The Wilton Historical Society is greatly concerned by the ongoing “unsafe to occupy” status of the Gilbert & Bennett School as declared by the Town of Wilton’s Health Department. The school building maintains an architectural and historical significance to the community, and the potential further deterioration of the building represents a loss of both a notable historic landmark and a valued community space.
At the time of its construction in 1915, the building was the largest and most state-of-the-art school structure in Wilton thanks to the generosity of the Gilbert and Bennett Manufacturing Company. It educated thousands of students over more than 50 years until its closure in 1971. Highly visible at a crossroads of one of the town’s busiest roads, the building itself is a successful and creative mix of several different architectural styles.
As the owners of 18 historic structures, the Wilton Historical Society not only recognizes the challenges of maintaining older buildings but also their value as a tangible connection to our shared past. For historic buildings, deferred maintenance only increases the difficulty and costliness of repairs. It has been communicated to us by the Town that funding remains the largest obstacle for the preservation of this structure and the other historic buildings it owns.
It is our hope that the Town of Wilton is able to prioritize this effort and quickly determine a path to preserve the building, and hopefully allow it to return to a habitable status. At a time when isolation, loneliness, and the separation of individuals within a community are persistently pressing issues, the significance of one fewer shared social space cannot be overstated.