Anyone who knows old houses will tell you that preservation is not a one-shot event, but rather an ongoing effort. The Deacon John Grave House underwent a major, award-winning preservation and restoration in the late 1980's. But by 2012 it was clear that the roof needed replacement.
The material for the roof -- cedar "hand splits" -- was purchased with the help of major donors including the Summer Hill Foundation, Guilford Savings Bank, and the Erwin C. Bauer Charitable Trust. The Madison renovation-contracting firm of Gulick & Spradlin, LLC, volunteered labor for the job, and more than 50 local businesses, along with family charities and individuals, contributed to the success of a major fundraising event held at the Grave House in October.
