Collaboration is at the heart of any preservation program.  Protecting a landscape, a landmark, or an archaeological site can often benefit other community efforts, like encouraging economic development, educational outreach, and exhibiting community pride.  At the Edge Hill Service Station, our window restoration dovetails nicely with our love of the arts.  “In what way?” you might ask.  The design of this 1930 Texaco “Denver-style” station was intended to convey a familiar and reliable business, recognizable across a region, but personalized to its time and community.  In many ways, public art, whether sculpture, murals, or the landscaping of our byways, are part of our community’s identity – a symbol of who we are and what we value.

The Fairfield Foundation values art and the preservation of our community’s identity, past and present.  We are lucky to have a wonderful location with exposure to 19,000 cars a day who view our building’s lengthy facades and large windows.  As we stabilize the building, we are protecting the newly restored windows with temporary exterior covers.  Rather than unsightly sheets of plywood, though, we decided to collaborate with Leslie Belvin of Art Builds Community and Gloucester Arts on Main to find five local artists who would design original works of art that would also protect the station’s restored windows (scroll down to see each piece).  Together, we are promoting preservation and the arts.  The artwork will be auctioned in the spring of 2012, with the proceeds benefiting all involved.  The Fairfield Foundation hopes to collaborate with other non-profit organizations in our community to promote our shared goals and to improve the quality of life throughout the Middle Peninsula.