6/17/2004 - Manchester, NH
MANCHESTER, N.H.-The New Hampshire Preservation Alliance
recognized recent achievements in historic preservation on June 17
with awards to seven rehabilitation projects, two towns for their
stewardship of historic places, a heritage education project
conducted by fifth graders, and Harry S. Kinter of the Federal
Highway Administration.
"The winners reflect the positive and tenacious quality of
preservation efforts today," said Christopher P. Williams, a
board member of the Preservation Alliance, and chair of its awards
committee. He noted that many of the projects revived community
landmarks, included effective collaboration between business,
non-profit agencies and government agencies, and serve as important
catalysts for further community development efforts. The Land and
Community Heritage Investment Program provided critical funding for
two of the community projects.
Restoration and rehabilitation awards went to:
· Soldiers and Sailors Monument, Portsmouth
· Emily Cross House, Rochester
· Alumni Hall Cultural and Visitor Center, Haverhill
· America's Credit Union Museum, Manchester
· The University of New Hampshire's Murkland Hall, Durham
· Franklin Antiques Market
· The Stanley Tavern, Hopkinton
The Town of Franconia was recognized for its care of the Abbie
Greenleaf Library and the Town of Hudson for its planning and
stewardship of the former Benson's Animal Farm site. The
teachers and students of a fifth grade class at Antrim's Great
Brook School received an award for their "Hancock: Then and
Now" publication. Harry S. Kinter, a career employee of the
Federal Highway Administration, was recognized for his leadership
in public policy. Colleagues emphasize that he is an innovative and
forceful advocate for historic bridges, villages and other historic
and archeological resources who has forged a highly effective
partnership between transportation and historic preservation
interests.
The awards were presented at Manchester's Palace Theatre.
Three New Hampshire authors - Kevin Gardner, Howard Mansfield and
Joe Monninger -- who explore preserving traditions and special
places in their writing read from their work and discussed
preservation and community identity. The event was generously
underwritten by TMS Architects and Devine, Millimet &
Branch.
Since 1989, the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance has
recognized individuals, organizations or corporations for work or
projects in categories of restoration and stewardship;
rehabilitation and adaptive use; public policy; and educational and
planning initiatives. Past winners include the revitalization of
the Weirs Beach sign, Blow-Me-Down Grange in Plainfield, historic
Holman Stadium in Nashua, Wentworth-by-the-Sea Hotel and Grace
Episcopal Church in Manchester.
MORE ABOUT THIS YEAR'S AWARDS
The rehabilitation of the historic Shephard Block as Franklin
Antiques Market revived this signature commercial building,
contributing to the revitalization of Franklin's downtown.
The accumulated layers from recent uses were removed and the
historic finishes were restored in accordance with the Secretary
of the Interior's preservation rehabilitation standards in a
Certified Rehabilitation. The new use is an excellent fit for
this 1890 department store which has 10,000 square feet with high
tin ceilings and well-lit display spaces for antiques. This
project was noteworthy for its simplicity, using the
building's historic assets to full advantage without
additional embellishments.
Partners:
James Crowley
Jeff Calley
Once a landmark of Hopkinton Village, the Stanley Tavern had
become a derelict three-unit apartment house when owners Jill and
Bob Wilson, with their son Benjamin, and help from architect Max
Ferro, uncovered the physical and historical evidence of the
building's use as a tavern which had been run by Theophilus
Stanley for seven decades beginning in 1791. Intact taverns are
rare, and this rehabilitation preserved significant features like
the original beehive ovens in the tavern fireplace and the
suspended walls of the second floor meeting room that can swing
up to create one, two or three rooms. The building is a
significant contributing structure in the center of the Hopkinton
Village historic district thanks to the hard work of the
Wilsons.
Award-winning features of the restoration of this statue
honoring Civil War veterans include thoughtful planning,
community involvement, sound conservation treatment, a
maintenance plan for the future and a fortunate surprise
mid-restoration.
In the course of dismantling the statue for repairs, the
original spire that had been removed 53 years ago was discovered
inside the statue's core. The City and community leaders
decided to replace the long-missing mid-section, with financial
support from preservationists and local businesses. The effort
allowed the City to complete the revitalization of Goodwin Park
which had begun in 1997 spearheaded by a neighborhood association
and local veterans who wanted to repair the cracked, listing and
truncated monument. The handsome result has given a boost to
civic and patriotic pride and is a model for public art
restoration.
Partner:
Daedalus, Inc.
In 1997, the City of Rochester planned to demolish this Second
Empire residence to make way for the expanding city library next
door. But there were many in the city who felt that too many
historic buildings had been lost already and the city agreed to
change its course. They pursued help from NH Division of Historical
Resources and with the commitment of two local businessmen, savvy
accountants who appreciated the possibilities of a 20% investment
tax credit for a certified rehabilitation, the result was a
magnificent adaptive use of the house for their professional
offices. Many 20th century accretions were removed, and original
features repaired and restored. The revitalized building continues
to contribute to the historic, civic and commercial center of
Rochester.
Partners:
City of Rochester
Joseph F. Britton, Jr.
Dr. Alexander Smith
Beloin Construction Inc.
Preservation Company
M & D Electric
Garrett Mechanical Contracting Company
MJ Murphy & Sons, Inc.
NH Division of Historical Resources
Originally constructed in 1845 as the Grafton County Courthouse,
this Greek and Gothic Revival structure later was used as the
gymnasium and auditorium for the local high school and housed a
basketball court and stage. Besides the challenge of rehabilitating
the interior, the structure needed serious repairs to the roof and
masonry walls. When the non-profit group Haverhill Heritage, Inc.
acquired the building (along with two other landmarks sold by the
school), an exterior wall was in danger of collapsing and the
leaning cupola was threatening to fall though the roof.
Under the leadership of President Edith Celley, Haverhill
Heritage, Inc. began the effort with a modest initial project to
restore the cupola and give the project visibility. Haverhill
Heritage soon succeeded in receiving leadership LCHIP and Scenic
Byways grants, matched by an unprecedented $50,000 grant from the
town and many contributions from foundations and individuals, so
that to date more than $500,000 has been raised to create a
cultural and visitors center. In the nominator's words, the
project has "become a true community effort…(it) has
helped bring together residents from all sections of town, as well
as many others in the Upper Valley."
Partners:
Finegold Alexander & Associates
Recreate, Inc.
The firstcredit union in the United States was founded in the
living room of this house on Manchester's West Side. The credit
union was created to serve mill workers who were being denied the
privilege of establishing savings and credit. [Ninety-six years
later, there are 10,000 credit unions in the United States,
representing 82 million members.]By stripping back generations of
single- and multi-family use the project was able to reveal
original architectural features, details and floor plans, and
thereby create a museum with exhibit and function space. A team of
craftsmen restored and matched paneling, flooring, lighting
fixtures and many other features and discretely tucked away new
heating, air conditioning and fire protection systems. Thanks to
the Foundation's leadership and a skilled and creative
construction team, this landmark of the civic and business history
of the United States is now a first-class museum and community
resource used by the neighborhood for meetings and other
functions.
Partners:
Jewett Construction
Willey Brothers, Inc.
Bailey Donovan
This centerpiece of the College of Liberal Arts at the
University of New Hampshire in Durham is one of the busiest and
most heavily used academic buildings on campus. Over time, this
heavy use, New England weather, combined with new programmatic
needs, created a need for a major rehabilitation project to correct
the building's many changes in form and function since it was
built in 1929.
The University shouldered its stewardship responsibility and
undertook the ambitious program. The project team took a respectful
approach to maintaining the building's original fabric with
high quality restoration work-especially in the main circulation
corridors, auditorium, Dean's reception area and office suites.
The very visible and positive project reflects our state
university's commitment to preserving the values and traditions
that are its heritage.
Partners:
Lavallee/Brensinger Architects
Martini Northern Construction Manager
The Abbie Greenleaf Library in the Town of Franconia
was built in 1912 with the patronage of the builder and owner of
the renowned Profile House in Franconia Notch. This award
recognizes the dedicated, high-quality stewardship displayed by its
Trustees. It also recognizes town residents who have demonstrated
their "widespread affection for the library and confidence in
the care and attention it receives" with consistent financial
support at town meeting. As one supporter emphasized, this type of
day-to-day, year-to-year commitment to the care of a historic
structure, is not as glamorous or attention-getting as the rescue
of a neglected structure, but it serves as a model for others to
emulate. The Trustees were also the catalyst for the building's
recent listing on the state and national historic registers.
In the 1920s entrepreneur John Benson transformed
19th century farms and woodlots in Hudson into a popular
attraction where exotic animals appeared in naturalistic settings.
A trip to Benson's Wild Animal Farm once ranked with visits to
the Old Man of the Mountain and Storyland as must-dos for New
Hampshire families and visitors. Over time, however, the original
attraction was transformed into an amusement park that was closed
forever in 1987. The NHDOT bought the property in 1989 for wetland
mitigation of the Nashua Circumferential Highway, removing all of
the buildings but three which were then turned over to the Town of
Hudson.
The Town undertook a campaign of planning and stabilization for
these structures, reversing a generation of neglect. Leadership
came from a complex partnership of public agencies, and community
representatives who engaged a team of thorough and creative
conservationists who produced an outstanding Historic Structures
Report, funded by the Land and Community Heritage Investment
Program, which demonstrated the significance and value of the three
remaining historic structures. The HSR contained a detailed
condition assessment and rehabilitation cost estimates, offering
direction for the substantial volunteer clean-up work, and allowing
the Town of Hudson to complete the stabilization plan for work on
the buildings and secure funding to stabilize the B & M
Railroad Depot.
Partners: Nashua Regional Planning Commission
Preservation Timber Framing, Inc.
Dunne's Enterprises, LLC
S. Elizabeth Sasser, AIA
John Butler, Preservation Artisan
This excellent educational project actively engaged
Hancock's fifth graders in the heritage of their community.
They learned primary research and interviewing techniques and
communication skills in a meaningful way and, most significantly,
they learned how to look at a building, neighborhood or landscape
with a perspective that most adults have never been taught. The
experience connected the students with older members of the Hancock
Historical Society as they recorded 100 years of history and
captured a snapshot of Hancock in 2003.
Partner:
Hancock Historical Society
Conventional experience assumes that state and federal
transportation agencies are predestined to be perpetual opponents
with historic preservation agencies. But thanks to Harry S. Kinter,
in New Hampshire they have become partners in a collaborative
design process that has been developed to meet the goals of
both.
With a graduate degree in history and a lifelong interest in
historic preservation, as a career employee of the Federal Highway
Administration, Harry Kinter has championed and fostered an
atmosphere of collegiality and cooperation between state and
federal highway agencies, the state historic preservation office,
the N.H. Department of Transportation, and the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers. Thanks to his influence, the committee identifies
historical and archeological properties and places based on a
statewide survey strategy, anticipates impacts to these cultural
resources, and develops creative project alternatives to avoid or
minimize adverse effects to them, and then makes plans to mitigate
any remaining unavoidable negative results.
Harry has also encouraged New Hampshire to take advantage of all
relevant federal transportation program incentives and funding
sources. His efforts have led to a special grant program which has
funded an illustrated NH DOT publication for historic New Hampshire
covered bridges, a forthcoming book - written by State
Architectural Historian James L. Garvin - on the full range of New
Hampshire's historic bridges, and a state tourism and
interpretation program focused on Scenic and Cultural Byways.
Harry has been instrumental in the decisions by FHWA and NH DOT
to rehabilitate rather than replace historic bridges, including
dramatic "saves" of the Chesterfield-Brattleboro and
Orford-Fairlee steel arch bridges, and the Woodsville-Wells River
railroad bridge, along with many others which are still in the
planningstages.
Over the years, Harry has played a key role in every major
transportation project in New Hampshire, gently but firmly steering
the road builders away from significant historical, archaeological,
engineering and environmental properties, while often securing
easements or other innovative treatments to insure their
preservation long after the transportation project is completed.
Harry is gifted with an ability to see the big picture, while
appreciating the small details and understanding how they
intersect. He insists that the archaeological and historical
research conducted for transportation projects meets the highest
professional standards, and that it is performed in a
cost-efficient and effective way that can be used to broaden the
public's understanding of New Hampshire's history and
cultural heritage.
Because of his dedicated efforts, our state has documented
thousands of historic resources, individual properties, historic
districts and whole communities; and countless numbers have been
saved for the enjoyment of future generations. He has truly
affected the New Hampshire cultural landscape and set the standard
for its preservation.
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