GILBERTSVILLE — It's a gamble to utter the words “Christmas” or “shopping” in the same sentence this early in November – but exceptions can be made, especially when a charity is on the line.

Such a warranted deviation from this taboo is the Annual Christmas Bazaar to benefit the Major's Inn on Route 51 in Gilbertsville, now in its thirty-second year.

Since 1983 organizers at the historic site have hosted the event with one goal in mind – raising funds to preserve the historic landmark for future generations to marvel.

“The event is a volunteer effort,”said Executive Director of The Major's Inn Foundation, Cece Rowe. “The Bazaar is just one continued effort to raise funding for upkeep and restoration of the beloved and irreplaceable structure,” she added.

But this year fundraising for the Inn is all that more important. Earlier in 2015, the preservation board of the foundation learned that the aging slate roof of the stately structure had been failing and would need replacement – at a weighty cost the tune of $50,000 according to recent estimates.

“The cost is so significant because it's all original slate, not the typical asphalt shingles or steel that most ordinary homes and buildings have,” said Rowe. And with that, a slater with the proper special equipment and expertise – somewhat of a dying art – must to be hired to replace the leaky roof. “One of the copper turrets has to be completely rebuilt as well,” said Rowe.