2010 ANNUAL REPORT ENFIELD, NEW ... - Town of Enfield

Heritage Commission
MISSION STATEMENT
The Enfield Heritage Commission will properly recognize, protect, and
promote the historic and esthetic resources that are significant to our
community, be they natural, built, or cultural. The commission will
work co-operatively with other educational and civic organizations in
fulfilling its mission.
This was a banner year for Enfield’s Heritage Commission. After several
years of work focused on placing Enfield Village on the National Register of
Historic Places, the application was submitted in December of 2009 to NH
Division of Historic Resources. In late January, the NH Historic Resources
Advisory Council met and unanimously approved Enfield’s application. It was
then sent on to the US Department of the Interior to be reviewed. On April 19,
2010, Enfield Village was officially placed on the National Register of Historic
Places. As we prepare to celebrate Enfield’s 250
164
th anniversary, we can be very
proud that our town has been recognized with this great honor.
At the March town meeting, Meredith Smith presented Tony Lozeau
with the annual Enfield Preservation Award for his contribution to preserving the
Hewitt House and placing it on the National Register of Historic Places. Hewitt
House has served as a model for historic preservation in Enfield Village.
The Heritage Commission learned in late spring that Enfield had been
awarded a $10,000 Moose Plate Grant to restore the historic Whitney Hall theater
drop, presently stored at the Enfield Center Town Hall along with several other
theater drops. The drop (or curtain) is an idyllic pastoral scene painted on canvas
which once hung in Whitney Hall. In late May of 2011, Chris Hadsell of Curtains
Without Borders will undertake the restoration and the drop will be installed in
Whitney Hall for the July 250 th celebration. Ms. Hadsell has also wrapped the
other theater drops stored in Enfield Center Town Hall to protect them from
further deterioration.
The Heritage Commission, assisted by the Enfield DPW Director Jim
Taylor and his able crew, undertook a major clean-up of the Enfield Center Town
Hall in August. A hearty thanks to Jim and his crew, for all their hard work (and
removal of dead squirrel!). There is still much more to be done but removal of a
lot of clutter and trash was a good beginning.
The Selectboard appointed Meredith Smith, Chair of the Heritage
Commission and Dolores Struckhoff, Executive Director of EVA as co-chairs of
the 250 th Celebration Steering Committee. An active group of volunteers has
been meeting for many months, planning a memorable celebration for this