Much work was completed on the Guilford Country Store during April, 2012. The main contractors, Scott Mathes and Gabe Hulme, finished the first part of their work. In the basement 11 posts were installed on cement pads to bring the store’s floors up to the required code strengths. Framing was installed here for the boiler room and additional “sistering” and replacements were placed in the basement ceiling for increased strength in the store’s floor space.

On the ground floor, reinforcing timbers were installed above the ceiling to further strengthen the second floor ballroom/efficiency apartment above the store’s interior. This is being done now before a new ceiling is installed. Framing for the public handicapped accessible rest room was completed. 10 “ wide original floor boards have been saved for installation in the Southwest corner of the space where the Cafe area will be located. Plans are in place for the historic beaded ceiling boards and chair rails to be used there. The “second” Rumford fireplace will be left exposed but will not be used for fires due to chimney limitations.

Outside, a temporary drainage system was installed under the drip line along the front (Route US 5) side. Planning is being done for full drainage along the buildings exterior and the basement’s interior. The front door was removed and found to be unfit for use so a search goes on for a replacement. The narrow, vertical glass panes beside this door are being preserved and will be reinstalled in their original locations. Planning for the preservation of the West side windows by Paul Gardner of Brattleboro has been completed. These windows will allow natural light to flood the store interior-- something that has not been possible for decades since the windows were painted over and the light hid by the floor to ceiling shelving.

The end of April saw a spurt of planning for the work to follow. This will involve the installation of a sprinkler system; a grid for electrical fixtures; insulation; and plumbing connections for the rest room, the kitchen area, and the heating by wall mounted radiators. Involved in all this are contractors; state safety, code, and health inspectors; the architect, the construction manager, Preservation Trust of Vermont consultants, and the Committee members. The latter, in addition to their weekly meetings, held a work bee to remove excess dirt in the basement where the new posts were to be installed. During this month we were gratified to receive the donation of a number of essential kitchen items from the Starksboro, VT former general store-all courtesy of the Preservation Trust of Vermont. On a Sunday, Friends Of Algiers Village Inc. (FOAVI) volunteers journeyed to Starksboro in a rented truck; loaded the truck; and returned to Guilford to unload them-all in the same day.

During this month negotiations with prospective store operators continued, as did the FUND Drive. (please see elsewhere on this web page where your donations can be sent). To make the store economically feasible, the FOAVI hopes to minimize borrowing to accomplish all this. We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit so all donations to us are tax deductible.