7-Day 'Save the Shack Challenge Grant' Begins In Guilford

GUILFORD, CT — A seven-day "Save the Shack Challenge Grant" is underway in Guilford.

The estimate to restore the Grass Island red shack is $75,000, according to the town, and the Guilford Foundation has partnered with the Guilford Preservation Alliance to raise money for repairs and preservation. The shack was damaged in a storm last month.

From now until midnight on May 20, the challenge grant will match dollar-for-dollar all donations up to $7,500. Contributions are tax-deductible and will go directly to the town to restore and preserve the structure.

"We’re grateful to the GPA for its quick action to preserve our beloved Shack," said Guilford Foundation Executive Director Liza Janssen Petra in a news release. "Close to $19,000 has been raised to date thanks to incredibly generous neighbors and friends. We believe in the power of our community and hope to tap into the momentum with our Save the Shack Challenge Grant. It’s an opportunity for those who haven’t contributed to double their impact and show support for the iconic structure."

The history of the shack dates back to 1914 when a local druggist named J. Harrison Monroe decided to build a summer cottage on the west shore of Grass Island, according to a website dedicated to preserving the landmark.

The cottage was destroyed in a fire in 1936, and the cottage was rebuilt in 1940. However, to save the structure from hurricane damage, the shack was moved inland in 1950 where it has stayed ever since.

In the mid 1960s, the shack was sold to the town of Guilford and left under the control of the Parks and Recreation Department.

Over the years, small fixes were made to the shack, but it fell into disrepair.

In 2015, a fundraising effort to restore the shack and rebuild it started, and construction was completed in 2016.

For more information on the challenge grant and to donate, visit the Guilford Foundation website. Donations can also be made on the Guilford Preservation Alliance website.