Harrisville becomes 29th Certified Local Government in NH

The N.H. Division of Historical Resources has announced that Harrisville, which has been at the forefront of historic preservation in New Hampshire for more than fifty years, has achieved Certified Local Government designation. 

The CLG program in New Hampshire promotes the preservation of prehistoric and historic sites, structures, objects, buildings and districts by establishing a partnership between local governments and the NHDHR. As a CLG, Harrisville will be able to gain access to critical expertise and resources related to historic preservation at both the state and federal levels.

“Our Historic District Commission knew that Harrisville being designated as a Certified Local Government is critical for us to continue our mission of preserving the unique history, architecture and culture of our town,” said Noel Greiner, chair of the Historic District Commission. “We are grateful to be accepted and to have obtained our certification, and we look forward to the next great things we’ll be able to do.”

CLGs are overseen by either a historic district commission or a heritage commission, which are a requirement of the CLG program. In addition to being stewards of their local history, these commissions also serve as advisory bodies to their municipal governments and land use boards.

The only New England textile village that largely survives in its original form, Harrisville is centered around a nineteenth-century hydro-powered industrial mill complex. While the last mill ended production in 1970, buildings in the village have been preserved and repurposed for small businesses, space for artists and artisans, and for housing.

The Harrisville Historic District was named a National Historic Landmark in 1977. Six historic districts in Harrisville have been named to the National Register of Historic Places, joining more than two dozen farms, houses and other properties on that list. 

Created by the 1980 amendments to the National Historic Preservation Act, the Certified Local Government program requires the NHDHR to designate at least 10 percent of its annual federal Historic Preservation Funds to support municipalities that have become CLGs. 

New Hampshire's Division of Historical Resources, the State Historic Preservation Office, was established in 1974 and is part of the N.H. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. NHDHR’s mission is to preserve and celebrate New Hampshire’s irreplaceable historic resources through programs and services that provide education, stewardship, and protection. For more information, visit us online at nhdhr.dncr.nh.gov or by calling 603-271-3483.

###