By Susan Smallheer, Brattleboro Reformer
ROCKINGHAM — The 2024 Annual Rockingham Old House Awards have expanded beyond just historic ‘Victorian painted ladies’ and colonial-era homes to include a farm and the “historic reconstruction” of the Bellows Falls Garage.
The awards, which are the brainchild of the Rockingham Historic Preservation Commission, traditionally recognize some of the older homes in rural Rockingham, Saxtons River and Bellows Falls.
This year, the award winners include two homes in Bellows Falls, a home in rural Rockingham, a business in Bellows Falls, a farm in rural Rockingham, as well as the reconstruction of the former Art Deco-era automobile Bellows Falls Garage, which is now home to 27 families.
Those who will receive recognition and plaques on Sunday, Oct. 20, at the Rockingham Meeting House are P. Michael Myers for his work on his home at 17 Westminster Terrace, Richard DeMuzio for his work on 60 Green Street, and Christine Hume for her work preserving the Hanby-Pruden Farm on Rockingham Hill Road.
In addition, Richard and Barbara Stickney are being recognized for their stewardship of their family farm on Pleasant Valley Road.
Erica Daniels and Tim Wells are being recognized for their work on Studio 92 on Rockingham Street, and the Windham-Windsor Housing Trust is being honored for its “historic reconstruction” of the old Bellows Falls Garage, which had to be torn down rather than reused, for a housing project on Rockingham Street.
Walter Wallace, the town’s historic preservation coordinator, said the awards ceremony and reception for the winners will be followed by a public hearing about the proposed renovation and restoration of the 1787 Rockingham Meeting House. The awards celebration starts at 11 a.m.
“The public is warmly invited to attend and celebrate the significant contributions to historic preservation made by local property owners,” Wallace said.
After the awards ceremony and reception, he said the focus will turn to the Rockingham Meeting House Preservation Project, where a status report will be given. Construction is set to begin in the summer of 2025, with Phase 1 focusing on foundation and drainage improvements, supported by Save America’s Treasures funding.
Wallace said that approvals from the National Park Service are already in place for this phase.
Since the town received the federal National Park Service Semiquincentennial preservation grant on Labor Day, Phase 2 planning is now underway. This phase will concentrate on conserving the building’s woodwork and plaster, with work expected to continue through 2026, Wallace said.
John Leppman, chair of the Historic Preservation Commission, expressed the community’s pride in the 1787 Rockingham Meeting House, describing it as the birthplace of historic preservation in Rockingham. He highlighted its restoration in 1906 as a milestone.
