Upcoming Lecture and Tour Focuses on Andover’s Barns

Saturday, September 7; 10 AM - 4:30 PM

Press release
Buddenhagen Barn, Andover

A Day of Barn Exploration with the Experts

Presented by:  New Hampshire Preservation Alliance in association with The Andover Community Hub and the Andover Historical Society.

When:  Saturday, September 7, 10 AM – 4:30 PM
Where: The Stone Chapel, Proctor Academy, 194 Main Street, Andover, for check-in and
                        lecture
To Register:    Go to nhpreservation.org or call the Preservation Alliance at 603 224-2281.
                      $30 for members of partner organizations; $40 for non-members; $5 discount if

                       purchased by September 2. Optional boxed lunch $12 (to be purchased by 

                       September 2). Space is limited.

Don’t miss this day of historic barns, scenic views, and local history in the hills of central New Hampshire. The barns of Andover link us to the rich agricultural history of the area. Eight distinctive examples will be showcased on the self-guided tour on Saturday, September 7.

Bachelder Barn, Andover

The event begins at 10 AM with an illustrated lecture, “The History of Agriculture as Told by Barns,” presented by author and barn expert John Porter with a welcome by Steve Taylor, former commissioner of the NH Department of Agriculture, Markets and Foods, at Proctor Academy’s Stone Chapel. Participants then depart for a self-guided tour to explore distinctive barns of this rural community. Experts will be available at each barn to answer questions about architectural features, agricultural uses, framing styles and repair methods. Attendees will also be invited to tour the Andover Historical Society’s 1837 Tucker Mountain Schoolhouse. The well-preserved schoolhouse (which closed in 1893) is listed on the National Register and remains in its original condition.

“Barns are disappearing from our New Hampshire landscape,” said Beverly Thomas, Preservation Alliance deputy director and tour coordinator, “and we want to increase appreciation for them and encourage their preservation. It’s exceptional to see that so many historic barns survive in Andover and are being well stewarded and used by their owners.” 

Cyclists are welcome too! Enjoy a more intimate experience of the back roads of Andover by cycling from barn to barn along the 20-mile route of paved and dirt roads. The ride offers beautiful vistas, scenic historic properties, stone wall-lined roads and includes a section of the Northern Rail Trail.

The event is presented by the NH Preservation Alliance in association with the Andover Historical Society and The Andover Community Hub.

To register or for more information, go to nhpreservation.org or call the Preservation Alliance at 603 224-2281.

Members of partnering organizations – $30
Non-members – $40
Membership Special (tour and 1 year Preservation Alliance membership) – $50
Early Bird Discount – $5 discount if tickets purchased by September 2.
Optional Lunch – $12. Lunch must be ordered by September 2.

Proceeds from the tour will support the NH Preservation Alliance’s barn preservation activities across the state.

Generous sponsors of the Preservation Alliance’s Old House and Barn Program include:
Samuel P. Pardoe Foundation; Colonial Restorations, LLC; Fifield Building Restoration & Relocation; Harrisville Designs; Vintage Kitchens; Cedar Mill Group; Colonial Builders; Colonial Lighting; Hubbingtons Furniture; Levasseur Electrical Contractors, Inc.; RST Thermal, Inc.; Rumford Stone; Winn Mountain Restorations, LLC; Enviro-Tote, Inc.; Owen Associates, Inc.; Decatur Co.

The New Hampshire Preservation Alliance strengthens communities and local economies by supporting and encouraging the revitalization and protection of historic buildings and places.

The Andover Community Hub seeks to help nurture and enhance a more vibrant, resilient and sustainable local community, to encourage a sense of belonging, and to revive Andover’s historic Town Hall as a vibrant community center.

The Andover Historical Society was established to preserve the history of Andover through the acquisition and conservation of property, artifacts and stories, and to foster an awareness and appreciation for that history within the community.