Saving a Unique and Historic Old Building
The Wentworth Brown Project has been awarded several grants and received “in kind” donations of services. The Wentworth Brown estate suffered from a lack of maintenance for over a decade, prior to being purchased by Haverhill Heritage Inc. in May of 2019. Most affected was the exterior with the most critical area being deterioration of the foundation and sills in the original “small house” and carriage barn.
Initial grants from the NH Preservation Alliance and the National Trust provided funds for a preliminary architectural study to assess the buildings’ physical needs and capabilities. Following the completed study, HHI was awarded a significant challenge grant from the New Hampshire Land and Community Heritage Investment Program (LCHIP) (www.lchip.org) for historic rehabilitation and, awarded an L5 Capacity Building tax credit grant from the New Hampshire Community Development Financing Authority (CDFA) (www.nhcdfa.org) towards completing a feasibility study and redevelopment plan. In addition, the project has been awarded two matching grants from The 1772 Foundation.
The project has benefited from generous donors, allowing HHI to match the grants awarded, including a $20,000 fundraising effort to complete the exterior rehabilitation of the porch and complete the exterior painting of the buildings.
New Hampshire Land and Community Heritage Investment Program (LCHIP)
Haverhill Heritage received a $125,152 matching grant for the restoration of the Wentworth Brown House. This grant has completed the exterior stabilization of the Wentworth Brown House.
LCHIP is an independent state authority that makes matching grants to New Hampshire communities and non-profits to conserve and preserve New Hampshire’s most important natural, cultural and historic resources. For more information on LCHIP: lchip.org
New Hampshire Community Development Financing Authority (CDFA)
This L5 Capacity Building tax credit grant will go towards completing a feasibility study and redevelopment plan.
$31,000.
Information on CDFA: nhcdfa.org
New Hampshire Preservation Alliance
The NHPA provided funds for a preliminary architectural study to assess the buildings’ physical needs and capabilities.
$3,000.
Information on the NHPA: www.nhpreservation.org
National Trust for Historical Preservation
The NTHP also provided funds for a preliminary architectural study to assess the buildings’ physical needs and capabilities.
$3,000.
Information on NTHP grants: savingplaces.org/grants
The 1772 Foundation
Haverhill Heritage was awarded three matching grants totaling $27,500 for painting of the Wentworth Brown property, porch repair, and sill repairs.
$27,500.
Information on The 1772 Foundation: 1772foundation.org