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A Guilford Minute: Fire Alarm System, 1917

In June 1917, a new fire alarm system was installed at Norton’s garage, 78 Boston Street, and connected with the local telephone exchange. When a fire broke out, callers were to notify the Central Telephone office on Whitfield Street, and the operator was to “pull” the alarm.

The borough officials arranged a system of signals for use when the fire whistle was put in commission to inform people of the location of the fire. The apparatus required seventy pounds of compressed air, to blow a signal three times, and was to be powerful and loud enough to be heard all over the borough in any kind of weather condition. [Read more…]

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A Guilford Minute: Whist—Past and Present

Whist is a classic English trick-taking card game which was widely played in the 18th and 19th centuries. The game takes its name from the 17th Century whist (or wist) meaning quiet, silent or attentive.

The classic game of whist is a plain-trick game without bidding for 4 players in fixed partnerships. A standard 52 deck of cards is used. The cards in each suit rank from highest to lowest.

Each player is dealt 13 cards, the trump suit for each trick (or round) is indicated by the last card dealt (to the dealer). [Read more…]

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Guilford and World War I

The United States did not officially join the allies, but acted as an independent power, supplying major contributions of raw material, money, and soldiers.

During the war, the U.S. mobilized over 4 million military personnel, more than 2 million of those fought in the battlefields in France under General John Pershing, Commander-in-Chief of the American Expeditionary Forces.

During the first World War offensive weapons of mass destruction and defensive strategies and tactics, unlike anything seen in previous wars, were developed. Tanks were built and used in response to the stalemate of trench warfare. Modernized submarines armed with torpedoes and deck guns were used. Giant zeppelins and airplanes were used for surveillance, bombing raids, and aerial dogfight combat. Poisonous gas killed thousands before gas masks were distributed. Flamethrowers, machine guns, field artillery, and skin burning mustard gas unleashed horrific results. Carnage was huge. [Read more…]

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A Guilford Minute: 19th Century Aid

An article in 1821 mentioned that a few had aided in missionary work “for the Heathen”, but encouraged more participation. [1]

Later that year, donations of clothing, bedding, goods and cash, were collected for the Elliot Mission. The Elliott mission attempted to bring the Indians of the Choctaw nation to salvation through making the Indians use the English language, civilizing their habits, and making them Christian in their religion. [2] [3] [4]

In 1823, the Ladies’ Society in North Guilford raised $332 and a couple articles of clothing for the Foreign Mission School in Cornwall. [Read more…]

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A Guilford Minute: Signed, Sealed, and Delivered

Have you ever heard the phrase – signed, sealed and delivered?

This idiom refers to a legal deed, which to be valid had to be signed by the seller, sealed with a wax seal, and delivered to the new owner.

“Signed and sealed and delivered” was a phrase used in a letter from Samuel Andrews to Mr. David Naughty dated March 27, 1732. The letter confirmed Mr. Andrews’ receipt of Margarett Naughty, the niece of David Naughty and the details of her indenture-ship until eighteen years of age.

Other letters were signed, sealed and delivered by the Post Office. [Read more…]

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A Digital Tour of Architecture Around the Green / Guilford Preservation Alliance Awards for Efforts of Preservation

A Digital Tour of Architecturally Significant Buildings around the Green   
Followed by
  The Guilford Preservation Alliance Awards for Significant Efforts of Preservation
Join Dennis Culliton and Virginia Gresham as they demonstrate the newly available digital tours of Guilford Center.  These tours include historical photographs and detailed audio recordings describing the history and architectural features of important local buildings.  The tours can be accessed at the location sites through QR codes.

Following the digital tour GPA President Shirley Girioni will lead the Guilford Preservation Alliance’s Annual Meeting which will include the presentation of 8 awards for significant efforts of preservation by individuals and groups in the town of Guilford
Monday, September 26 at 7 pm
Guilford Free Library
Sponsored by the Guilford Preservation Alliance and the Friends of the Guilford Free Library. To register,
please call (203) 453-8282, stop by the reference desk or click here
Guilford Free Library ~ 203-453-8282 ~ guilfordfreelibrary.org ~ 67 Park Street
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