Historic Prescott Farm Gilford New Hampshire

As Realtors in the Lakes Region, we are keenly aware of the properties coming on the market that have antique barns. The decline and decay of many of these historic structures, which evokes in all of us the nostalgia of an agrarian lifestyle in New Hampshire and in the national landscape, is quickly fading because of neglect, fire, and modern expansion.

Central New Hampshire Barn Conway

Did you know that in 2003 the New Hampshire Legislature approved a break on property taxes for people who will preserve their old barns? The leading New Hampshire organization and proponent of saving our antique barns is The New Hampshire Preservation Alliance in Concord, New Hampshire. Here you can find and download applications for tax incentives, as well as find more detailed information to assist in answering any questions you may have on the subject of preserving your antique barn.

If you would like further information from us, we would be happy to assist where we can on the value of saving your old barn. It is critically important that we all work together to save what has become such historic treasures linked to our New Hampshire heritage.

We wish to thank the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance, and specifically Beverly Thomas, Program Associate for NHPA and Maggie Stier, Field Service Representative for NHPA for their support of what we hope will become one of many blogs and articles on the preservations of old barns and homes, and for the use of NHPA’s pictures of barns in central New Hampshire.

Laconia New Hampshire Barn

As one who has owned two antique homes, one a 1899 Victorian on the Island of Jamestown, Rhode Island, and a 1837 cape and barn in North Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, I can say with authority there is nothing as exciting nor as demanding in home ownership than to restore an old home.

The first things you will notice when entering an antique home that’s in close to original condition are the wide floor boards, overhead beams, corner posts, horsehair plaster walls, unique wallpaper, glass windows that bend light in strange ways, beautiful hearths, stone foundations, and where almost nothing tends to be level or square. Once you get past the awe that these antique features bestow upon you, you start to imagine yourself living there and just possibly continuing the stewardship of caring for this special property or working to bring back the antique charm to what someone over 100 years ago called home.

Here in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire, antique homes with charm, beauty, and stories to tell await those who value history as well as making some of their own history. When you purchase an antique home you become part of the story. Essentially you become the caretaker of a very important piece of United States history not to mention preserving local history. The story of your life in that house continues the tradition of owners and will be left for the next owner to create their own story and value what you found so precious living there. This can’t be said about many of the homes built in the early 1950′s and later, which were thrown up as fast as they could be after World War II and the Baby Boom Generation was born.

Antique homes in Wolfeboro, Tuftonboro, Moultonboro, Sandwich, Brookfield, and Alton New Hampshire are available now, to be lived in and enjoyed by people who value history, preservation, and that special feeling of owning something timeless.