We’re Thankful for These Preservation Trends
At the Preservation Alliance, we’re giving thanks for people who save, maintain and advocate for old places and Granite State trends that contribute to the civic life and economic health of our communities.
Some members of the N.H. Preservation Alliance Board and staff on their 2022 Road Trip at Swallow Ridge Farm.
A recent “road trip” by Preservation Alliance board members, staff and friends showcased positive activities as well as challenges ahead. This touring tradition began over ten years ago to engage with and meet preservation advocates where they are. In years past, we explored Meredith, Claremont, Lancaster, Laconia, Wolfeboro, Warner, Peterborough, Newmarket, Berlin, Ossipee and many places in between. This year, we explored the Piscataquog River Valley, including the towns of Dunbarton, New Boston and Francestown, as well as some neighborhoods of Manchester.
What we saw and heard made us thankful:
Continuing and creative re-uses sustain landmarks and help communities thrive
On our trip we visited with Peter Kress of Swallow Ridge Farm in New Boston. Using a Preservation Alliance barn assessment written by Ian Blackman to guide him, Kress did much of the work to his barn himself. After these fixes, Kress now uses his historic barn to support his small-batch artisan cheese-making. In Francestown, we enjoyed the fine art studio of Rosemary Conroy, located in an historic fire station attached to the town’s general store. And in Manchester, the Currier Museum of Art will use the Chandler House, which dodged demolition, for its community services that include art and wellness programs for veterans and other groups.
We all know today’s housing crunch is very hard on residents and employers. It’s exciting to see new old places come on-line that help fill a need; places like The Factory on Willow in Manchester.
Two houses in Manchester, NH rehabilitated by Michael Duffy.
New Hampshire has incredible craftspeople and preservation trades businesses
Our preservation heroes include building movers, timber framers, window restorers, and plasterers. Board member Michael Duffy of Manchester has been caring for historic buildings for more than three decades. After college at Saint Anselm and training with Adams & Roy of Portsmouth, he started his own business and has helped transform a neighborhood on the east side of the Queen City with thoughtful rehabilitations of several houses in addition to his own. For suggestions from our networks of great businesses, check out our Directory of Preservation Products and Services.
On the flip side, preservation trades made our Seven to Save list this year because of growing demand for services, aging workers and shrinking workforce. We’ll be sharing results from a recent analysis conducted with our friends at Maine Preservation, Preservation Trust of Vermont, and Preservation League of New York State by the spring of 2023.
Many community leaders and many small towns do outsize amounts of preservation work.
Chalk it up to small town social networks, greater percentages of residents in the trades, or perception (does one project in a small town seem like more than three projects in a city?). We’re proud of all the preservation work in the state, but certainly find ourselves impressed with the work that happens in communities without traffic lights.
N.H. Preservation Alliance Board and staff tour New Boston on their 2022 road trip.
And three cheers for our civic leaders in towns big and small! The sheer amount of volunteer hours, dollars raised, and community good represented is immeasurable. The groups we met are tackling issues ranging from steeples to storm windows, operating general stores, providing housing, making second floors universally accessible, and much more.
Preservation projects don’t happen without champions behind them - and we met a lot of champions on this road trip.
The Preservation Alliance is making a difference!
We’re proud to offer field services, funds for planning and bricks and mortar grants, and a network of talented tradespeople to project proponents and homeowners across New Hampshire. It was exciting to see evidence of our Seven to Save designation providing new opportunities, our planning grants offering road maps to success, and our work over time to secure and promote tools like LCHIP and tax incentives leading to catalytic community development benefits.
From all of us here at the Alliance, thank you for the work you do saving, advocating for, or maintaining old places.