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. 

The Alliance will present a session on successful municipal buildings at the annual planning and zoning conference, hosted by the Office of Energy and Planning.

How can municipalities work to save community landmarks that define their town? Representatives from recent successful preservation projects across the state will talk about their process and partners. Topics will include securing preservation easements, building community buy-in, and raising capital.

More information about the rest of the conference can be found here.

Sponsored by the N.H. Preservation Alliance
April 21, 2017
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Concord City Auditorium and other Concord sites

Register Online!

Join the Alliance for our biennial conference for preservation advocates and practitioners! Hear about critical issues and opportunities in the field of historic preservation, and learn from recognized experts and community leaders about the many facets of preservation. Sessions will focus on strategies for saving and repurposing community landmarks, promoting sustainability, effective planning, working with a project team, best practices in communications and for successful fundraising, and more. Choose from breakout sessions following the keynote address, and enjoy lunchtime group discussions and walking tours of downtown Concord with visits to recent and current construction projects. Cap off the day with a networking reception featuring preservation-related refreshments at the New Hampshire Historical Society (a recent preservation award winner).

Move Information and Schedule here

Presented in partnership with Prescott Farm.

Ian Blackman of Blackman Restoration and Preservation, will lead participants through a condition assessment of the two late 19th century barns at Prescott Farm explaining what to look for while conducting an assessment, and what the findings might tell us of the history of the barn, and how to develop a prioritized game plan for repairs. Prescott Farm will be starting a complete restoration of its large 1882 barn and attached dairy barn this spring. The restoration will be from the foundation up and will involve supporting the barn while the stone foundation is rebuilt and drainage is installed.

This workshop is the first of three that will be offered during the restoration project. It's a great opportunity to be on the job site of an active barn project and be involved in a detailed discussion of the repairs, barn preservation strategies, and stewardship with barn experts. The workshop will include an overview of the Preservation Alliance's barn assessment grant program and the statewide tax intensive program for barns.  Participants are encouraged to bring photos of their own barns for discussion at the end of the program. Lunch not included, but feel free to bring a picnic lunch to eat at the farm after the program. 

This is the first in a series of three barn workshops at Prescott Farm. Scroll down in the event calendar for details on the second and third  workshops in the series:
May 13, 2017 - Repair and Restoration of Stone Foundations and Stone Walls
July 15, 2017 - Step-by-Step Profile: 1882 Timber Frame Restoration at Prescott Farm

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

Members (Alliance or Prescott Farm) - $20; all three workshops - $50
Non-members - $25; all three workshops - $65

Partnering with Wolfeboro Heritage Commission - Maggie Stier

The Wolfeboro Heritage Commission is hosting a free public presentation on Saving Historic Barns on Wednesday, March 15 from 6 - 8 pm at the Wolfeboro Town Hall.  This is appropriate for residents of all towns in the area.

 Beverly Thomas, the barn preservation specialist at the NH Preservation Alliance in Concord, is the featured presenter.  As part of the Alliance's year-long campaign, 52 Barns in 52 Weeks, this program will include a PowerPoint on how people can take action to retain historic barns which are a key part of the architectural heritage of New Hampshire.  

 The program will discuss the various tools and strategies that are available to help preserve these iconic structures, including the statewide barn preservation easement program, which offers tax relief to owners who agree to maintain their historic barns.  Applications for that program will be available at the presentation and must be submitted by April 15 to gain tax relief for 2017.  

 Enter the Wolfeboro Town Hall from the back of the building where there is parking and elevator access to the second floor Great Hall. 

 For more information call Maggie Stier, chair of the Wolfeboro Heritage Commission at 603-344-1726.

New Hampshire Historical Society - presented in conjunction with the Northeast Document Conservation Center - 30 Park Street, Concord, NH  03301

This workshop offers an overview to the preservation and care of paper-based collections. Documents discussed will include bound volumes, pamphlets, manuscripts, photographs, negatives, booklets, and framed objects. Participants will have the opportunity to work in small groups and discuss documents from their collections with others.

Registration required