Where to Get Help to Preserve New Hampshire Barns

Attend a Workshop

• Attend a barn preservation workshop offered by the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance. The alliance, whose mission statement explains that the group is “dedicated to the preservation of New Hampshire's historic buildings, communities and landscapes through leadership, education and advocacy,” holds workshops to show owners how to evaluate a barn’s condition, analyze possibilities for repair and discuss strategies to preserve the structure.

Apply for a Grant

• Contact the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance regarding a Barn Assessment Grant. The grant will match money put up by a barn owner to hire a professional to evaluate a barn's condition, then write a report as to what work, and at what cost, the old barn will require.

Get Technical Help

• Ask the alliance for assistance with the barn restoration. The alliance has staff that can answer questions and offer advice regarding fundraising, developing a public relations plan, hiring contractors or working through legal matters that arise.

Seek Tax Relief

• Apply, through your local jurisdiction, for tax relief for preserving your barn. State legislation enacted in 2006 assures that taxes will not rise for at least five years if a barn is preserved. You can qualify for tax breaks if your barn is at least 75 years old, has been used for agriculture and is at least one of the following: viewable from a public road or waterway; determined to be of historical significance; part of a property listed on or eligible for state or national registries of historic places; or in a locally designated historic district. Local officials determine the tax breaks following state guidelines set by the New Hampshire Historic Agricultural Structures Advisory Committee.