This is a community Symposium presented by the Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation and its clean energy initiative TownGreen/2025 on Saturday afternoon November 11th, 2-6:00pm.
The event will explore whether preservation of our older homes and historic civic buildings is compatible the goal of becoming “green” through expert presentations, responses from a distinguished panel, and Q&A with the audience.
Cape Ann is actively pursuing two goals that are sometimes viewed as separate or opposed. One is for the preservation of Cape Ann’s historic buildings and homes, especially as Gloucester’s 400th anniversary approaches in 2023. The other is to seek alternate sources of clean energy, minimize consumption, and reduce our overall carbon footprint to counter the global forces of climate change.
We explore many aspects of the basic question: Can preservation and sustainability can be complementary rather than competitive goals?
Some of the issues emerged recently in the controversy about whether the Sawyer Free Library should build an all-new structure or work within an existing building envelope that was purposely designed to complement the landmark buildings of the Historic District.
In a sequence of four 50 minute sessions with 10 minute breaks, the Symposium will provide a friendly and informative forum in which residents may interact with professionals to discuss how these two worthy goals sometimes conflict or may go together.
LOCATION: The historic (1806) Gloucester Meetinghouse, home of the Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church, on the green at the corner of Church & Middle Street. Parking is available on the green, next door at St. John’s Church, and at the Sawyer Free Library. Accessible side entrance with an elevator is at 10 Church Street.
ADMISSION: Free (offerings gratefully accepted), refreshments available all afternoon
Cape Ann Community 