PORTSMOUTH — Strawbery Banke Museum announced a New Hampshire Land and Community Heritage Investment Program grant will help it create an exhibit featuring African-American history in the city.
Strawbery Banke, a living-history museum, received a $125,000 grant award for the restoration of the c. 1750 Penhallow House. The grant supports restoration of the exterior of the house, in the first stage of a plan to fully restore it as part of Strawbery Banke’s Heritage House Program.
The project will preserve the building for future generations and provide space for an exhibit featuring the 20th century history of an African-American family, the first house exhibit of its kind at the museum and in Portsmouth. Kenneth Richardson was an active member of Portsmouth’s Black community during the 1950s. His story will enable the museum to interpret American history in a more inclusive, accurate way, according to the museum.
Strawbery Banke President and CEO Lawrence J. Yerdon said LCHIP is critical to preserving and understanding the state’s history.
“Strawbery Banke Museum has benefitted enormously over the years from the LCHIP program both from the practical standpoint of funding for projects that ensure the future of the historic buildings but also as inspiration and validation to other donors who are considering project support,” he said.
The most recent LCHIP grants will support 32 projects in nine of the state’s 10 counties. The grant round was highly competitive, with nearly $8 million in funding requests and $4.1 million available for grants.
“With the large number and high quality of applications that were submitted this year, the board had the satisfaction of awarding grants to a variety of wonderful projects – and the regret of being unable to support many others. It is clear to me that the work of LCHIP is more important than ever,” said LCHIP Board of Directors Chair Amanda Merrill of Durham.
Grant recipients are required to raise a minimum of one dollar for each dollar provided by LCHIP. This year’s awards of $4.1 million will be matched by nearly $18 million that the project proponents will raise from other public and private sources, infusing a total of over $22 million into the state’s economy in direct project activity.
For more about Strawbery Banke Museum, visit strawberybanke.org or call (603) 433-1100.
LCHIP is an independent state authority created by the Legislature in 2000. LCHIP’s legislative mandate is to ensure the perpetual contribution of natural, cultural and historic resources to the economy, environment and quality of life in New Hampshire.
LCHIP provides matching grants to New Hampshire communities and nonprofits. It has provided 499 grants that have helped to conserve approximately 294,000 acres of land for food production, water quality, ecological values, timber management and recreation and supported 301 projects to rehabilitate 286 historic structures and sites. State funding of $50 million has led to a total project value of more than $289 million. Money for LCHIP grants comes from fees on four documents recorded at the Registry of Deeds in every county of the state.
For more information, visit LCHIP.org or call (603) 224-4113.
