The Julian A. Gregory Sr. Award for Historic Preservation
Given by the Wilton Historical Society, this award recognizes an individual or organization that has made a significant contribution to the preservation of historic places in Wilton and/or recognizes an individual who inspires others by their commitment, leadership and vision for helping instill a historic preservation ethic in others.
The award is named for Julian A. Gregory, Sr. (1874 – 1939) who was elected the first President of the Wilton Historical Society, and served from 1938-1939. The Wilton Historical Society was formed in 1938, prompted by distress over the proposed demolition of an historic barn. According to Bob Russell’s book Wilton: Three Centuries of People, Places and Progress, a group of citizens were: “Concerned specifically about the imminent removal of the horse sheds behind the Congregational Church, and generally about the changing character of Wilton” and shortly thereafter founded the Society.