NH Moose Plates | Franklin Opera House, Franklin, NH

Projects funded by Moose Plates!

NH Division of Historical Resources Restores The Frost Place in Franconia

Grants from the NH Division of Historical Resources help fund the conservation and preservation of significant publicly owned historic resources or artifacts that contribute to New Hampshire’s history and cultural heritage—including this building in Franconia, once a year-round home to iconic writer Robert Frost.

The Nongame and Endangered Wildlife Program Reevaluates Endangered Species

Our friends at the NH Fish and Game’s Nongame and Endangered Wildlife Program frequently conduct analysis to determine the highest-priority conservation objectives, compiling data as part of a revised New Hampshire State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP). This project began with reevaluating animals listed as species of greatest conservation need (SGCN), including threatened and endangered wildlife such as the Canada lynx.

LCHIP Preserves A Historic 19th Century Example of Queen Anne Architecture in Littleton

The historic Carriage House Annex to the Littleton Community Center is one of many recipients of historic preservation efforts spearheaded by the Land and Community Heritage Investment Program. This three-story wood-frame house stands as an example of high-style Queen Anne architecture, with interiors featuring Victorian glazed tiles and ornate wooden detailing.

Identifying Old Forests as Crucial Sources of Biodiversity & Cultural Values

This winter, the National Heritage Bureau frequented Mt. Sunapee to find old forests—which comprise less than 0.001% of our state’s forests. These forests are important to protect due to their high rates of carbon storage compared to younger forests, as well as for their biodiversity and cultural values. Through historic research, field visits, and desktop reconnaissance—and tree coring, an important method for understanding forest age—the team determined key areas on the landscape where old forests may occur.

Completing the Sawyer Brook Headwaters Project with ASLPT

The Ausbon Sargent Land Preservation Trust, with support from a NH State Conservation Committee Moose Plate grant, completed the Sawyer Brook Headwaters project, protecting 385-acres in the Town of Grantham. The protected land includes forestry, wetlands, and valuable wildlife habitat, and will allow for recreational public access.

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Franklin Opera House, Franklin, NH

The Franklin Opera House was built in 1892-1893 and designed by one of New Hampshire’s foremost architects of the time, William Butterfield. From the date of its dedication it was a venue for balls, dances, lectures, plays, musicals, vaudeville shows, concerts, school productions and graduation ceremonies. During World War II, programs of the Red Cross were offered there.

The opera house received grant funds in 2004, 2005, 2007 and 2008, including:

2004 — $10,000, Phase I: Renovation of the balcony to comply with fire and life safety codes and emergency exit stairs.

2005 — $20,000, Phase II: Renovation of the balcony by refinishing the floor, upgrading the electrical system, installing step lights, adding dimming units for the ‘house lights’, doing ceiling repairs, adding new interior paint and executing roof repairs.

2007 — $7815: Purchasing 195 stackable, moveable chairs to provide orchestra seating that was easy to store when not in use. (The Opera House donated their metal chairs to other non profits.)

2008 — $20,000: Restoring the front entrance of Opera House through the purchase and installation of three granite steps, quarried in Concord. The renovation was celebrated on July 16, 2008 with the attendance of Governor Lynch and the Executive Council for their regular meeting.