MaineBusiness.com

PORTLAND, Maine – Greater Portland Landmarks (GPL) will mark the opening of its new home, the Center for Architecture and Preservation, with a series of events on Thursday, November 5. Landmarks purchased the historic Safford House at 93 High St. in Portland earlier this year.

• From 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. GPL staff and members of its Advisory Service will be on hand to answer questions about preserving your old house. Portland area residents are encouraged to bring photographs of their home to share. GPL has thousands of old photographs of area homes in its library.

• At 2:45 p.m. local dignitaries will join GPL members and staff for an official ribbon cutting for the Center.

• From 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. Earle G. Shettleworth, Jr., director of the Maine Historic Preservation Commission, will give a talk entitled “An architect of skill and taste: Charles A. Alexander’s contribution to Portland architecture in the 1850s.” Shettleworth will speak in the Auditorium of the Portland Museum of Art, 7 Congress St.

• The opening celebration will conclude at 7:00 p.m. with a reception and tour of the Center for Architecture and Preservation, 93 High St.

“We are thrilled to be able to welcome the public to our new home,” said Hilary Bassett, executive director of Greater Portland Landmarks. “The Center will be an important new gathering place for promoting architectural preservation and innovative, high quality design – a place where the past and the future can come together to ensure greater Portland’s vitality for generations to come.”

Built in 1858, the Safford House is attributed to Charles A. Alexander, the most prominent architect in Portland in the mid 1800s. Located on a highly visible downtown intersection at the corner of Spring and High Streets, it is across the street from two of Portland’s most important historic architectural gems, the McLellan House (1800) and Clapp House (1832), both of which are owned by the Portland Museum of Art.

The location also is significant to the early struggles of Portland’s historic preservation movement: the neighboring Holiday Inn, a boxy 1970s hotel, and the Spring Street arterial replaced an entire block of historic buildings that were torn down during the Urban Renewal era. Through the efforts of Greater Portland Landmarks, the arterial was stopped literally at the steps of the Safford House.

Following some initial renovations, Greater Portland Landmarks recently moved its offices to the Safford House. Additional work to fully restore the building and upgrade certain systems will take place over the next few years.

About Greater Portland Landmarks

For over 40 years, Greater Portland Landmarks (GPL) has worked to promote the preservation and revitalization of historic buildings, neighborhoods, and landscapes, and to encourage high-quality new architecture that enhances the livability and economic vitality of greater Portland, Maine. More information is available at www.portlandlandmarks.com.

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Contacts:

Toby Crockett
(207) 774-5561

or

Jed Rathband
(207) 332-1513