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Update From Capital Campaign Team
NH State Register of Historic Places
The Capital Campaign team has been exploring grants that may help fund the ongoing work on our 1861 building, such as the steeple repair, and possibly the restoration of the historic sanctuary windows.
For example, last December we applied for a grant from the Methuen Festival of Trees, whose proceeds provide funding to preserve buildings and monuments in the Merrimack Valley. In order to qualify, the property must have historical, cultural, or architectural value (or all three). Like other grant programs, their foundation prefers to see restorations that preserve a building’s historic form, materials and integrity.
Two other grant foundations we are looking into are New Hampshire’s Land and
Community Heritage Investment Program (LCHIP), and the National Fund for Sacred
Places. Eligibility is much tougher for these: Both programs require that your property
be listed in either the National Register of Historic Places or the State Register of
Historic Places.
That’s what led us to pursue a State Register listing, a task we have been working on
for the past few months. It required the submission of an “Individual Inventory Form” to
the NH Division of Historical Resources, a document that includes the building’s
historical background and role in the town’s development, architectural description,
location map, statement of significance, bibliography, and reference photos. The final
version was 24 pages, with 70 footnotes and 28 photos! Many thanks to Brad Robie who put this document together!
Last week, we heard back from the state and we are pleased to report that they have
determined our property is eligible for listing in the New Hampshire State Register
of Historic Places. Final approval by the State Historical Resources Council will take
place at its quarterly meeting on July 31!
The New Hampshire State Register of Historic Places is “… an honorary listing that
encourages the protection of significant buildings, districts, sites, landscapes, structures
or objects that are meaningful in the history, architecture, archeology, engineering, or
traditions of New Hampshire residents and communities.”
In addition to honorary recognition, listing in the State Register results in qualification for
state financial assistance for preservation projects, such as historic preservation grants
and funding from sources such as the aforementioned LCHIP program. We will also be
able to obtain a special plaque (shown in picture above) that we can affix to the building or display on the property.
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