Effingham Preservation Society

The Historic Town Hall-Library Preservation 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 with books" 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by rehabilitating historic windows and doors, install efficient HVAC and moisture control system, and replace outdated wiring and emergency exit and other safety features.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, preservation and modernization 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 (Moose Plate Grant), 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 A.&F.M., Effingham, NH and the New Hampshire Grand Lodge Charity Fund. 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. We have also received charitable donations from foundations. 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.

As the historic building is a town-owned building, its future stewardship is governed by inclusion in the town's Capital Improvement Plan. Annual taxpayer raised and appropriated funding goes into a Historic Town Hall Repair & Rehabilitation Expendable Trust Fund. Working under a written Operating Guidelines document between the Town of Effingham and the Effingham Preservation Society allows charitable donations to also support the historic preservation cause.

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 Historic Town Hall-Library Preservation 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.

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

Phase 1 Fundraising 2019-2020: In 2020 we were awarded a $10,000 Moose Plate Grant were used to repair and restore 8 of the larger 1st floor windows. The project received a 1:1 matching 2020 Land & Community Heritage Investment Program (LCHIP) matching grant of $165,000 for Phase 1 work. Charter Oak Masonic Lodge #58, Effingham, NH, donated $10,000 to the project. Author, Lisa Gardner, donated $10,000 to the project.

Phase 2 Fundraising 2021-2023: In 2021, a $10,000 Moose Plate Grant award helped restore building entry doors. A 2022 Moose Plate Grant for $20,000 will go to repairing roof water leaks. A local foundation provided charitable donation of $60,000. In 2023, the NH LCHIP program awarded a matching grant for $172,000O and a NH Moose Plate Grant for $20,000 was awarded. Small and large charitable donors have provided support from $10 up to $25,000. Bake sales, plant sales, street fairs and street dance and more types of fundraising continue today. The Town of Effingham taxpayers raised and appropriated $60,000 for unanticipated powderpost beetle repairs to the 1st floor of the building.

Gift-In-Kind volunteer help worked on and completed 3 preservation assessment report hazard mitigation items and many more items of project support. Total 2019-January 2024 volunteer hours exceed 6,480 hours.

2019-2023, the project has raised and committed funds totaling over $860,000 towards building and grounds preservation work. (February 2024)