2023 Award Winner: Ian Blackman

For outstanding leadership in craftsmanship, education, and advocacy

Ian Blackman is one of only a handful of New Hampshire contractors whose name is synonymous with barn preservation. He loves restoring old structures, and his knowledge, enthusiasm and dedication have helped save some of New Hampshire’s most iconic examples. He believes that barns should continue to be part of the historic fabric of our communities because they connect us to our past and complete the landscapes that both residents and visitors embrace.

A graduate of North Bennett Street School in Boston, a school for traditional trades and craft traditions, Ian spent seven years as a preservation carpenter at Canterbury Shaker Village and has since run his own business. He works with other contractors—architects, stone foundation specialists, structural engineers—depending on what’s needed, and his clients rave about his top-notch expertise, craftsmanship, and congenial collaboration.

With typical optimism and a gift for laughter, Ian takes great joy in his work and in making new connections.

For the Preservation Alliance, he has provided highly regarded educational programs at jobs sites for homeowners as well as organizational clients like the N.H. Farm Museum in Milton and Prescott Farm in Laconia.

During the Alliance’s 52 Barns in 52 Weeks campaign, he was our “Johnny Appleseed” of barn preservation -- spreading the word about barn assessment grants, barn tax relief and the beauty and possibility of old barns. During the pandemic, he conducted barn assessments by phone and engaged scores of people through Zoom programs.

 His deep commitment to educating current and future generations of old house and barn owners and enthusiasts has had a far-reaching impact on the state. We are so grateful that he wants to continue to help introduce more young people to work on old buildings to experience the joy and satisfaction that he has known.