A Helping of Preservation Gratitude
This Thanksgiving week we are taking stock of the growing power of historic preservation activity in New Hampshire. We want to thank people like you who support our work and historic preservation in communities throughout the state. Without big grants or government support for operations, we rely on you to sustain and expand our activities, and we are inspired by your ideas, energy and success!
We’re grateful to our founders who set a course of solutions-oriented work, and cross-disciplinary connections with agriculture, conservation, community development, and housing, that continue today.
Check our 13-minute video, Forward at 40: Reflections on the Past for the Future created on the occasion of our 40th anniversary.
We're grateful for the next generation of young people and second-career seekers that are showing interest in the preservation trades and the many thoughtful and generous mentors who are there to help.
Next generation preservationists from Nashua to Errol are engaging in our new career exploration programs and share their desire to choose this creative and impactful work. Photo: Program for high school-age students at Poore Family Farm.
We’re grateful for the actions and commitment of seasoned and novice community leaders. Whether they are navigating grant applications, pushing for town warrant articles, baking cookies, or learning about the challenges of rising rivers or septic system design — preservation projects don’t happen without champions behind them.
The Milford Heritage Commission took on the repair of this landmark Victorian bandstand that stands in the Town’s central oval after deterioration and talk of demolition. Seven to Save, 2021.
We are grateful for stewards of old homes, barns, churches, and the many of properties that make our communities beautiful, resilient, and welcoming.
Developer Jon Chorlian has re-used significant churches in Concord for housing. Photo: his most recent project, Circa, on North Main Street. The Preservation Alliance has produced a new handbook on this churches to housing topic with help from N.H. Housing and architect John Jordan.
We welcome feedback on the “ingredients” from the Preservation Alliance that are designed to help make great things happen. 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 is 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.
This is an important foundation from which we need to do more – to reach communities that are lacking basic preservation tools and opportunities; to add tools to improve climate action and accelerate the rehabilitation of old buildings into needed housing and improve strategies for climate; and reach young people and other new constituents.
We welcome your questions and suggestions, and look forward to the work ahead.