New Hampshire Preservation Alliance

08/14/2026

Did you know New Hampshire's historic bascule bridges once played a vital role in connecting coastal communities while allowing maritime traffic to pass?

Join the NH Department of Transportation of Transportation for a public viewing of three short documentary films created as part of the mitigation work associated with the removal of the Hampton River Bridge. The videos explore the history, engineering, and significance of New Hampshire's historic bascule bridges and help preserve their stories for future generations.

07/31/2026

Warmer weather means the start of preservation easement monitoring season!

Each year, we visit the historic properties protected through our preservation easement program to document current conditions, connect with property owners, and answer questions about maintenance and long-term stewardship.

Preservation easements are one of the most effective tools available for protecting historic places for future generations. By ensuring that important historic features remain preserved, easements help safeguard the character, stories, and architectural heritage that make these properties so special.

This year's visits began with Beverly Thomas and Jac Nahman at the Rogers House in Orford (pictured), one of seven National Register-listed Ridge Houses, and the Moses Kent Farm in Lyme, home to an 1811 house featuring original Rufus Porter murals.

We're grateful to the property owners who partner with us in preserving New Hampshire's historic places.

07/30/2026

🎉 Congratulations to the inaugural recipients of Exeter’s new John Merkle Heritage Awards!

Launched by the Exeter Heritage Commission as part of the Town of Exeter’s America 250 celebrations, these annual awards recognize individuals, businesses, organizations, and projects that help preserve and share Exeter’s rich history.

The 2026 honorees are:
🏛️ The late John Merkle, a tireless preservation advocate whose impact extended far beyond Exeter and helped strengthen preservation efforts across New Hampshire.
🏛️ Keith Whitehouse and Anthony Callendrello of The Exeter Apothecary, recognized for their contributions to preserving and celebrating the town’s heritage.

"A Heritage Commission can be an educator as well as a cheerleader for the historic preservation work valued and performed in a community, inspiring future generations," said Commission Chair Françoise Elise.

As communities across the country commemorate America’s 250th anniversary, programs like this remind us that preserving local history helps connect future generations to the places, stories, and people that shaped them.

👏 Join us in celebrating these deserving recipients and their commitment to Exeter’s historic character and community heritage.

Exeter, NH - July 2nd, 2026: The Exeter Heritage Commission is pleased to initiate the “John Merkle Heritage Awards” in conjunction with the Town of Exeter's 250 Celebrations. This award will be presented annually to a business, organization, project, or person who has made contributions to the ...

07/29/2026

This summer, we launched a new Preservation Regional Roundtable series in partnership with the New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources. Born from conversations at our winter Preservation Regulatory Tools workshop, these roundtables create space for people to connect, share ideas, and discuss the challenges and opportunities facing historic preservation in their communities.

So far, we've gathered in Bethlehem and Claremont, bringing together local preservation advocates, municipal leaders, nonprofit organizations, and community members. A few key themes have emerged:

🔨 Support the preservation trades – Communities continue to see a need for skilled craftspeople who specialize in historic buildings. Participants discussed ways to encourage the next generation—and career changers—to enter the trades and expand access to training opportunities across the state.

🤝 Build regional preservation networks – Attendees expressed enthusiasm for strengthening connections among people doing preservation work, creating opportunities to share resources, celebrate successes, tackle challenges, and support one another.

📣 Advocate for the places you value – Preservation depends on people speaking up. Conversations highlighted the importance of engaging local and state leaders, supporting preservation-friendly policies, encouraging rehabilitation incentives, and promoting the reuse of historic buildings.

We're excited to continue the conversation this fall with three additional roundtables in new regions of the state. Together, we're building stronger connections and stronger preservation efforts across New Hampshire.

Stay tuned for upcoming locations and dates!

07/28/2026

🌟 From Student to Preservation Professional! 🌟
We’re thrilled to see Jacob Upham featured in a recent North Bennet Street School newsletter. After graduating from the school’s Preservation Carpentry program in June, Jacob returned to New Hampshire and immediately got to work at Canterbury Shaker Village alongside fellow graduate Oliver Fifield of Historic Barn Restoration, LLC.

Jacob has been a familiar face at Preservation Alliance events, building connections with mentors, exploring career pathways, and inspiring the next generation of preservation tradespeople. Now, he’s already applying his skills to help preserve some of New Hampshire’s most significant historic places.

We recently shared Jacob’s story as he looked ahead to life after graduation—and we couldn’t be more excited to see him hit the ground running in his preservation career.

📖 Read the North Bennet St. School blog here: https://nbss.edu/news-events/news-stories/jacob-upham-pc-26/?blm_aid=12288

🔨 Interested in the Preservation Trades? Learn about our Preservation Trades Initiative on our website: https://www.nhpreservation.org/preservation-trades-initiative

07/24/2026

Next week - Learn strategies for managing your family's historic property for future generations. Register for free by clicking the link below.

https://www.squamslandtrust.org/events/

07/23/2026

The Gale School is saved!

07/23/2026

🎉 A Belmont landmark is officially in the saved category! 🎉
Recently, community members, advocates, investors, and former students gathered to celebrate the grand opening and new life of the historic Gale School in Belmont.

For the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance, this project stands among the most remarkable preservation success stories of the last four decades. What began nearly 40 years ago as a grassroots effort to save a beloved community resource became a journey marked by volunteer cleanups, a hard-fought victory over demolition, the dramatic move of the 125-ton building, countless meetings, and millions of dollars invested in its future.

Today, the Gale School has been thoughtfully rehabilitated by Lakes Region Community Developers and transformed into much-needed child care space—preserving its history while serving the community for generations to come.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations and gratitude to:
🔹 Save Our Gale School for their unwavering determination
🔹 Lakes Region Community Developers for their vision and commitment
🔹 The many individuals, organizations, volunteers, and donors who helped make this project possible

The Gale School was recognized on our Seven to Save list in 2017, and we are thrilled to see it firmly in the “saved” category today.

07/22/2026

As we celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, we’re shining a spotlight on one of New Hampshire’s oldest and most iconic agricultural buildings: the English barn.

Introduced by early colonists, these simple timber-framed structures played a vital role in farm life—housing livestock, storing grain, and supporting generations of family farmers. From their distinctive gunstock posts and handcrafted joinery to rare surviving examples like the Rolfe Barn in Penacook, English barns offer a remarkable window into New Hampshire’s farming heritage.

Discover how these historic barns evolved over time and why preserving them remains important today. 🐄🌾🏚️

English barns are among New Hampshire’s oldest farm structures, showcasing early craftsmanship, agricultural history, and the importance of preservation today.