About Us
The Greater Litchfield Preservation Trust is dedicated to protecting and restoring the architectural, historical, and cultural heritage of Litchfield, fostering community and ensuring its preservation for generations to come.
Founding the Litchfield Preservation Trust
Inspired by a visit to the restored Town of New Harmony, Indiana, in 1975 Sonia P Seherr-Thoss and Hans C Seherr-Thoss, with several other Litchfield residents, established The Greater Litchfield Preservation Trust, Inc. On July 2, 1975, the Trust was incorporated as a nonstock corporation in the State of Connecticut. As stated in its Certificate of Incorporation, its three principal purposes are as follows:
- “To preserve, maintain, restore and/or protect those real properties, with any improvements thereon, and personal property incidental thereto in the Town of Litchfield and vicinity which have architectural, historical, educational or general cultural significance to perpetuate such heritage of Litchfield and its vicinity for public edification and enjoyment.”
- “To encourage study and research relative to such properties and to disseminate information relative thereto.”
- “To hold any such properties either absolutely or in trust; to sell and convey, mortgage or lease any property, real or personal; to construct or demolish buildings; to invest and reinvest any funds, stocks, bonds or other securities acquired by the corporation; to borrow money, issue obligations therefore an mortgage or pledge any or all of the corporation’s property as security for such borrowings.”
The vision of Mr. and Mrs. Seherr-Thoss was that it was important to maintain the economic viability of the commercial block in the Borough of Litchfield and the renovation of the Post Office became the Trust’s first project. They clearly saw that by allowing the Post Office to leave the heart of Litchfield that an important aspect of the history of Litchfield and its sense of community would have been lost. By their creation of the Trust and the renovation of the Post Office on South Street, an important partnership was created consistent with that goal and the preservation of the ”architectural, historical, educational or general cultural significance” of the center of Litchfield.
Those individuals who contribute the sum of $10 or more per year for the purposes of the corporation are members and are entitled to one vote at all meetings of members of the corporation. The members elect nine directors who in turn annually elect officers.
The Trust is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) corporation such that donations to the Trust are charitable contributions as provided by the Internal Revenue Code.
Preservation Through Partnerships and Projects
The Greater Litchfield Preservation Trust, a 501c3 tax-exempt entity under the Federal Income Tax Code, is the parent of the operating partnerships organized to own and operate the real properties which, from time to time, it may acquire. At present there are two such operating partnerships: (1) The Litchfield Preservation Limited Partnership owns and operates the Post Office Building, originally known as the Josiah Beckwith Building, at 16 South Street and (2) The Litchfield Agricultural Center, LLC owns and operates the building formerly known as the Agricultural Center at 26 West Street. The Trust owns shares in each of these partnerships and is the managing partner for both.
In addition to restoring the Josiah Beckwith building and the Agricultural Center to commercial viability, the Trust has found a number of ways to pursue the purposes of its founding without purchasing and managing real property. Such projects have included a municipal parking study, an inventory of buildings over fifty years old, the burying of utility wires, the purchase of street lamps, the reconstruction of the water fountain on the village green, and a study for the adaptive reuse of the old jail.
In 2017 the State of Connecticut vacated the Litchfield County Courthouse and terminated its interest in the structure. The Trust acquired the Courthouse in order to preserve and protect the architectural and historic features of the building and to facilitate repurposing it to serve the long-term interests of the people of the Town of Litchfield.
The Trust also awards private individuals for their exemplary efforts at historic preservation. Trustees meet monthly in an unceasing effort to pursue the Trust’s mission.
Officers & Directors of the Trust
OFFICERS
Perley H. Grimes Jr., President
Paul Hinkel, Vice President
Kay Carroll, Secretary
Timothy Breslin, Treasurer
DIRECTORS
Sean Fogarty
L. Cleveland Fuessenich
John Jakimetz
Will Neary
Richard Quay
Susan Weston
Jeffery Zullo