The 2022 Seven to Save Listees
The New Hampshire Preservation Alliance announced its 2022 Seven to Save list on Tuesday, October 18, 2022 at the historic Belknap Mill in Laconia, NH. Prior to the event, attendees toured three local, past listees: The Colonial Theatre, St. Joseph’s Church, and Lakeport Baptist Church. The day started of soggy but the rain let up in time to enjoy walking around the city prior to the event. Attendees included long-time supporters, new friends, and representatives of this year’s and previous listees. As our first in-person, Seven to Save event since the pandemic began, it was great to come together again to discuss the importance of saving these important properties.
“Our historic buildings define the New Hampshire landscape; host important civic and cultural programming; and keep alive our talented pool of preservation craftspeople. These are the buildings that make our communities desirable and identifiable”
Highlighting vulnerable historic resources and related threats to community life and economic well-being exacerbated by the pandemic, this year’s list features an icon of Granite State transportation history, a historic tavern and three irreplaceable landmarks in small towns with populations of about 1,000 people. All the endangered structures listed this year need new or revived uses and transformative investment to become viable community assets again. Preservation Alliance leaders emphasized that New Hampshire’s small towns and historic buildings give our state its distinctive and appealing character and economic vitality.
A view from the river in springtime. The Belknap Mill, Laconia, NH.
Download this year’s flyer and learn more about the 2022 Seven to Save listees below:
Bean Tavern, Raymond
Raymond purchased this long-vacant c. 1750 landmark last year to save it when it was advertised as “land only” -- and then voted to extend their historic district to include it at the 2022 Town Meeting. Listing will give a boost to the local effort to meet pressing needs like a new roof and plan its stewardship and new use. The tavern is featured on the town seal.
Old Carroll County Courthouse, Ossipee
This intact and iconic Old Carroll County landmark needs a new use. The County Commissioners support the listing to help provide some needed energy and visibility to their efforts after the Ossipee Historical Society recently relinquished the 1916 building, back to the County, when the vision of a county-wide historical museum and research center fell through.
Flying Yankee, (current location) Lincoln
This rare survivor, currently stored in Lincoln, needs a new home, a transfer of ownership, and rehabilitation investments before it can once again ride the rails. The Flying Yankee Association, the friends group associated with the DOT-owned resource, is eager for Seven to Save listing to help revive its efforts.
Hill Center Church, Hill
The Hill Center Church was built in 1800 with post-Toleration Act changes made in 1847. The non-profit charged with preserving the National Register-listed landmark is anxious to revive their efforts fifty years after the building’s last restoration campaign. In addition to cosmetic work, the church also needs new programming and activity to keep it in the minds of Hill residents.
St. John’s Methodist Church, Jefferson
This highly-visible 1860s landmark, which stands right on Route 2, will soon be vacated by the local historical society and revert back to the Methodist conference. The church will need creative matchmaking for its new use and a fair amount of investment. Its location close to the road, the site’s topography, and the structural concerns are all challenges.
Stone School, Newington
Community leaders, including graduates of the 1920 National Register-listed school, are seeking ways to breathe new life into this recently-condemned landmark that sits in the civic center of the seacoast town, adjacent to the Pease International Airport. Some in town want the property for a new fire station complex.
Preservation Trades Workforce in New Hampshire
New Hampshire and the nation are facing a shortage of skilled tradespeople. If we don’t address the skills gap and increasing median ages, we’ll limit preservation activity, lose historic resources, and lose valuable knowledge about traditional building methods – an important part of our economy.
Stay up to date on this program, including when submissions open for next year’s list, and browse listees from past years (we’ve been highlighting endangered properties since 2006!) by vising the Seven to Save homepage.
Are you part of a group involved with one of our previous listees? We’d love to hear how you’re doing! Call us at (603) 224-2281 or email seventosave@nhpreservation.org.