Seven to Save

The First Parish Church, Derry, NH,
was named to the "Seven to Save" list in 2009

For five years the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance has named landmarks around the Granite State on its “Seven to Save” list. The newest list was published on 19 October 2010, and includes many early 20th century structures. New Hampshire landmarks can make the list by being of historic significance, as well as being currently threatened with destruction.

1. Colonial Theater, Laconia, built in 1914

2. Mill Pond Dam, Durham, built in 1913- a dam has been on this site since the 1670s.

3. Odd Fellows Hall, Warner, built in 1893

4. Pulpit Rock Tower, Rye, built in WWII

5. The Print Shop at the Mt. Washington Hotel, Bretton Woods, built in 1902

6. Brown Company, R&D Buildings, Berlin, built in 1915

7. Historic Windows, Statewide- being replaced because of misinformation about energy savings.

Since the list started in 2006, over half the listed landmarks are now out of danger. The list doesn’t grant any funds, but it spreads information and helps spur fundraising efforts towards restoration, preservation and conservation efforts in New Hampshire. There are nomination forms for historic buildings on the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance’s website at http://www.nhpreservation.org/

The addition of historic windows on this list is a change of pace for the NH Preservation Alliance. They would like homeowners and restorers to reconsider abandoning old wooden windows. They say that they can be restored and made efficient, and will last for more than twenty years, unlike modern highly energy efficient windows which need to be replaced much sooner. Some storm windows are eligible for tax credits, too. All in all, the wooden, repairable windows are a “greener” choice for homeowners.

It seems the whole idea of this "Seven to Save" campaign is to get folks to think out of the box about preservation. I love the windows idea. I know that several friends have preserved the wooden windows in their older homes, and installed inside and outside storms instead of replacement windows. Last year the Preservation Alliance named the 70 foot ski jump at the Gunstock ski area to the list, an old, yet historic piece of property that has led to several grants and programs to not only preserve the structure, but to also improve community awareness and youth participation in ski jumping.

For more information:

http://www.nhpreservation.org/html/news_197.htm the 2010 “Seven to Save” announcement by the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance.

In 2009 the First Parish Church in Derry, founded by the original Scots Irish Settlers of Nutfield, was named to the “Seven to Save List”. I wrote about this at my post on 1 November 2009, which you can read at this link http://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2009/11/first-parish-church-derry.html On the first list in 2006 the Derry Upper Village Hall Meetinghouse was also listed, which is located across the street from the First Parish Church.

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Copyright 2010, Heather Wilkinson Rojo