Help us Shape the Future of Harrisville
An in-depth look at HHI’s mission
This is part one of a seven-part series that explores Historic Harrisville's core programs—preservation, affordable housing, conservation, green energy, the HHI Archives, and the Harrisville General Store.
What do you love about living in Harrisville? Is it the scenic beauty, the history, the architecture, and our engaged community? Maybe it’s running into neighbors at the General Store, having the chance to be involved in local decision making, and hiking the scenic trails?
But do you ever wonder why Harrisville is such a special place? Historic Harrisville (HHI), alongside other local organizations, has played a pivotal role in our town’s evolution into the community we know and love today.
As HHI turned 50 years old in 2021, we focused on telling the story of our organization’s history–why and how we were founded, what our guiding principles are, and how we have grown over time. We detailed this story in the book Out of Date and Ahead of its Time, and in the film Red Brick Village: The Preservation of Harrisville directed by Ned Porter.
While our story is better known thanks to these endeavors, we still meet folks who are surprised to learn that we have an affordable housing program, run a general store, offer public hiking trails on conserved land, and are the town’s largest tax payer.
HHI is about so much more than preserving buildings or reviewing and approving renovations. Our 2023 annual appeal slogan—Preserve. Sustain. Thrive.—expresses both the range and depth of HHI’s mission. We are always asking how we can do better. What does our community value? What do we value as an organization? What does this place–the landscape, the buildings, the community of Harrisville, its people and institutions–give us and what can we give back to it? What do we want the future to look like in one year, in 50 years, in 500 years? What do we value? What deserves our time and attention and support? You may not realize the degree to which the HHI board and staff are constantly tackling these questions. There are many balls to juggle and our programs need your support to keep them all in the air.
Over the course of the next few weeks, we will talk about these programs more in depth and encourage you to donate to our annual appeal and support our important work in these diverse program areas.
Our annual appeal raises critical funds to support our operations and our goal for this year is to raise $120,000—just slightly more than the $117,665 in unrestricted donations that our generous supporters (that’s you!) contributed last year. As we officially kick off this campaign, we already have $17,535 in hand.
Thanks to those who have donated already, and to those of you who will support us this season, and for being exactly why Harrisville is such a special place. We couldn’t do what we do without you!
We hope you enjoy your Thanksgiving. Happy holidays from all of the HHI board and staff!
Michelle Aldredge
Board Chair, 2023
Let’s talk about historic preservation – the heart of Historic Harrisville’s mission-driven work. Generally speaking, the term "historic preservation" includes four possible “treatments” for historic properties. Rehabilitation and preservation are actively used in Harrisville, while restoration and reconstruction are less common.