Archaeological Dig Downtown (With Video)

The Guilford Savings Bank property at 589 Boston Post Road, at the corner of Route 79, in downtown Madison is the site of an archaeological dig.

The archaeologists from the company conducting the dig, Archaeological Consulting Services (ACS) of Guilford, CT declined comment on the specifics of the dig Wednesday afternoon, as they were in the midst of digging, screening dirt, and depositing objects in plastic bags that were then marked.

A call to Guilford Savings Bank Wednesday afternoon likely will be returned later this week, the bank said.

Madison First Selectman Fillmore McPherson said it was his understanding that gravestones may have been found on the property, but that it was not clear whether there was a grave site on the property or whether the gravestones were moved there from a grave site elsewhere.

"Back in the day, when people shut down a graveyard, people in the family would collect the gravestones," he said, adding that he did not know the exact status of the operation underway at the Guilford Savings Bank property.

Guilford Savings Bank has met numerous times with town boards in recent months, following its purchase of the property, which used to house a real estate agency. There are plans to demolish the smaller rear building and to relocate the main building about 35 feet to the west, according to minutes from those meetings. Moving the building will allow for better traffic circulation, an improved foundation on the building, and a "more graceful" handicap accessible entrance, bank officials have said.

The buildings, on .63 acres, were built in 1812, according to real estate records. The property marks the end of the town's historic district, which runs from 446 Boston Post Road to 589 Boston Post Road. The town's commercial district begins immediately on the other side of Route 79.

There are approximately 50 buildings in the historic district, most of them built between 1675 and 1830.