Monadnock Mills Boarding House/Store House #5 for the Ink Factory Clothing Co.

2017 Preservation Achievement Award: Jeff and Sarah Barrette for the outstanding revitalization of the Monadnock Mills Boarding House/Store House #5 for the Ink Factory Clothing Co.

with: Frank J. Barrett, Jr. AIA (Barrett Architecture, PC), Lisa Mausolf (Preservation Consultant), NH Division of Historical Resources

Ink Factory owners Jeff and Sarah Barrette purchased the former Monadnock Mills Boarding House and Store House #5 with the dream of turning the derelict building into the home of their screen printing and embroidery business. Their previous location was too small and they wanted to remain in Claremont, but all available space wasn't adequate. "My wife [Sarah] encouraged me to look into this derelict building...to track down the owner and ask if he was willing to sell. So I did."

The owners invested $430,000 and used federal historic tax credits and the downtown tax incentive program, 79-E, to make the project, located in the city's historic mill district, feasible. And Jeff personally restored sixty-two windows over one winter. Restoration included repairing the brick cornice and re-pointing the exterior, patching holes in the walls, replacing 60% of the carrying beams, refinishing the floors, and retaining character defining features of the space, including arare surviving supervisor’s office on the first floor and the storehouse ramp.

In the end, the project is a boon to the Barrette’s business, their five employees, and downtown Claremont, which has recently seen other preservation-related investments. According to Jeff, “I really want Claremont to thrive and the more success we have here, the more success there will be for everybody around it.”

After. Photo courtesy of Lisa Mausolf.

Before. Photo courtesy of Lisa Mausolf