Aug 25, 2021
A $7,600 matching grant from Maine Preservation and The 1772 Foundation supports exterior masonry work at Hamilton House (c. 1785) in South Berwick, Maine.
Historic New England’s Hamilton House is a National Historic Landmark located on a bluff overlooking the Salmon Falls River. This grant helps fund Phase 1 of the Hamilton Resiliency and Preservation Project, focusing on preservation and conservation work on the masonry chimneys, the foundation, and the stone steps.
About the Hamilton House Resiliency and Preservation Project
During this three-year project, Historic New England will restore and preserve the house’s exterior, which will also protect architectural details, interior finishes, and collections that make this property a treasure for the public. Preventing water infiltration also reduces humidity, prevents mold, and decreases the habitat for both wood-boring and collections-damaging pests.
Repairing the chimney and foundation is vital work to counter the effects of increasing wind and rainstorms that are the effects of climate change. The next phase of the project looks at upsizing gutter systems and addressing storm water management to ensure additional protection from these more frequent and more intense rainstorms.
Addressing the impacts of climate change at our historic sites
Historic New England factors climate change into its preservation approach. Climate change affects our properties in many ways.
- Heavy rains saturate materials and overwhelm drainage systems.
- Wind-driven rains push water where it doesn’t belong.
- Extreme heat, UV, and an increase in freeze-thaw cycles cause degradation of many materials.
Beginning in 2017, we undertook a groundbreaking study at our Maine properties to look at the shortfalls of historic gutter systems when dealing with the impacts of climate change. We published the results on HistoricNewEngland.org and shared it with other organizations. In partnership with Middlebury College, we explored the impact on gutter systems that were overwhelmed by intense rainstorms, rising sea level, and vegetation management changes at four of our properties in Massachusetts.
How you can help
Historic New England is raising funds to complete this match. You can help by making a donation.
Partnership supports historic preservation
Maine Preservation and The 1772 Foundation worked in partnership to award one-to-one matching grants to support historic preservation projects in Maine.