Thirteen Preservation Projects Get Boost from N.H. Preservation Alliance and The 1772 Foundation

The N.H. Preservation Alliance, partnering for a second year with The 1772 Foundation, awarded historic preservation one-for-one matching grants totaling $100,000 to thirteen private nonprofit organizations in New Hampshire. The grants help community landmarks across the state and range in amount from $2,000 to the grant maximum of $10,000, with four organizations receiving the latter amount. Grants were provided for exterior work:  painting; surface restoration; fire/security systems; repairs to/restoration of chimneys, porches, roofs, and windows; repairs to foundations and sills; and masonry repointing. Projects were vetted by a selection committee of experts and the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance staff. Each grantee was required to have matching funds for its project.

The Stone Mill at Enfield Shaker Museum in Enfield, NH; a 2021 grant winner from The 1772 Foundation

Jennifer Goodman, executive director of the Preservation Alliance, said “We are so pleased to be able to make these grants to worthy projects in many regions of the state.” “This year, The 1772 Foundation’s investment in New Hampshire is protecting and revitalizing thirteen historic community landmarks, inspiring new donors and bringing new activity to under-utilized buildings, villages and downtowns,” she stated.

Goodman noted that grant criteria included the uniqueness or significance of the resource, visibility within the community, availability of additional funding, strength of local support, imminence or severity of threat to the resource, understanding of buildings’ needs, potential for creating beneficial economic and community activity, and the proposed plan’s adherence to the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.

The Chandler House in Manchester, NH had an uncertain future not so long ago. Thanks to the efforts of local groups and a 2021 grant from The 1772 Foundation, its future looks brighter.

President of The 1772 Foundation Margaret Waldock commented on the importance of these grants to the preservation community. "With these grants, The 1772 Foundation continues its investment in preservation efforts that protect assets of community importance. While the individual grants may seem small, we have found they leverage considerable local resources and opportunities – community-provided matching dollars, support for local businesses and tradespeople, and the long-term power of incremental, small-scale capital investments in roofs, windows, and structural improvements that protect and maintain the value of assets over time."

Grant recipients were Berlin and Coos County Historical Society (Berlin), The Colonial Theatre (Bethlehem), Currier Museum of Art (Manchester), Enfield Shaker Museum (Enfield), Historic Harrisville (Harrisville), North Wilmot Union Meeting House (North Wilmot), Northern Forest Center (Lancaster), Portsmouth Historical Society (Portsmouth), Portsmouth Women's City Club (Portsmouth), Society for the Preservation of the Old Webster Meeting House (Webster), Southeast Land Trust (Epping), Sutton Historical Society (Sutton), and Willing Workers Society (Warren/Glencliff). Grants also were awarded in each of the other five New England states. MORE ON THE NH PROJECTS HERE.

The New Hampshire Preservation Alliance strengthens communities and stimulates local economies by encouraging the protection and revival of historic buildings and places.

The 1772 Foundation was named in honor of its first restoration project, Liberty Hall in Union, NJ, which was built in 1772 and is the ancestral home of the Livingston and Kean families. The late Stewart B. Kean was the original benefactor of The 1772 Foundation. The 1772 Foundation works to ensure the safe passage of our historic buildings and farmland to future generations. More information about The 1772 Foundation may be found at www.1772foundation.org.

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