Effingham Preservation Society

The HTH project for which we are requesting funds will make a difference in the lives of this community. Completion of the three phases will ultimately result in a usable community center for our rural under served population. We will repair and refurbish the structure of the building, increase energy efficiency by rehabilitating historic windows and doors, install efficient HVAC and moisture control system, and replace outdated wiring and emergency exit and other safety features. Ultimately there will be new ADA compliant access to the second floor for a new community space, accessible outside of Library hours.

There are multiple fundraising and grant writing efforts continuously underway. Some of the grants require matching funds, some are outright grants. The project is intended to be 3 major Phases with a flexible design for the repair, restoration and preservation work. The project time period will lead up to the Town of Effingham's 250th anniversary in August 2028.

Fundraising is coming from a broader spectrum. We have received grants from the NH Department of Cultural and Natural Resources, New Hampshire Preservation Alliance and the Land & Community Heritage Investment Program. A recent more significant organization donor is the Freemasons of the Charter Oak Lodge #58, Effingham, NH. Individuals are donating cash and Gift-In-Kind directly to the cause, business are donating cash and Gift-In-Kind donations, recurring online bake sales, aluminum can recycling/fundraising drive, Facebook birthday fundraisers and company employee/retiree matching donations are just a few of the sources of fundraising. Other avenues are being explored to broaden the fundraising capabilities.

The project has broad Town-wide support . . . and this support continues to grow each day. Additionally, there is support from other local 501c(3) organizations including Effingham Historic Society and Lord's Hill Meeting House. Support is even coming from out-of-state descendants of people that were born in or lived some of their life in Effingham.

The Effingham Preservation Society was created in 1999. Today the Board and member volunteer efforts support different historical preservation efforts within the Town of Effingham. The Historic Town Hall-Library (HTH) Project is the largest endeavor to date. A core HTH Project Team consists of 10 members, many with extensive historic restoration experience. Other historic minded members were attending public meetings prior to COVID.

The Project Team attempts to communicate and to educate the community at large about the history of the building and the overall progress of the preservation project using two web sources.

https://www.HistoricEffingham.org

Facebook: Historic Town Hall of Effingham NH

In 2019, $4,500 grant and other monies were use to create an updated historic building preservation report by a known historic architect.

In early 2020, created an information and educational project business website, HistoricEffingham.org. Also set up a supporting Facebook page, Historic Town Hall of Effingham NH.

In 2020, raised funds and a $10,000 Moose Plate Grant were used to repair and restore 8 of the larger 1st floor windows. When reinstalled, weather stripping was added to help improve building energy efficiency by reducing window air infiltration that affects heating and cooling and moisture control in the Town Library. This partial work provides visible evidence to the local community that the project is making progress.

In late 2020, the project received a Land & Community Heritage Investment Program (LCHIP) matching grant of $165,000 for Phase 1 work.

In late 2020, Charter Oak Masonic Lodge #58, Effingham, NH, donated $10,000 towards the historic preservation project.

In 2020, Gift-In-Kind volunteer help worked on and completed 3 preservation assessment report hazard mitigation items. Total 2019-2020 volunteer hours exceed 2,000 hours.

2019-2020, the project has raised and committed funds totaling over $382,000 towards preservation work. (February 2021)