The history of the town of Waterford is similar to that of many towns along the southeastern Connecticut shoreline. Residents take pride in their town's history of boat building and dairy farming, love their busy summer beaches and state parks, and recall fondly their teachers, schools and libraries.

Unlike many other towns in the region though, Waterford residents and employees of the Waterford Community Center have found an unusual and artistic way to showcase and preserve their town's history and the lives of its residents.

The community center is putting together a tile mural wall - part fundraiser, part art project - and is accepting sponsors' donations for commissioned tiles depicting town landmarks and scenery. The wall will display Waterford's history in a way that is both broadly applicable but also personally meaningful to individual sponsors.

"The whole purpose of the wall is to tell the story of Waterford," said Ellen Fougere, assistant director of senior services.

Sally Ritchie, senior services director and organizer of the tile mural wall, hopes the effort will both raise money and bring art to a community building in a way that is more unique than "standard brown plaques."

"We kept thinking, well we have this building that so many people go through, what could we do?" Ritchie said.

The tiles, which range in size from two inches by six inch to 12 inches by 18 inches and cost between $75 and $3,000, are created by Marion Grewbow, a ceramic artist based in Redding. Sponsors can donate to the Recreation and Parks Playground fund, the Senior Services Endowment fund or both, while having a favorite Waterford scene depicted in a tile.

Ritchie began researching similar project in other towns and came across one of Grewbow's tile mural walls at Old Saybrook's Acton Library. She received approval for the project in 2009 and hopes to see the wall completed by May of 2016, in time for the Community Center's 11th anniversary. Ritchie hopes the fundraiser will raise $50,000 for the Senior Endowment Fund, which will help seniors cover costs during difficult financial times or emergencies.

So far, there have been 40 sponsors. Tiles depicting Harkness Memorial State Park, Niantic River bridges, Waterford Beach, Waterford Public Library and historic homes have been created and are on display at the Community Center. Each tile also includes text describing the scene's history. Before scenes can be crafted, their histories are researched by self-proclaimed history buff Karen Menzies and town clerk and historian, Robert Nye.

Menzies, who has lived in Waterford for 50 years, said in addition to researching the history, she enjoys donating to a local cause.

"Part of our job is to thoroughly research (each scene) so that all of the information is correct. (For) so many of them, it feels like you're there," Menzies said. "The endowment fund meant a lot to me because we're helping Waterford people and I like giving locally. (The wall) was just an added bonus."

Sponsors have also found a way to include loved ones as part of a town scene. One such tile, sponsored by Ritchie, depicts Waterford Beach on a summer day, with beachgoers lounging in the sand or strolling along the water's edge.

"Anyone looking at it might say 'oh, (the artist) got the curve of the water just right," Ritchie said. "But I know the people that are in the picture."

Ritchie provided Grewbow with photos of Waterford Beach and of herself, her children and her mother, who has since passed away. Grewbow included their images in the scene.

"It's very personal to me, but not everyone else will know. I smile every time I see it. It's a wonderful remembrance for me of a time when my kids were little and I still had my mom. It's broad but it can be deeply personal too. They're telling stories of peoples' lives but they're also telling the story of Waterford. People can really customize it in their own way," Ritchie said.

To sponsor a tile or donate to the senior endowment, contact the Waterford Community Center at (860) 444-5839 or www.waterfordcommunitycenter.org

J.HOPPER@THEDAY.COM

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