LCHIP okays plan for new farm stand at Longridge

The state's Land and Community Heritage Investment Program (LCHIP) has given its stamp of approval to plans for replacing the old farm stand at the historic Longridge Farm on Route 3 in Meredith.

The news came in the form of a letter dated November 30 to John Hodsdon, whose family has owned and operated the 120-acre farm for six generations.

LCHIP's approval of the project is significant in that the state agency has agreed to allow vertical shiplap as the exterior siding — an idea that had been favored by Hodsdon, the planning board and the conservation commission. LCHIP previously favored using horizontal clapboards to make the structure match the nearby farmhouse better.

Last week, planning board members had a long discussion about the topic and agreed to send LCHIP a letter outlining their sentiments.

In the most recent reply, the state agency agrees to allow the vertical siding. It also asks that the new structure be painted gray instead of the natural wood look that Hodsdon was proposing. The interior design will be consistent with an open concept, and include a large display space. There will also be barn-style sliding doors.

Building a new farm stand is part of a larger plan to preserve Longridge Farm that officially began earlier this year when the town agreed to borrow funds to purchase a preservation and conservation easement that protects the site from development. Besides the farm stand, Longridge also includes a 1769 farm house, a barn built in the 1790s and a shop constructed around 1800 — which Hodsdon also expects will see some improvements in the future too.

Since LCHIP awarded a $275,000 grant towards the conservation effort, the agency has a say in most major plans to alter the site in any way. In its most recent letter, the agency notes that the farm stand — which sat just off Route 3 — has been in a highly visible location that it characterized as the "gateway to Meredith."

The stand — originally constructed in 1938 — was one of the oldest in the state. In recent years it was used primarily to sell vegetables, fruit, honey, maple syrup and various products native to the Granite State. But because of all of the additions that were added to it over the years, it was not visually representative of what one built back in the 1930s looked like; Hodsdon called it "architectural mishmosh." Besides just looking funny, he says the design was not very functional and made the task of opening and closing difficult.

The project to build a new one is already underway. In the few days since the LCHIP letter was received, the old stand has been torn down and workers are busy getting as much work done as they can before the ground freezes. Hodsdon expects the new stand will be fully completed by March of April — in time to open to the public for the summer season.