2025 ANNUAL APPEAL

Shaping preservation for our future

Together we can make a difference. Every historic place tells a story, and each one we lose reminds us of the importance of preserving our shared heritage. The recent loss of the east wing of the White House, despite its historic significance, shows how fragile our heritage can be without strong advocacy. In our 2025 Annual Appeal, discover the initiatives and issues we’re tackling, and why preservation is about more than buildings. It’s about community, identity, and the stories we share. Your past support, whether through donations, volunteering, or advocacy, has been invaluable. By helping us build a culture of giving, you ensure we have the resources to stand up for Portland’s heritage and defend the places that shape our shared identity.

2025 Annual Appeal Letter

Dear friends,

This has been a transformative year for Greater Portland Landmarks (GPL). We’ve built connections, completed a bold strategic plan, advocated for significant places and policies, and strengthened organizational capacity. This October, we brought the community together to award local preservation efforts and celebrate GPL’s 60th anniversary. What we experienced exceeded all expectations, and we are truly humbled.

I am proud to share how our supporters’ donations made a difference this year, allowing GPL to:

• Build a motivated team of professional staff to increase organizational capacity, further our mission, and strengthen connections in the community

• Expand outreach through The Observer, social media, and direct engagement

• Lead critical advocacy efforts to uphold preservation policy and strengthen rehabilitation tax credits supporting adaptive reuse

• Gain positive momentum and deepen engagement honoring local preservation successes and celebrating 60 years of GPL’s legacy

• Complete a five-year strategic plan to guide our future work, broaden our impact and constituency, and ensure preservation inspires every generation (see enclosed brochure to learn more)

Now, through our new strategic plan and with your partnership, GPL is committing to a powerful vision that guides our work to preserve Portland’s character, address contemporary issues including affordable housing and climate change, and increase the understanding and visibility of the City’s layered history. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, we rely on your donations to support our daily operations, programs, and ongoing work.

Your contribution is pivotal as we reach higher than ever with this year’s Annual Appeal goal of $100,000.

Major initiatives planned for the coming year will expand public programming and launch a Past to Future Campaign to connect more people with Portland’s history and the benefits of preservation. The Past to Future Campaign is a community-driven effort to explore what preservation means today and build consensus around how protecting sense of place can shape Portland’s future. Through workshops, neighborhood meetings, and educational materials, we will engage communities and learn what connects them to Portland’s history, culture, and sense of belonging. We will integrate those insights with our programs, advocacy, and long-lasting partnerships.

This engagement is crucial because preservation isn’t just about saving buildings; it’s about ensuring that Portland’s growth reflects the needs and stories of the people who call it home.

With your commitment and continued support, with the strong leadership and expertise of our Board and staff, and a clear vision ahead, we are ready to move forward at full speed. We need your help to raise the funds necessary to fuel our programs and bring our Past to Future Campaign to life. This is our shared moment to define the next chapter of preservation for the benefit of our city.

With profound appreciation, we ask invite you to help us reach our $100,000 goal. Even a modest gift of $25 will ensure that Portland’s story is protected and celebrated for generations to come.

Thank you for considering supporting this work.

Sincerely,

Your gift protects the places and stories that define Portland.

REALTOR® Program

 $500 REALTOR® Membership

• Free admission to 3 classes offered by Landmarks eligible for continuing education units approved by the Maine Real Estate Commission.

• Four free closing gift books about local architectural and cultural history to give to clients upon closing.

• Four free memberships (includes free admission to Portland Observatory throughout the season) to Greater Portland Landmarks, to give to clients, friends, or family.

• Four free admission passes to the Portland Observatory.

• Listing on our Business Partners website.

• Subscription to the Landmarks Observer.

 $1,200 REALTOR® Membership

• Unlimited free admission to classes offered by Landmarks eligible for continuing education units approved by the Maine Real Estate Commission.

• Unlimited free closing gift books about local architectural and cultural history to give to clients upon closing.

• Five free memberships (includes free admission to Portland Observatory throughout the season) to Greater Portland Landmarks, to give to clients, friends, or family.

• Five free admission passes to the Portland Observatory.

• Membership in the exclusive John Calvin Stevens Society, which includes all supporters of Greater Portland Landmarks at the $1,200+ level. You’ll receive invitations to John Calvin Stevens Society Events and other special events throughout the year.

• Listing on our Business Partners website.

• Subscription to the Landmarks Observer.

Landmarks Legacy Society

Including Greater Portland Landmarks in your estate plans ensures that the important work of preservation and of sharing our collective history will continue long into the future.

We are so very grateful to the thoughtful foresight of our Landmarks Legacy Society members and enjoy sharing their continued impact on our landscape with their surviving family members and friends.

We are delighted to share some stories of those that have meant so much to our history.

Linda R. Mansfield

Linda's great love was old buildings: their unique character, beauty and history. For her, each had a story worth discovering. She was instrumental in the renovation of six historic multi-family buildings in Portland, adapting them for modern housing, while maintaining historic integrity. She was a champion for women in preservation, particularly in the trades and served as a board member of Greater Portland Landmarks.

Janet C. McCaa

After earning a B.A. in economics from Wellesley College, Janet received a J.D. from Cornell Law School. One of only four women in her law school class, Janet was an early pioneer of women in the law. She was a founding director of the Portland Society of Architects and spent much of her free time at her home in Cape Elizabeth, Reach Haven, or renovating single family houses on Meeting Hill.

Norman F. Nelson, II

Norm was a husband, father and grandfather, sailor, international businessman, civic leader, historian, collector of books and friends. His civic leadership was grounded in a desire and duty to give back to a world that had given him so much and included volunteering with Greater Portland Landmarks. He passed the traits of love of travel, curiosity, discovery and learning to his children and grandchildren.

Dorothy Plummer

Dorothy was born, raised, and lived her entire 94 years on the Eastern Promenade in Portland. She attended Waynflete School and later joined the 1922 class at Wellesley. She was a proud voter in the 1920 election, and served for the American Red Cross during WWII. Ever interested in Portland’s built environment, she was a Charter Member of the Victoria Society of Maine Women of Achievement, with the ultimate goal of working to preserve and share the Victoria Mansion for the future.

Nan Sawyer

Nan was a beloved school teacher for many years, eventually becoming the Director of Special Education in Cumberland County. She then worked to become a prominent real estate broker, making lifelong friends in the process. She enjoyed having a glass of wine, vibrant conversations, dinners, attending cultural events, traveling the world and sharing special times with close friends.

Grace Trappan

Grace was beloved by many in the City of Portland. She served as the Portland Public Library’s head librarian from 1941-1970 and continues to give back to the city she loved with her bequest.

Landmarks Legacy Society Members

Edwin Currier*

Ed Gardner

Edward P. George*

Linda R. Mansfield*

Janet C. McCaa*

Virginia S. Merrill*

Norman F. Nelson, II*

Margaret Payson*

Dorothy Plummer*

Frank Rodway*

Bruce Roullard

Nan Sawyer*

Grace Trappan*

*Indicates deceased.

Have you included Greater Portland Landmarks in your estate planning? A gift of any size through a bequest ensures that we can continue to share the advocacy work, educational programs and love that we all have for our special places in Maine. Please contact us and let us know of your intentions. Your gift can be as anonymous as you’d like.

If you’re in the process of creating a will or estate plan or revising a current plan and would like to talk about your options for giving to Greater Portland Landmarks, please be in touch.

For additional information on planned giving, please contact Landmarks at 207.774.5561.

Greater Portland is home to hundreds of extraordinary local businesses that have helped define our character, culture and architectural heritage. We want to honor Maine-owned businesses that were founded more than 100 years ago and have come to symbolize greater Portland over the last century.

2020 Legacy Business Award Winners

Northern New England Preservation Directory

This list of of tradespeople, consultants, product providers, and experts who focus on historic preservation,
building restoration, and traditional construction methods is retained as a courtesy for our community.

The list has not been vetted for best work practices in the particular field or business policies and procedures.