It has been said that it “takes a village” and Hilltop Guild has been building community since the early 1930s in the Peak to Peak region. The Guild is housed in the historic Kelley House, located off Highway 7 just as you are entering the Allenspark area.

The Guild is not a club, a society or a commercial venture but it is a group of women who formed to build community in a sparsely populated area that didn’t provide much opportunity for social interaction. The association was founded as a productive and creative outlet that would provide a way to enrich the greater Allenspark area. The name was officially recognized in 1948.

In 1954, the Hilltop Guild was officially recorded with the Secretary of State for Colorado. It was also in this year that the historic Kelley House was deeded over by the Kelleys to be used as the meeting place for the Guild. Along its almost 90 year history the group has obtained other properties such as the Bunce Schoolhouse, just down the road from the Kelley house. The Guild owns and is caretaker of the original Allen house site in Pine Valley about two miles west of Kelley house. The new Fire Barn named in honor of Marge McCullough was deeded to the Allenspark Fire Protection District in 2015 by the Guild.

The Bunce Schoolhouse was built in 1888 by Dick Rowley to provide for the education of children in the local communities of Riverside, Raymond, Heathermeade and Peaceful Valley. It was granted historic designation in 1986.

The Guild is a philanthropic group which provides scholarships to help local children, and anyone in the community in crisis. They also work in the community to visit nursing homes and help the food banks at The Old Gallery in Allenspark and Crossroads in Estes Park. Dues pays for the scholarships, crisis help and building maintenance. A lot of the building maintenance comes from volunteer help (mostly husbands!).

The Annual Bazaar was a fun filled event enjoyed by the community and guests to the area on Saturday, August 6. Visitors enjoyed the crafts fair and demonstrations of weaving inside and outside the historic site. Live music was provided by The Band and Sharon Armes Doucet Group. Food was plentiful and a large diversity of cuisine was represented.

The Bazaar is the main fundraiser but there are others throughout the year. This year the Bazaar was anticipating turnout to be in the “hundreds.” The group is tentatively looking at September 24 as the date for Fall Fest, a smaller event with Christmas items included and possibly a chili lunch. This event is described as a more intimate “fallish feel” with the community hanging out and talking on the porch. They are also planning a fundraiser for local Allenspark FPD firefighter Will who was injured in a car accident. This event will be in early October.

The Warped Weavers meet every Tuesday at the Kelley House.

This reporter wants to say, “Thanks to Barb Coles, treasurer, for all of her information about the Hilltop Guild during a very busy event the Annual Bazaar.”

The Hilltop Guild is located at 18720 Highway 7 in Allenspark. Contact them by phone at 303-747- 2001. For additional information check out their website at https:// hilltopguild.com/ for information on events and fundraising. And follow their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/TheHilltopGuild/.