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March 13 2018 Annual Report of the Heritage
Commission for 2017
The Langdon Heritage Commission had a
productive year. The most widely seen example was the Fall Festival
display in the Meetinghouse of Langdon Schools Throughout the Years. It
was created by our own Lorraine Chaffee, Laura Rheaume. It included
school house artifacts, old photographs, commemorative booklets and art
work. It was much discussed and very popular.
The Heritage Commission is working with a committee of the Langdon
Congregational Church and the New Hampshire Department of Historical
Resources to have the church included on the prestigious New Hampshire
Register of Historical Places. There is a good chance it will be so
listed. Being on the list increases the opportunity to receive grants
for repairs when they are done in a manner consistent with the Secretary
of the Interior’s Standards for Historic Rehabilitation.
We are also working with the Selectmen and the New Hampshire
Preservation Alliance to determine the possible historic significance of
the old Salt Shed (originally built as the Town Tool Shed) and to see if
it is feasible to save the building. An application for a $500
“Mini-grant” grant from the NH Preservation Alliance has been made by
the LHC. It will be used to hire an expert to help make that
determination.
While doing slate replacement work on the roof of the Meetinghouse,
Griffin Construction noted the critical need to replace failing
clapboards on the lower portions of the steeple. We already knew there
were other places on the building that need new clapboards. Failure of
the clapboards will allow water to enter the interior and ruin plaster,
paint and wood. The Selectmen requested a quote to replace selected
clapboards on the entire building. The reason for repairing only failed
or failing clapboard is due to the historic significance of the
building. Most of the clapboards date back to 1803. Most of them are
still good because they are from virgin forest, close grained, eastern
white pine, radial sawn, and painted. They will be replaced with radial
sawn, eastern white pine, primed on all surfaces, cut to approximately
four foot length with ends “scarfed” to mate to original clapboards.
Langdon has received an LCHIP grant in the amount of $15,969 with the
Town providing a matching amount to do this work.
In 2017 the Heritage Commission voted to purchase a glass display case
to be installed in the hallway of the Municipal Building. It will
contain important historic Langdon artifacts.
A new flag pole for Meetinghouse has been donated to the Town of
Langdon. This donation by Doug and Gina Beach is in honor of Doug’s
father Norman R Beach, a WWII veteran and for the betterment of the
Town. It is much appreciated.
Thanks to the many people who donated money, did hard work, spoke words
of support and provided Town funds over the years for work on the
Meetinghouse. It is seeing increased use by the people and organizations
of Langdon. Contact the Town Clerk for information on use and or to
reserve the building.
Bruce Bellows of the Alstead Historical Society has generously
transferred to our custody many Langdon related historical items. His
actions are much appreciated. Do you have historic Langdon items you
would like to donate to the Town? Please contact us.
Andrea Cheeney manages our
Facebook
page and
does a fine job. We encourage folks to share their
Langdon Memories here and to stay abreast of
Heritage Commission activities.
We are looking for additional members to join
our Heritage Commission. Come lend a hand. All are welcome to join our
LHC meetings the first Wednesday of the month, at 7:00 PM in the
Meetinghouse at 5 Walker Hill Road from April to December and the
Municipal Building in the coldest months. We welcome your Langdon
stories and memorabilia.
Dennis McClary: Chair, Kathie Beam: Treasurer, Lorraine Chaffee, Andrea
Cheeney, Cliff Oster, Laura Rheaume, Mike Sweeney |
