The New Hampshire Preservation Alliance presented its annual Preservation Achievement Awards to five restoration and rehabilitation projects, and to two groups, a family and an individual for their leadership in preservation education, planning, and advocacy. 

"This year's awards remind us of both the vulnerability of many of NH's significant historic landmarks and the effectiveness of community-based efforts," said Christopher P. Williams, NH Preservation Alliance board member and awards committee chair.

Honoree Senator Gregg, who could not be at the event, noted that it is "through the commitment of today's community leaders," that our historic resources can be "adapted to fit the needs of modern society, [and] therefore continue to be central parts of New Hampshire's special quality of life."  His fellow Achievement Award winners exemplify this commitment to the state's character and contributions to the state's economic vitality.

  Award winners for restoration projects were:

• The rescue and restoration of the 1701 Wentworth House in Rollinsford by the Association for Rollinsford Culture and History
• Winchester Historical Society's rehabilitation and re-use of the Victorian-era Sheridan House in Ashuelot as a regional history museum
• The restoration of the abandoned Contoocook Railroad Depot in Hopkinton by the Contoocook Riverway Association
• Washington Historical Society's barn preservation planning and education effort
• The restoration of the formal perennial gardens at the Kimball-Jenkins Estate in Concord by the Kimball-Jenkins Estate Garden Restoration Committee

 Awards also went to two organizations for outstanding education, advocacy and planning:

• The Chocorua Lake Conservation Foundation and Chocorua Lake Association for their proactive and successful nomination of the Chocorua Lake Basin Historic District in Tamworth to the National Register of Historic Places
• New Hampshire Main Street Center, for their outstanding education, advocacy and public policy to further downtown revitalization

  Two awards were also presented to individuals:

• Senator Judd Gregg, Catherine Gregg, and Kathleen MacLellan Gregg for their leadership in preservation advocacy for landmarks throughout the state.
• John Porter received the Elizabeth Durfee Hengen Award for his dedication to education and advocacy regarding the preservation and revitalization of barns and agriculture in the state.

"We hope that the powerful community development goals, thoughtful scholarly approaches and tenacious energy embodied in these projects, organizations and individuals will serve as inspiration to others," continued Jennifer Goodman, executive director of the Preservation Alliance.

Since 1989, the awards have recognized outstanding construction projects, as well as individuals and groups, for their contributions to the state's preservation movement.   The awards were announced on May 9^th at the NH Historical Society's Tuck Library in Concord.  The awards program was sponsored by TMS Architects and Sheehan Phinney Bass + Green.

More about the 2006 Achievement Award winners below and consider sending a note of congratulations to the address in parenthesis.

                                          Restoration, Rehabilitation and Revitalization

Association for Rollinsford Culture and History  - A.R.C.H.'s hard work, determination and excellent fundraising returned a threatened NH treasure to its original community, where it will become an educational and historical center.  The Colonel Paul Wentworth House, built in 1701 had been moved, board-by-board, from Rollinsford to Dover, MA, in 1936, and was, in 1999, in danger of demolition until A.R.C.H. stepped in.  Partners: Bedard Preservation and Restoration, LLC; John Wastrom, Mason; Town of Rollinsford. (ARCH, P.O> Box 16, Rollinsford, NH  03869)

Contoocook Riverway Association  - The Contoocook Railroad Depot, ca. 1850, had fallen into disrepair after decades of neglect, until in 1998, the Contoocook Riverway Association convinced the Town of Hopkinton to hand over the property so they could restore the depot for public benefit and use.  After a first-rate restoration, the Depot is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Partners: Max Ferro, Architect; NH Division of Historic Resources; DellaGatta Contracting Company, Inc. (Contoocook Railway Assn., P.O. Box 789, Contoocook, NH  03229)

Washington Historical Society  - When the Washington Historical Society received one of the town's old barns as a gift, they had a large task ahead to return the barn to structural stability.  The Society made the project an educational and community affair.  With a "barn quilt" fundraiser, spaghetti dinners, and a barn dance, the society raised money and awareness for a successful restoration. Partner: Sunrise Woodworks, Cornish, NH (Washington H.S., P.O. Box 90, Washington, NH  03280)

Winchester Historical Society  - The decade-long restoration of the Sheridan House, built in 1870, was a great achievement for a small town historical society like Winchester's.  The success of this project speaks to the determination of the Society members as the work was done entirely by volunteers or contractors hired with local donations.  The house has become a museum of local history. (Winchester H.S., 391 Back Ashuelot Rd., Ashuelot, NH  03470)

                                                       Garden Restoration

Kimball-Jenkins Garden Restoration Committee  - An all-volunteer effort revived a formal perennial garden that had virtually disappeared from the Kimball-Jenkins Estate grounds using the original 1929 blueprints and the landscape master plan in their decision-making.  The garden is open to the public and provides a beautiful and historic setting for outdoor events. Partner: NH Landscape Association (Kimball Jenkins Estate, 266 N. Main Street, Concord, NH  03301)

                                                      Education, Planning and Advocacy

Chocorua Lake Conservation Foundation and Chocorua Lake Association  - Recognizing that improvements to NH Route 16 corridor through Chocorua are inevitable, citizens of this distinctive summer colony began the process of documenting its historic features 6 years ago. The project culminated in the Chocorua Lake Basin National Register Historic District, the largest such designation in New England.  The project is remarkable for the initiative taken cooperatively by the homeowners and land trusts to address a clear threat to an important area.  Partners: Elizabeth Durfee Hengen, Preservation Consultant; James R. Bowditch, Project Leader (CLCF, P.O. Box 265, Chocorua, NH  03817 or CLA, P.O. Box 105, Chocorua, NH  03817)

NH Main Street Center   - By encouraging economic development, within the context of historic preservation, the New Hampshire Main Street Center has achieved outstanding success since its inception ten years ago.  Today, nineteen New Hampshire communities boast Main Street status, an approach that advocates a return to community self-reliance, empowerment, and downtown revitalization, utilizing a four-point approach of organization, promotion, design, and economic restructuring. Partners: NH Community Development Finance Authority; Public Service of New Hampshire (NH Main Street Center, 14 Dixon Ave., Concord, NH  03301)

U.S. Senator Judd Gregg, Catherine Gregg, and Kathleen MacLellan Gregg  - The Gregg family has been a leader in preservation advocacy for landmarks in the state, helping to care for Eagle Block in Newport, White Island Lighthouse, and the Portsmouth Music Hall, to name a few.  Senator Gregg has helped secure funds that empowered New Hampshire citizens to undertake heroic tasks that they could not have begun without that financial stimulus.  Catherine Gregg and Kathleen MacLellan Gregg played critical leadership roles at the Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion and The Fells, respectively. (Office of Senator Judd Gregg, 125 N. Main Street, Concord, NH  03301)

John Porter (Elizabeth Durfee Hengen Award)  - In addition to his 32-year career guiding modern farmers through the UNH Cooperative Extension program, John Porter has become the go-to guy for just about anything related to barn preservation.  He is an unparalleled preservation advocate and has given hope and practical advice to thousands through his award-winning book, slide presentations, and tireless assistance. (John Porter, UNH Cooperative Extension, 315 Daniel Webster Highway, Boscawen, NH  03303)