Guilford celebrates its 200th birthday

By Stuart Hedstrom
Staff Writer

GUILFORD — The 12th edition of the Piscataquis River Festival on July 30 served as a birthday celebration for the town of Guilford which is the midst of its Bicentennial. After a 200-year themed parade concluded by the downtown athletic fields and the unveiling of the newly-named Dave Gaw Diamond, a Bicentennial ceremony took place on the festival stage.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom

TWO CENTURIES FOR GUILFORD — Rep. Paul Stearns (R-Guilford) reads a Legislative Sentiment from himself and Sen. Paul Davis (R-Sangerville), left, for Guilford’s Bicentennial during the community’s annual Piscataquis River Festival on July 30. Looking on is Town Manager Tom Goulette, second from right, and U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin.

“Welcome everybody to the Bicentennial celebration for the town of Guilford, the 200th anniversary,” Town Manager Tom Goulette, a native of the community, said. Goulette praised the “spirit of being from Guilford,” in which residents work hard and care for each other.

“This town only lives on through pride, the roots we put down and respect for each other,” Goulette said.

Sen. Paul Davis (R-Sangerville) said, “I really have deep roots to Guilford, my two children live here, my four grandchildren live here and my great-grandchild lives here.” Davis and Rep. Paul Stearns (R-Guilford) then presented Goulette with a Legislative Sentiment for the Guilford Bicentennial.

Stearns – who several years ago retired as superintendent of SAD 4 – said Guilford is his adopted hometown, moving to the area to start his career in education. “To me it’s the epitome of hard work and common sense,” Stearns said.

U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin (R-Maine) said the state has nearly 500 small towns “and most of them are in our terrific 2nd District and there is no better terrific small town than Guilford.” Poliquin praised the community’s tradition of hard work and manufacturing.

“Congratulations on this 200-year milestone and thank you for the opportunity to be here,” Congressman Poliquin said.