HISTORIC HARRISVILLE INC.

Historic Harrisville, Inc. is a nonprofit public foundation which owns the core mill buildings within the textile mill village of Harrisville, New Hampshire. In 1971, the National Park Service designated this two-acre historic district to be a National Historic Landmark.

History of the Foundation

The closing of Cheshire Mills in 1970 caused many residents of Harrisville and the surrounding area to ask what would happen to this beautiful village, which architectural historian William Pierson considers "the only industrial community of the early nineteenth-century in America that still survives in its original form."

Townspeople and preservationists joined together to form Historic Harrisville, Inc., whose goal was to preserve the integrity of the village, not as a museum but as a working community. Their preservation techniques were highly innovative: adaptive reuse of the buildings, a system of legal preservation covenants, historic district legislation, and revolving loan funds for restoration. Renovating the old buildings and leasing them to businesses created a new economic base for the town and made the buildings self-supporting both as workspace and affordable housing.

Mission

The mission of Historic Harrisville, Incorporated, is to preserve and foster the quality, beauty, and historical significance of the village and the environment and way of life of Harrisville.

Goals

In carrying out its stewardship role, HHI has the following goals, adapted from those set forth in the original plan of 1971:

1. To maintain the essential character of Harrisville as a small, quiet, relatively remote village where people live and work in a healthy environment.
2. To sustain the vitality of the local economy, which must continue to provide employment and a tax base for the town.
3. To encourage the continuation of the town’s strong textile tradition.
4. To promote the restoration, maintenance, preservation, energy efficiency, and use of the buildings in the Historic District.
5. To maintain and manage the properties belonging to HHI in a way that is consonant with their historical importance, use, and value to the people of the town.
6. To sustain and improve housing opportunities for those who work in the village.
7. To promote the protection of open spaces around the perimeter of the mill village and in other historic parts of Harrisville.
8. To work with the Town of Harrisville to ensure that development follows the principles set forth in the town’s Master Plan.
9. To further the understanding, interpretation and appreciation of life in Harrisville, past and present; to foster community spirit.
10. To re-establish the energy independence of the village.

Contact

Historic Harrisville, Inc.
P.O. Box 79
Harrisville, NH 03450
603-827-3722
historicharrisville@msn.com

Linda Willett, Executive Director

Involvement

Historic Harrisville, Inc. has over 400 incorporators in Harrisville and beyond. Each is invited to attend the meetings of incorporators in April and October, at which they are informed of all aspects of the foundation's work.

Donate

We are grateful to our many supporters who share our commitment to historic preservation and land conservation. Their generosity makes it possible to continue our work. As a nonprofit, tax-exempt foundation, we welcome contributions at any time, as direct donations or as bequests.

Commercial and Industrial Space for Lease

Office and light industrial space available in renovated mill buildings is available for lease. For more information, please contact Linda Willett, Executive Director, at 603-827-3722.