The New Hampshire Preservation Alliance presented its annual Preservation Achievement Awards to seven preservation and rehabilitation projects and to four advocacy, planning and educational efforts on Friday, June 6. In addition, Anne Pilkovsky was honored for her efforts to protect archeological resources and Jeff Taylor was recognized for his leadership in statewide preservation efforts.

The awards ceremony was be held as part of the Preservation Alliance's annual meeting at St. Paul's School in Concord. Since 1989, the awards have recognized outstanding construction projects, as well as individuals and groups for their contributions to the state's preservation movement.

The 2003 Preservation Achievement Award recipients are:

· Town of Boscawen for renovating the former Penacook Academy into town offices and a police station. The award honors the dedication and perseverance of Boscawen's selectmen and townspeople to restore and adapt this historic town building in a way that both honors the traditional use of the building and provides critical office and police department space. The budget for restoration and rehabilitation was met with a Land and Community Heritage Investment Program (LCHIP) grant and an impressive town commitment of a $1.4 million bond. The awards committee felt that this project was a model for municipal projects. Partners include Sumner Davis Architects, Cobb Hill Construction, Inc., and Elizabeth Durfee Hengen, Preservation Consultant.

· Manchester Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc., for rehabilitating the Carpenter & Bean and Smith & Dow Blocks. This highly visible preservation project on Manchester's main street now provides quality housing for 68 low-income, working families. The Manchester Neighborhood Housing Services' $11 million rehabilitation project combined preservation and housing tax credits and more than a dozen funding sources to revise these 19^th century landmarks that had suffered from years of deferred maintenance. The Carpenter & Bean block was designed by prominent New England architect William Butterfield and were originally used as housing for millyard managers. Partners include Burnell-Johnson Architects, Eckman Construction, Preservation Company, Sheehan Phinney Bass + Green, Stewart Property Management and Amoskeag Falls Management Corporation.

· Town of Unity for historic rehabilitation and adaptive use of the Chase Tavern. This project restored a tavern built about 1800 and used it for town offices, police station, public library, community meeting room and historical society museum and archives. It had been an eyesore and embarrassment for the town for more than 20 years. The combination of dedicated individuals with a vision and a grant from LCHIP persuaded the community to adapt this building to the town's needs rather than tear it down and start anew. Organizers say that beyond the architectural success, the project brought the community together in new ways. Partners include Unity Historical Society, Gray Brothers Builders, and James Kahn, Architectural Design and Project Management.

· Cilleyville-Bog Bridge Restoration for rehabilitation of an historic covered bridge. This 52-feet-long Ithiel Town-design lattice truss covered bridge dates from 1887. It is one of only about 50 covered bridges still standing in New Hampshire. Its style, size and setting so well capture the essence of the state's rich history and natural beauty that it has appeared in tourism brochures and countless postcards, calendars, books and paintings. The five-year-long restoration project was characterized by persistence and quality work, and it required an enormous commitment from the town and its people. The town's insistence on using traditional materials and construction methods is a good example for other towns facing similar work. The town received an LCHIP grant and raised more than $100,000, mostly in donations between $5 and $50. The bridge project's success is seen as a catalyst for two other local community preservation projects. Partners include Barns & Bridges of New England.

· Grace Episcopal Church for restoration and stewardship of a historic church. Grace Episcopal Church, its chapel and parish house, include the work of preeminent 19^th century ecclesiastical architect Richard Upjohn of New York and his 20^th century "heir" Ralph Adams of Boston. The awards committee gave the church "two thumbs up" for an extremely competent, well-planned and well-executed project. The parish raised $400,000 to repair the building's envelope (including slate roof and copper flashing), rework circulation and lighting systems, restore interior finishes and improve landscaping and signage. Partners include Trumbell Restoration Co., Bixby Restoration, Allen C. Hill, AIA and Olde Tyme Craftsmen.

· City of Nashua for a compatible new addition to historic Holman Stadium. Holman Stadium was built in 1937 as a WPA project. In 1946, while Jackie Robinson played at the AAA minor league level in Montreal, Canada, Roy Campanella and Don Newcombe broke the "color barrier" in professional baseball in the United States when they were assigned by the Brooklyn Dodgers to play for the Class A Nashua Dodgers. This award recognizes the efforts of the City of Nashua to adapt this historic stadium to make it viable as the 21^st century begins. The added features of this $4.5 million project were designed to differentiate the old and the new while preserving the historic character of the landmark. Partners include Bread Loaf Corporation, CMA Engineers, Inc., Sherman Greiner Halle, and Nashua Pride.

· Ocean Properties for renovation, revitalization and compatible new construction at Wentworth-by-the-Sea. Built in 1874, Wentworth-by-the-Sea was once the largest wooden structure on the New Hampshire coast and served as a hub for social, business and political luminaries from around the world. In 1905, Russian and Japanese delegates met at the hotel and devised the Treaty of Portsmouth, which ended the Russo-Japanese War. By the 1980s, the structure had fallen into disrepair and was threatened with demolition. Thanks to the efforts of a coalition of preservationists including the Friends of the Wentworth (who received a preservation achievement award for their advocacy work in 1997), the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance and the National Trust, the hotel was saved from the wrecking ball. Ocean Properties, working with TMS Architects, has magnificently revived this New Hampshire and East Coast landmark that is listed on the National Register. Partners include TMS Architects, Courtcon, Inc. and Friends of the Wentworth.

· Town of Hollis for the outstanding education and planning project, Windows on Hollis' Past Website (http://www.hollis.nh.us/windowsonhollispast/). This site contains photographs, written and oral histories and data on more than 200 properties in Hollis. Through an interactive map, a user can view hundreds of pictures, maps and tests related to the mapped properties. Earlier phases of the project, made possible in part with a grant through the N.H. Division of Historical Resources, supported a town-wide historic resource survey and GIS (global satellite positioning) mapping. It is truly a model site that sets a high and inspiring standard. Partners include Anna Keyes Powers Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, Hollis Heritage Commission, Hollis Historic District Commission, Hollis Historical Society.

· Robie's Country Store Historic Preservation Corporation for preserving an important state landmark. This historic landmark, a whistle stop where presidential hopefuls have announced their candidacies and met with everyday citizens, faced an uncertain future when owners Dorothy and Lloyd Robie retired in 1997 after three generations of family ownership. The Robie's Country Store Preservation Corporation formed to ensure that the structure would always remain part of the community. This award recognizes the group's effective planning and advocacy, strategic fundraising and media relations and use of preservation tools, including National Register designation and Save America's Treasures status.

· Rolfe Barn Preservation Effort for preservation of an historic 18^th century barn. The Rolfe Barn, constructed circa 1790, is a rare survivor-a double English barn built as a single unit that was owned by the Rolfe family for two centuries. A highly visible four-and-a-half month campaign that began when a demolition permit was filed last September ended with the local historical society's successful purchase of the barn from a barn broker who planned to dismantle the barn and move it out of state. This award recognizes the highly effective, well-planned and executed advocacy efforts of the Penacook Historical Society and Concord Heritage Commission. Concord's mayor and city council also gave this Penacook landmark their focus and creativity, and boldly voted to proceed with eminent domain, putting their pride in the city's history ahead of their distaste for taking private property. The Concord Monitor provided comprehensive coverage of the situation while voicing editorial support for the barn's preservation.

· Troy Heritage Commission for securing National Register status to preserve and promote the town center. When the N.H. Department of Transportation began exploring ways to widen Route 12 through this small intact village, securing National Register status was identified as a way to protect the town's center. As interest grew, Troy Heritage Commission took on the task, and Marion Austin and other members brought a deep commitment and energetic persistence to this effort. A major fundraising and community education effort led to the National Register listing in December 2002. The Heritage Commission secured funds (in a town in with the per capita income is only $17,000) from individuals, businesses, churches and the Badger Monadnock Fund. The nomination project has brought renewed pride to the town and in June they will be celebrating Troy Heritage Day. Partners include Preservation Company and the N.H. Division of Historical Resources.

· Anne Pilkovsky for her efforts to protect state archeological resources. Pilkovsky is known as an insightful educator and effective communicator and is highly motivated, determined, devoted and enthusiastic as an advocate in her endeavors to protect archeological resources. She knows what to do and who to mobilize. Pilkovsky is an extraordinary volunteer with the SCRAP, the state's Conservation and Rescue Archaeology Program which trains citizens in the field to evaluate resources, reduce the rate of site destruction, recover information from archaeological sites, and conduct original research. Colleagues say that she is a model, mentor and inspiration for many budding archeologists throughout the state.

· Jeff Taylor for leadership and service in historic preservation and community development. Many of Taylor's colleagues believe that his persistence and creativity were essential ingredients in the resuscitation of the Eagle Block in Newport, Wentworth-by-the-Sea in New Castle, the Belmont Mill and the Mountain View Hotel in Whitefield. He has been consistently supportive in very tangible ways of projects that use or adapt our historic structures. As state planning director for 13 years and as an officer and board member of Plan NH and the Preservation Alliance, he also focused on the "infra-structure" of preservation, sponsoring major initiatives on smart-codes, zoning and sprawl. He understands that preservation is a major economic development tool, one particularly suited to New Hampshire, and he has the tenacity and imagination to apply that tool in creative ways.

"These projects are marked by impressive municipal and citizen commitment," said Alice DeSouza, awards committee chair, "and many marry community development and preservation goals." Executive Director Jennifer Goodman noted that three preservation projects used LCHIP grants as a catalyst to raise funds locally.

The Preservation Alliance's annual meeting and behind the scenes tour of St. Paul's School was sponsored by the MacMillin Company, The Rowley Agency, Providian National Bank, Banwell Architects and Peter C. Brankman and Company.

The New Hampshire Preservation Alliance is the statewide organization dedicated to preserving historic buildings, communities and landscapes through leadership, education and advocacy. Current priorities include providing training and technical assistance to community leaders and promoting barn preservation, the use of easements and funding for the Land and Community Heritage Investment Programs.

For information, contact (603) 224-2281 or admin@nhpreservation.org.