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
[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
2020 Minutes
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.