Sheltering livestock, equipment and grain, barns were important agricultural structures that played a central role in the early settlement and development of New Hampshire and the region. Now dwindling in number, these historic buildings bear witness to the role of agriculture in the economy and remain as symbols of our cultural heritage, signifying the rural values of hard work, productivity and self-sufficiency.

This discussion of old barns will cover early styles and construction techniques, how barns evolved and how to estimate their ages. The barn preservation movement will also be reviewed, including how to take the steps necessary to stabilize failing structures.

5:00 Wine and Cheese, 5:30 Lecture Begins

Tyco Center
Strawbery Banke, Portsmouth
info@PDASociety.org

Join the Grafton Historical Society for an 8K or 5K run at the height of foliage season. $15 registration includes a homemade lunch. Proceeds benefit the restoration of Hinkson's Carding Mill (1823). 

More information can be found on the Facebook event page. 

Wait! Don't Replace Your Old Windows!
Workshop offers practical solutions for wood window restoration on September 30.

Sponsored by the NH Preservation Alliance in partnership with the Moffatt-Ladd House & Garden and the Portsmouth Advocates. 

When: Saturday, September 30, 2017, 12-2:30pm
Where: Moffatt-Ladd House & Garden, 154 Market Street, Portsmouth, NH

Fee: Members of sponsoring organizations - $15; Non-members - $20; At the door - $25. For more information and to register, contact the Preservation Alliance at 603-224-2281 or www.nhpreservation.org.

Save Your Wood Windows!

Do you live in an historic house with old windows that could use a little attention?  Join us for an informative program presented by Jade Mortimer of Heartwood Window Restoration to learn why it's important to save wood windows, tips for the do-it-yourselfer and why preserving your old windows is the "green" alternative.

Studies show that windows are only associated with 10% of a building’s heat loss. Repairing and returning windows can often yield windows that are as efficient, or more efficient, than replacement windows, while avoiding disposal and the use of new products with relatively short life spans. Come learn why restoration of your historic windows is the “greener” choice and the best choice to retain the architectural character of your home.

 Jade will offer examples of period windows and glass, and demonstrate the steps to a wood window restoration. Discussion will include current materials for improving energy efficiency, storm window options, and the benefits to savingyour old windows. Following the presentation, program participants will tour the Moffatt-Ladd House to see the historic windows recently restored by Jade.

Windsor Welcome Center, 3 Railroad Row, Windsor, VT

Join old-house experts from Historic New England and others for a comprehensive look at living with an old house. Bring your photos and questions to out one-day workshop and get answers to help you maintain and preserve your house. Learn about repairing old windows, weatherization and energy efficiency tips that work in old houses, the benefits of setting a regular maintenance schedule, and how to choose period-appropriate exterior paint colors. Presented in partnership with The Preservation Education Insitute / HIstoric Windsor, Inc.

Visit Historic New England for more information

The Historical Society of Cheshire County and fotoedu.org have teamed up to offer the public an opportunity to learn techniques for photographing architecture while studying local history. The full day workshop will include morning presentations of photography techniques including a brief overview of high dynamic range photography. The focus will be on black & white images and compositional approaches to architecture. The fascinating history of Keene will be highlighted by viewing period photographs of Keene houses and buildings selected from the Historical Society of Cheshire County’s vast collection of images. Additionally, there will be a brief look into the history of camera technology available to photographers at the time these historical images were captured.

An afternoon walking tour in Keene will combine the historical and photographic components with the class photographing selected homes and buildings along Main St. in Keene. Selected student images may be donated to the Historical Society of Cheshire County.

Familiarity with camera operation is suggested but all levels of photo experience are encouraged to attend. Morning snacks and beverages will be available. Lunch is on your own.

Registration is required. Deadline for registration is September 6th by 4pm. Call (603) 352-1895 for more information.

An extremely special program featuring Maestro George Wiese and friends.

In 1890, George Woods of Boston, MA built the beautiful reed organ which now resides in the South Eaton Meetinghouse – and on this special Tuesday evening, George Wiese returns to Eaton to play it. Wiese has been excited to return to the South Eaton Meetinghouse ever since playing the inaugural recital of the rebuilt Woods & Co. reed organ in 2015.

This summer’s program will feature a wide array of music created and adapted for reed organ. This skilled graduate of the Juilliard School of Music will entertain and delight you with the history and nuances of this fine instrument.

Suggested donation is $10.

Straight from bonnie Scotland, Margaret Bennett (singer and dean of folklorists in Scotland) and Norman Kennedy (renowned ballad singer, master weaver, and recipient of the American Heritage Award) will perform traditional Scottish songs for this special night. Grafton's own Skip Gorman will also perform the American West spin-offs these Scottish songs inspired.

Taking place at the recently restored East Grafton Union Church (80 Turnpike Road, Grafton). Spoiler alert: it's gorgeous inside.

Tickets $10, $5, 12 & under. 

Hosted by the Grafton Historical Society.

For just one evening every year, nine of the Portsmouth Historic Sites open their doors and gardens for the Twilight Tour (visit Portsmouth Historic Sites Associates on Facebook). This year’s hours are 4:30-8 pm on Friday, August 11. To make this evening memorable, the theme is “Dining Through History!” Each site offers a unique look at dining with light refreshments served throughout the evening.   Perfect for antique collectors and connoisseurs of 18th and 19th century houses, the Twilight Tour is the perfect complement to the annual Northeast Auctions Marine Sale Preview, the same night.  In advance, adults $18, children under 12 $8. At the door: Adults $20, children $10. Each ticket is good for admission to each of the 9 participating sites on the night of the Twilight Tours.  Tickets are also valid for the balance of the 2017 season for admission to participating museums.  Proceeds of the tour benefit the member sites of the Portsmouth Historic Sites Associates, Inc. (PHSA), and PHSA joint programming.

Tickets and other information

Passing It On: Generational Property Transfer

Join us for a detailed discussion for property owners seeking to ensure the property they love will become part of a family legacy that will be enjoyed for generations to come. Attendees of similar programs in past have gained practical information as well as inspiration for the work needed to meet their goals.

Sponsored by Squam Lakes Conservation Society, Squam Lakes Association, Lakes Region Conservation Trust and NH Preservation Alliance

Thursday, August 10, 9-11:30am

Squam Lakes Association Barn, 534 US Rte 3, Holderness

Contact: SLCS, (603) 968-7900

Printable poster

foreversquam.org

The South Eaton Meeting House, built in 1844, will hold its 41st Annual Fair and Gourmet Luncheon on Saturday, July 29th, 11:00-2:00 following the Freedom Parade at 10:00 am. This lovely building is on the National Historic Register and will be open for visitors. The fair features wonderful barbeque, salads, elegant desserts, white elephants, arts and crafts, home baked goodies, and a jewelry table to tempt you! And by popular demand, the lamb pita pockets are back!

Follow signs from Rt. 153 at Purity Spring Resort in East Madison, up Horseleg Hill Road ½ mile. Don’t be late. That Coconut Cake goes fast!

Semh1844@outlook.com or southeatonmeetinghouse.com

Yard sale, lunch, auction with auctioneer extraordinaire Doug Windsor, homemade ice cream, bake sale, crafts, raffle, live music by Paul Hubert and Chicken Willie, and readings from two local authors:

10:30, Mary Lyn Ray, children's book author

11:00, Donald Hall, former US poet laureate

Free! (Unless you buy baked goods and homemade ice cream, which we heartily recommend.) For more information, call 491-3196

SOLD OUT!

Presented in Partnership with Prescott Farm

This is the last of three workshops presented by Ian Blackman, Blackman Restoration and Preservation, during Prescott Farm's spring barn preservation project. Blackman will discuss and demonstrate the repair and restoration of the timber frame of the 1882 barn. Blackman will be replacing sills, some first floor framing, and repairing some posts during the springtime project. Restoration of the exterior surface will also be covered in the workshop. The workshop will be followed by a discussion of tools and sharpening for those interested.

Registration required online or by calling the NH Preservation Alliance at 603-224-2281.

Members (Alliance or Prescott Farm) - $20
Non-members - $25

Join the NH Preservation Alliance for an inaugural trivia night that promises to challenge your knowledge of New Hampshire's architecture, geography, and historic landmarks! Grab some pints and rally the preservation friends - this is bound to be a fun night!

The bar will be divided into two sides - so no need to form your own team. Prizes will be raffled off, too, so bring your A-game. Or your A-frame. See what we did there?

Family games, crafts, food, vendors, pie eating contest, judging of children's art and essay "My Favorite Barn" contest and more...

SOLD OUT!

Join the Preservation Alliance for a behind-the-scenes exploration of three historic sites in picturesque Harrisville. We'll start the day at Brookside Farm with property owners Carol and Drew Landry and barn contractor Richard Thompson of Sunrise Woodworks. Sunrise Woodworks has completed renovations to the two 19th century barns that were in imminent danger of collapse. After much work jacking up and fixing rotten/broken beams, both barns were suspended while the crumbling field stone foundations were removed.  One barn received a rebuilt field stone foundation while the barn attached to the house received a concrete foundation with new drainage.  After a short presentation on the history of the property, Richard Thompson will offer a guided tour of both barns explaining the barn repairs and methodology.

Tour goers will then move on to the mill village of Harrisville for an optional lunch and a presentation on the history of the mill village. Highlighted by historic maps and archival photographs, Tom Weller AIA and Chick Colony, founder and current president of the board of trustees of Historic Harrisville, will present "Village of Harrisville Time Machine from 1774 to 1947," a time-lapse 3D virtual model of the making of a mill town as it evolved over a 170 year period. Historic Harrsiville's strategic business plan for this place is a model for the state and nation's preservation movements.

And the final stop of the day will be at the spectacular Aldworth Manor. This National Register listed ca. 1840 Victorian house was relocated by train from Worcester, MA to Harrisville in 1908 by Arthur E. & Alice Childs. It was then rebuilt as an Italian villa-style residence with terraced gardens and extensive landscaping. The property had fallen into disrepair and had been vacant since the late 1990s when the Long Family purchased the 160 acre estate in 2014 to restore and use as a special events venue. With the manor's exterior newly painted and gardens replanted, the beautiful grounds with stunning views of Mt. Monadnock are now being used as a wedding venue. The Longs have recently started the rehabilitation of the interior of the manor house with plans to return it to its early 20th century grandeur. The tour offers a rare opportunity to explore this fabulous property during the early rehabilitation work with the property owners and the project architect.

Presented in partnership with Historic Harrisville and Aldworth Manor.

Tickets:

Morning at Brookside Farm, 9:30-12: Members - $15; Non-members - $20     

Afternoon at Harrisville Mill Village and Aldworth Manor, 12:30-4pm: Members - $25; Non-members - $30

Full day tickets: Members - $35; Non-members - $45

Optional boxed lunch - $10

Send email to projects@nhpreservation.org or call 603-224-2281 to register.

In celebration of Preservation Month, the Hooksett Heritage Commission is sponsoring the 13th Annual Hooksett Heritage Day on Saturday, May 20, 2017, with activities from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Plans include an open house at the old town hall, 16 Main Street, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. with representatives of the Heritage Commission and the Town Hall Preservation Committee on hand to show visitors the progress made in the rehabilitation project over the past year.  Most exciting–the second floor has been removed so the main hall is now the main hall once again as it was from 1828 to 1961. Guests will also be able to view future plans and historical photos of changes to the building.

The Robie’s Country Store Historic Preservation Corp. will have scrapbooks with photos of old Hooksett at the store from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.  Plan a few minutes to explore Hooksett’s early times.  This is also time to browse the preservation corporation’s merchandise along with custom Hooksett items from the Heritage Commission. 

“This is our 13th year recognizing Hooksett’s story on a special day.  It’s our opportunity to acquaint residents with a little of what made Hooksett Hooksett,” says Kathie Northrup, Chair of the Heritage Commission.  “Every town has its own unique and interesting history.  Do you know Hooksett’s?  Here’s the chance to visit the historic buildings open that day and talk with the people working to give or restore life to Hooksett’s special places.” 

Presented in Partnership with Prescott Farm

This is the second of three workshops presented by Ian Blackman, Blackman Restoration and Preservation, during Prescott Farm's spring barn preservation project. Blackman will discuss the dry-laid stone foundation restoration, drainage improvements, and cribbing techniques of this barn project. Partner with the foundation work, master stone mason Kevin Fife, Twin Elms Landscape, will be joining Blackman in this workshop. After a 30 minute break for lunch, Fife will also be running a segment on stone wall restoration. Lunch is not included. We encourage participants to bring a lunch to eat during the break if planning to stay for Fife's stone wall segment.

Registration required online or by calling the NH Preservation Alliance at 603-224-2281.

Members (Alliance or Prescott Farm) - $20
Non-members - $25

Join the Preservation Alliance for a celebration that features small towns accomplishing enormous tasks, small business success stories, examples of exceptional community engagement and innovative preservation strategies.  The awards recognize individuals, organizations, or businesses in the categories of restoration and stewardship, rehabilitation, compatible new construction, public policy, and educational and planning initiatives across the state.

Register online here.