Internships

Internships are one of the ways the Preservation Alliance is working to address the need for skilled workers in the preservation trades. Available internships are listed below. To stay on top of future opportunities, be sure to sign up for our weekly e-newsletter (link at the bottom of the screen). Learn more about our work to encourage interest in the preservation trades here.

Old Building Trades Career Exploration for Teens

Week One: February 24-28 | Week Two: April 28 - May 2, 2025

The New Hampshire Preservation Alliance is offering career exploration opportunities for participants aged 16 - 19. No experience is needed to participate.

The program will be offered in two regions: Central New Hampshire (Canterbury, Andover, Warner, etc.) and the Seacoast (Portsmouth and vicinity). Specific locations will vary based on each participant's age, interest and abilities and may include professional workplaces and historic sites such as Canterbury Shaker Village and Strawbery Banke Museum.

Benefits include exposure to a range of historic preservation activities which may include traditional construction techniques, repair of damaged building elements, wood window restoration, and the history of the buildings being worked on. Activities will depend on each intern’s skill set and the projects available at the time. Mentors may include Arron Sturgis of Preservation Timber Framing, Arch Weathers of Historic Sashworks, Alden Witham of Olde Window Restorers, Ian Blackman (profile here), Steve Fifield of Fifield Building Restoration and Relocation (profile here), or Oliver Fifield (article and photo here). All are seasoned professionals and many are members of the Timber Framers Guild, the Window Preservation Alliance or other trade organizations.

“I wish it were longer than five days!” said one 2024 participant.

Qualifications:

No experience necessary. The ideal candidate will have interest in and/or curiosity about old buildings and their construction and repair. The ability to follow instructions and safety protocols will be important. Reliable transportation and the ability to engage in moderate physical activity is required.

For more information or to apply:

Find more details on the internship HERE. To apply, complete the application below and submit it by January 24th (for the February week) or March 14th (for the April - May week). Priority consideration will be given to applications received by January 13th. Space is limited so apply today. You'll be notified by the end of January if you've been selected for the February week.

We welcome your questions. Just email ab@nhpreservation.org or call 603-224-2281. We look forward to hearing from you!

Former Interns:

Destiny Emery

Though Destiny Emery had never restored old wooden windows before, she brought a strong work ethic and hands-on learning style to her week-long mini-internship in April 2023 with Arch Weathers of Historic Sashworks. She had learned a lot about the trades from her family and from observing her father while he worked, and she said she was “always willing to push myself to new limits and try things that may be intimidating.” These qualities came through as she visited historic sites and worked in Arch’s workshop rehabilitating an old window sash and learning techniques to build a new window sash out of mahogany. She reported, “It’s been really fun. A great opportunity. I wish it were longer than five days…”

Creed Ebba

Creed Ebba’s goals for the N.H. Preservation Alliance mini-internship in April 2023 were to get a better general understanding about the preservation trades and timber framing. He was considering a career in the trades after high school, and at age 15 was eager for more experiential learning. Creed had volunteered at the New Hampshire Farm Museum “giving tours, working in the forge, running historical games, dealing with livestock, and doing odd jobs” and observed the museum barn getting a new foundation. He had heard about careers in plumbing, HVAC, electrical, and at the local shipyard, but wanted to learn more about historic preservation careers. Creed spent his internship working with Arron Sturgis and the Preservation Timber Framing crew at various Seacoast historic sites. He enjoyed the internship’s format, on-site visits and joinery practice, and called it a “very unique experience.”

Phoebe Cunningham

For Phoebe Cunningham, the week-long N.H. Preservation Alliance mini-internship in April 2023 complemented her interests carpentry, metal working, antiques, old motorcycles, and theater and set design (painting and plastering). Her goals for the internship were to “get a basic understanding, learn about the industry, and have fun.” By the end of the week-long internship, Phoebe reported, “My time with Arron Sturgis and Preservation Timber [Framing] was spent seeing some of the coolest things. Watching them lift a barn and seeing the start and ends of projects really gave me a glimpse at the level of work it takes to make that happen. Everyone I met was incredibly kind and always happy to explain something or answer a question. It was interesting to see how many different types of work go into the jobs of preserving old barns and houses. It made me appreciate the work behind this trade even more and I'm really grateful for the experience and the people I met.”

Lucas Newton

Lucas Newton joined our N.H. Preservation Alliance team as a summer intern for the month of June in 2023 as a recent graduate of the University Vermont where he earned a BA in History and was going on to pursue his MS in Historic Preservation. His interest in history and preservation was apparent the minute he walked through our door! In his short time with us, Lucas assisted with a plaster repair workshop and wrote a follow-up blog post on plaster repair, assisted with his first NH State Register nomination and completed a multitude of in-office tasks. He also completed work in the field by attending site visits with Community Preservation Services Manager, Andrew Cushing, as well as interning with Arron Sturgis and his company, Preservation Timber Framing.