Town Meeting Results: 2024
There was no snow storm this year at town meeting, but an early and vicious mud season certainly snarled some voters. Across New Hampshire, the Alliance tracked various articles related to Seven to Save properties, formation of Heritage Commissions, and general investments in historic properties.
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New Heritage Commissions
Two towns approved the formation of a Heritage Commission: Epsom and Effingham (where it will be merged with the existing Historic District Commission). Effingham voters also approved the creation of a Heritage Fund and seeded it with $500. These two towns will join more than 60 other communities with Heritage Commissions, in towns ranging in population from 300 to 110,000. The Preservation Alliance and our partners at the Division of Historical Resources were happy to help both communities explore the benefits of Heritage Commissions.
Conway will decide whether or not to adopt the Community Revitalization Tax Incentive (79-E) at town meeting on April 9th. If passed, Conway would join more than 60 communities that have approved this incentive for rehabilitating historic properties.
Sale of Historic Buildings
The need for new uses, the desire for more tax revenue, and/or the hope of improved municipal offerings led to voters in several towns debating property transfers this year.
In Boscawen, voters approved the sale of two historic buildings. The 1913 Library (at right), listed to Seven to Save in 2013, will be sold with deed restrictions that protect its significant architectural features. The 1892 Torrent Fire Station in Penacook will be sold to the occupying Rescue Squad.
In North Charlestown, the National Register-listed Farwell School will close, following a narrow approval. The 1890 Romanesque building will revert from the Fall Mountain School District to the Farwell Trust.
And in Alexandria, the Haynes Library will become a true public library if the Charitable Trust Unit and courts approve the transfer of property and assets. The Preservation Alliance assisted the library community with a state register nomination for the 1894 building.
Voters in Grafton approved a petitioned warrant article to subdivide and sell the town-owned East Grafton Union Church parsonage, a c.1840 Greek Revival house that was threatened with demolition. Though the sale must still be negotiated, the new owner pledges to restore the building.
In Orford, the town approved further study of acquiring the Main Street Congregational Church (Seven to Save 2023), but rejected $10,000 to fund further studies and surveys.
Investments in Historic Buildings
Several towns approved significant investments in municipal buildings this year. While it is difficult to predict voter behavior, common themes for success include: reasonable asks that show thought and research, significant/visible buildings that touch the lives of residents, collaborative efforts with support from various groups in town, and persistence.
In Canaan, the town library will receive $187,000 in exterior repairs, including painting. The 1923 building, originally built as a Knights of Pythias Hall, was listed to the state register with help from the Preservation Alliance.
In Lyme, voters approved $690,000 to rehabilitate the Edgell Covered Bridge. Funding will come from an existing capital reserve fund, donations, and taxation.
Bethlehem voters approved $180,000 in roof repairs to the Heritage Center, listed to the state register. The late 19th century building, formerly a café for the grand hotels along Bethlehem’s Main Street, serves as a museum and visitor’s center.
Another roof project in Swanzey was also approved. The Golden Rod Grange’s trusses will receive structural reinforcement and a new roof covering to the tune of $110,000. The National Register listed building received an historic building assessment from the Preservation Alliance in 2020.
In Littleton, the Community Center annex/carriage house got the thumbs up for $50,000 in town money to help match a $100,000 LCHIP grant. The advocates for the former Seven to Save property plan to start a foundation and structural repairs project this summer.
And in Weare, a $30,000 article to fund cemetery repairs passed. The funding will aid in resetting tombstones and repairing monuments.
Failed Articles
Sometimes, despite best efforts and tireless campaigning, things don’t go as planned.
In Freedom, dueling attempts to provide town employees with new office space both failed. Two $1.6 million articles sought to either build an entirely new town office outside of the village or extensively renovate the historic, state register-listed town office (former school). The Preservation Alliance will help the Heritage Commission study the historic town offices and develop a plan for 2025.
In Northwood, a petition to secure $39,500 in town funding to support a community center at the Congregational Church (Preservation Achievement Award winner, 2017) failed.
And Grafton voters rejected a proposal to accept a free $1 million library, to be built around the frame of a c.1810 double English barn frame. The CDFA funding secured for the project hinged on town approval; that funding will now benefit another community.