Heritage Commission

HERITAGE COMMISSION MISSION

Ensure the proper recognition of Ashland’s historical, cultural, and aesthetic resources significant to the community.

Contact the Heritage Commission: heritage@ashland.nh.gov

MEMBERS OF THE HERITAGE COMMISSION

Kendall B. Hughes, Chair (term expires 2024)
Susan Harville, Vice Chair (term expires 2021)
John Harville, Treasurer (term expires 2023)
David Ruell, Secretary (term expires 2022)
Ann Barney, Select Board Representative
Robert Letourneau, Alternate Select Board Representative
[Open Position], Alternate
[Open Position], Alternate
[Open Position], Alternate

MEETINGS

Regular meetings of the Heritage Commission are generally quarterly, although dates are subject to change.  Other meetings will be held as needed. Meetings will be listed on the calendar as scheduled.

PROJECTS AND AWARDS

Town Hall Evaluation — In 2020, a Historic Structures Report was conducted to evaluate the existing conditions of the historic Ashland Town Hall. The final professionally-developed report “recommended a phased plan of work to repair, maintain and improve the building to serve the town in an ongoing manner into the future.” Read the complete report here.

Town Hall — PowerPoint presentation here (March 1, 2018) and abbreviated version here (March 5, 2018). Includes the history of the Town Hall building and a look at its current condition.

Barn Survey — collecting data including age, size, style, use and location of Ashland’s historic barns 75 years or older for inclusion in New Hampshire Preservation Alliance “52 Barns in 52 Weeks” and Ashland Historical Society’s records. Focus is first on the 13 free-standing agricultural barns.

Ashland 2018 — collecting photographs from property owners of their homes and outbuildings to establish an historic record of what Ashland looked like on its 150th anniversary.

Town-Owned Historic Buildings Inventory — detailing age, size, use, value, historic significance and future needs of Town Hall and Jail, Whipple House, Scribner Library and Booster Club.

2018 Preservation Achievement Award (The Preservation Alliance) presented to the Ashland Historical Society for the rescue of the c.1800 Reuben Whitten House.

MINUTES of the Heritage Commission

2021 Minutes

May 19, 2021                       April 28, 2021

2020 Minutes

January 30, 2020

2019 Minutes

November 21, 2019            August 8, 2019                      July 9, 2019

2018 Minutes

October 4, 2018                     August 21, 2018                August 14, 2018
July 10, 2018                          June 12, 2018                    April 10, 2018
March 20, 2018                     February 13, 2018            January 9, 2018

2017 Minutes

December 12, 2017                November 14, 2017         October 10, 2017
September 12, 2017               August 8, 2017                 July 10, 2017
June 13, 2017                          May 9, 2017                      April 11, 2017
March 21, 2017                       January 10, 2017

2016 Minutes

December 13, 2016                November 1, 2016             July 12, 2016
June 14, 2016                          May 10, 2016                     April 12, 2016
March 9, 2016                         February 10, 2016            January 12, 2016

2015 Minutes
November 10, 2015                 October 13, 2015              September 22, 2015


Establishment of the Ashland Heritage Commission

On March 10, 2015, the voters of Ashland, New Hampshire, approved the following Warrant Article #16:

“To see if the Town will vote to establish a Heritage Commission in accordance with the provisions of RSA 673 and RSA 674 and a Heritage Fund in accordance with the provisions of RSA 674:44-a to 44-d and to authorize the Board of Selectmen to appoint five citizens as members of the Heritage Commission pursuant to the provisions of RSA 673:4-a and RSA 673:5; one member of the Heritage Commission shall be a selectman, and up to three additional citizens shall be appointed as alternate members.

An advisory entity, a Heritage Commission is for the proper recognition, use, and protection of resources, tangible or intangible, primarily man made, that are valued for their historical, cultural, aesthetic, or community significance within their natural, built or cultural contexts. Powers and duties of a heritage commission include: To advise and assist other local boards and commissions on matters related to historic resources; To work in tandem with the Ashland Historical Society to survey and inventory historic resources; To assist the Planning Board in writing or updating the historic and cultural resources chapter in the Master Plan; To propose and implement other preservation planning; To assist in coordinating and fundraising for cultural events for the Town.

“Upon approval of this article the present Ashland Historic Commission, which was established in 1970 for the limited purpose of taking responsibility for the Whipple House, will be terminated and the duties and functions of that Commission will be assumed by the Heritage Commission.”

Historical Note: The Historic Commission

The Ashland Historic Commission was established by the Ashland Town Meeting, on March 10, 1970, upon receiving the gift of “the land and building of the Whipple homestead to be used and maintained as an historical building for the preservation and perpetuation of historical articles and for activities related thereto.”

In March 2015, the Historic Commission was replaced by the Heritage Commission.