One of the most interesting roofs in downtown Concord will get refurbished this summer, meaning it won’t be leaking into the smoke alarm system any more.
“In the spring, the smoke alarm went off. Water had found its way in them – we had to call the fire department,” said Nadine Miller, secretary for the Woman’s Club of Concord.
The club’s historic Chamberlin House at 44 Pleasant Street still has the slate roof that was installed in 1886 and time has taken its toll.
This week, the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance, partnering with The 1772 Foundation, announced a $9,000 grant towards repairing the roof. Combined with $18,300 already received from the state Land and Community Heritage Investment Program and money collected through fund-raising, the repairs estimated at $36,000 should start next month.
“We feel very lucky that we’re going to be able to rehabilitate the roof rather than replace it,” said Miller.
Much of the work will happen in the valleys between the many gables on the handsome house, including new copper and ridgeline work, Miller said.
The Woman’s Club dates back to 1893. It has housing for three women in transition, as well as a ground-floor gathering space that can be rented out by the general public. It also hosts programs and scholarships for girls and women.
Miller said the club had been in the process of upgrading the building’s accessibility when the roof started leaking, which forced them to move funds from one project to another.
“You’ve got to fix the roof,” she said.
The grant was among 16 given out by the Preservation Alliance and The 1772 Foundation to protect historic buildings, totaling $125,000. The Dwelling House at Canterbury Shaker Village received $5,000 for roof work.
The funding goes to buildings that range in date from 1774 to 1912, and to new and continuing uses that include housing, community meeting space, museums, and educational programming.
