Gilford's Rowe House added to National Register of Historic Places

The Gilford Historic District and Heritage Commission and the Gilford Board of Selectmen have announced that the historic Rowe House property located in Gilford Villagewaslisted on the NationalRegister of Historic Places on April 30 by the National Park Service, part of the Department of the Interior.

The National Register of Historic Places is the Nation's official list of cultural resources worthy of preservation.The National Register is part of a national program tocoordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect our historic and archeological resources. Properties listed in the Register include districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects that are significant in American history, architecture, archeology, engineering, and culture.

The BenjaminRowe House, built circa 1838,was eligible to be listed on the National Register because of its architectural significance as a Greek Revival cape, and as a rare example of this type of structure executed in brick.

The "Walking Tour" guidebook of the Gilford Village Historic Districtillustrates the history of the Rowe House. "The house is on the site of an original 150 acre farm, second largest in the village at that time. The farm was believed to have been first settled by Jesse Thing in 1810. Benjamin Rowe arrived five years later and his family remainedherefor a century. Rowe built the unusual cape as an addition to the original homestead with bricks he made for himself near the stream below the house. A village landmark for years, it is referred to in more than one old deed as "Benjamin Rowe's Brick Howse."

The Rowe House is now owned by the Town of Gilford and leased to the Thompson Ames Historical Society, ensuring its preservation for the community. This event represents the culmination of over ten years of hard work and dedication on the part of many Gilford citizens who have and remain committed to preserving Gilford's unique historic character.

"The Gilford Historic District and Heritage Commission would like to thank all of those whohavecontributed their time, energy and knowledge to this effort over several years," said Julie McConnell, Commission secretary."In addition to numerous volunteersfrom Gilford who have been involved withpreserving the Rowe Houseover the years,the Commission would like to extend particularappreciationtoElizabeth Durfee HengenandDavid Ruell, Architectural Historians and consultantsto the project."

The Commission worked through the N.H.Department of Cultural Resources and theDivision of Historical Resourcesto submit an application that met the requirements for acceptance on the National Register. This action will help to preserve this uniqueGreek Revival Cape buildingfor future generations to come, and secure the Rowe House asa village landmark.

The Rowe House is thefourthhistoric Gilford property to secure this unique and significant recognition. Also listed on the National Register of Historic Places are the Grange Hall (added 1980), Kimball Castle (added 1982) and the District No. 9 Schoolhouse (added 2000).

The Gilford Historic District and Heritage Commission was created in 1973 to preserve the historic integrity of Gilford Village, and the community of Gilford. For more informationcontact McConnel at 455-1877.