The New Hampshire Preservation Alliance announced its new list of the seven most endangered historic properties in New Hampshire on Tuesday, October 16, at the Historic Meetinghouse in Epsom. The Alliance's 2007 Seven to Save program recognizes individual properties in need of attention and resources and highlights the broader preservation challenges that face New Hampshire. The properties listed this year are all significant community landmarks - from Ashland's Victorian schoolhouse to Ossipee's quintessential Whittier covered bridge. The sites that were selected for the list are all significant architectural landmarks. Their needs range from structural restoration and fundraising to more complex planning for adaptive reuse or ownership transfer.

The Acworth Meetinghouse	Ashland Historic School

The Acworth Meetinghouse, built in 1821, is the oldest structure on the list. One of the state's best examples of neoclassical design, its steeple now sits on the ground in front of the church awaiting repairs. A Friends group that includes both church members and interested townspeople has been working since early 2006 to raise $800,000 to fully restore the steeple and address other building preservation needs. Kathi Bradt of Acworth summarized her group's challenge in their Seven to Save nomination: "the task is large, the need is pressing, the value is great."

"The community effort and enthusiasm in Acworth are model examples of grassroots preservation work and helped earn them this designation," said Jennifer Goodman, Executive Director of the Preservation Alliance. Goodman noted that the Preservation Alliance hopes to bring the hard work of community-based preservation groups to a wider audience, highlight critical preservation issues and emphasize the benefits of preservation to the character of our communities and the state's economic vitality.

Upper Village Hall in Derry	St. Anne Church in Mancuhester	Manchester's First High School

All four of the other properties named to the Seven to Save list are currently vacant and un-cared for: the Upper Derry Village Hall in Derry, the Burley-DeMeritt Farmhouse in Lee, Manchester's first High School on 88 Lowell Street, and St. Anne Church in Manchester. The former Sargent Museum building at 88 Lowell Street is currently for sale. The Lee Heritage Commission is hoping to partner with UNH to raise private funds to rehabilitate the run-down Burley-Demerrit Farmhouse as an office and guest house for the new organic dairy farm on the same property. And the Friends of St. Anne are working toward a re-development plan that would re-use the de-consecrated church building as a home for various services to the immigrant community.

Burley-DeMeritt Farnhouse in Lee	Whittier Covered Bridge in Ossipee

Peter LaBombarde, who chaired the Seven to Save Committee for the Preservation Alliance's Board of Directors, noted that "selecting just seven sites for recognition was difficult this year because we received so many worthy nominations." He added that, "through our new shared field service program with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, we are better positioned to provide services and support for all of these endangered properties across the state, not just the seven that were named to the list."

The Seven to Save program is generously sponsored by Lincoln Financial Foundation, The Anagnost Companies and GV Engineering, LLC. Criteria for selection included the property's significance, imminence of threat, and the impact of Seven to Save listing.

The 2007 Seven to Save List:

The 2007 Seven to Save List:

The Acworth Meetinghouse, Acworth, built in 1821, overlooks the village green. It is one of the finest examples of a Neo-Classical meetinghouse in New England. By 2006, structural deterioration had prompted the removal of the steeple, which now sits on the ground awaiting restoration. An estimated $800,000 is needed to restore the building. The Acworth Meetinghouse Restoration Project Committee is directing the community fundraising campaign. Contact: Kathi Bradt, 603-835-2567. www.acworthmeetinghouse.org

Ashland Historic School, Ashland, built in 1877, sits prominently on a hill overlooking the village. It is a notable example of a Victorian brick schoolhouse. The school closed in 1990 and has been neglected since. The School Board planned to demolish the building, but the Historical Society and others advocated for its sale to Tri-County Community Action Program, Inc.  LCHIP made a 2001 grant for this purchase.  After many hurdles, Tri-County CAP now believes the transfer of real estate will be completed soon.  Contact: Miriam Brown, Tri-County CAP, 603-752-7001.  www.oldashlandnh.org/SaveOurSchool.htm

Whittier Covered Bridge, Ossipee, constructed 1870, is one of just twenty surviving examples of the Paddleford Truss and is on the National Register of Historic Places. It is in danger of structural failure. The town, which owns the bridge, has appropriated some money for emergency stabilization and applied for federal and state grants, but will need additional funds to restore it for use. Contact: Robert Gillette, 603-539-4742

St. Anne Church of Manchester, dedicated in 1850, was the third Roman Catholic parish founded in the state and the rallying point for early Irish immigrant groups in the city. It was closed in 2003 and is currently for sale. The Friends of St. Anne Church recently shifted focus from trying to keep the church open to finding a sympathetic user who will restore the historic landmark for community use. Contact: Sean Markey, 603-361-2018 

Burley-DeMeritt Farmhouse, Lee, built in 1874, is typical of the large family farms that characterize the town of Lee.  It has been owned by the University of New Hampshire for decades.  The university is presently operating an organic dairy farm on the site, but has no definite plans for preserving the farmhouse. The Lee Heritage Commission seeks the house's cooperative reuse as a guesthouse or caretaker's residence. Contact: Laurel Cox, 603-868-1822 or Laura Gund 603-659-2044

Manchester's First High School, built 1841, served Manchester's educational needs for well over a century.  However, it has been largely neglected since the 1980s.  In 2002, the city sold the building to the Sargent Museum, which filed for bankruptcy without making any building or site improvements.  The Probate Court just recently released the building for sale.  Contact: David Beauchesne, Manchester Heritage Commission, 603-624-6450

Upper Village Hall, East Derry, a two-story Italianate building in the town's National Register Historic District, has struggled for decades to remain a vital part of the community. The building was dedicated in 1876 as the town hall and has had a variety of functions over the years. While the town considers demolition, the many non-profits who have used the building and the East Derry Village Improvement Society argue for restoration. Contact: Richard Holmes, 603-434-6042