idea borrowed from the Old Home Day committee which has been successfully implemented for several years as a way to help defray some of their annual expenses). Any profit above the cost of the shirts will be used to cover cost of other activities. To this end, the Bicentennial Committee has petitioned to have Article # 20 placed on the town warrant asking for $3,000 as seed money to buy the shirts this year and for operating costs to book speakers, programs for 2012, also for publicity, including posters and flyers. We urge the taxpayers of Gilford to vote “yes” on this article to help our Bicentennial Celebration be a memorable one for all.

Since a number of Gilford residents fought during the Civil War, the Gilford Historical Society is making plans to host a special Civil War Day on Saturday, July 7th at the Village Field. There will be an reenactment camp set up, with participants in authentic garb and visitors will be able to talk with them and get an idea of what it was like for those who were in the army during 1861-1865. In addition, steps are being taken to arrange for a visit by President Lincoln, portrayed by New Hampshire Humanities scholar Steve Wood. The day will conclude with a concert by the 12th New Hampshire Regiment Serenade Band playing authentic instruments and using music from that time period. The Historical Society is pleased to host this event, so it will be free and open to the public.

Some of the events that are in the planning stages are as follows: the Library will host its annual Mother’s Day Tea on May 12th and it will have a Bicentennial theme, the Gilford Cemetery Trustees will hold a Cemetery Walk at Pine Grove Cemetery,” Gravestones Come To Life” on July 14th and October 13th, there will be a Tea and Fashion Show featuring clothes of an earlier era (no date set at this time), and on November 10th the Gunstock Mountain Historic Preservation Society will held a Ski-Ball, similar to what was held at the Gunstock Lodge back in the 1940’s.

The Bicentennial Committee has been quite busy. We ask the Town voters to show its support in two ways. First, by voting “Yes” on Article #20 and second, by offering to be on a subcommittee to help with the planning. You may contact Bill Bickford, Chairman, at 293-0685 or bilsal@metrocast.net, or Kathy Lacroix, Gilford Historical Society representative at xteachkL@metrocast.net. or 524-3390.

Kathy Lacroix

Gilford Historical Society Rep

to Gilford Bicentennial Committee