Franconia library raising $600K for renovations to historic building

Plans and funding for major repairs are firming up at the Abbie Greenleaf Public Library, which last year saw sudden water infiltration into the exterior and interior of the historic building in the village of Franconia.

In 2025, that threat to the structure led to the library — built in 1912 and listed on the national and state historic registers — being named to the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance’s annual Seven to Save.

On Friday, the library’s director, Ann Steuernagel, gave an update regarding the funding secured to date and the timeline for the project, which could take several years to complete.

For the past few months, the library has been occupied with children’s programming, the summer reading program, and special attention on the restoration project, she said.

The overall goal is to raise $600,000.

Presently, the funding is about halfway there, she said.

At town meeting 2026, voters approved a warrant article for $100,000 to repair the library’s exterior brick facade.

Ongoing fundraising efforts have successfully brought in an additional $200,000, said Steuernagel.

That money has come in the form of several large donations and many smaller donations.

Steuernagel thanked those who contributed and said fundraising efforts continue.

In their effort to raise money, Steuernagel and the library’s board of directors have applied for a $250,000 grant from New Hampshire’s Land and Community Heritage Investment Program. If awarded, the grant would put the library just about over the finish line in terms of funding.

The grant application has since been accepted, and LCHIP committee members will be visiting the library in September to see for themselves what needs to be restored, she said.

Library representatives will know by the end of December if the LCHIP grant will be awarded.

Under the current plan, construction will begin in 2027.

The work includes digging around the building to install a drainage system, repairing or replacing the copper gutter system, and repairing the damaged masonry, said Steuernagel.

The entire project might take as many as three years to complete, she said.

The Abbie Greenleaf Library was constructed in the Jacobethan Revival style and gifted to the town by Charles Greenleaf, a hotelier.

The structure features African mahogany trim, marble wainscoting, and stained-glass transoms.

In the fall of 2025, those at the library noticed the water damage after the heavy rains that spring and summer.

On the exterior, several bricks and some mortar began crumbling.

Inside, water infiltration became noticeable as it seeped through cracks and into the walls. The water that made its way inside also damaged several hundred books.

Upon further inspection, it was learned that the library’s exterior brickwork and limestone had deteriorated to the point where water was infiltrating the building and causing damage to interior walls, paint, plaster, and molding.

On Monday, Steuernagel said water infiltration into the inside has been stemmed to an extent.

“But if we don’t fix the outside, we are going to have major problems on the inside,” she said.

Although the hope is for the LCHIP grant, renovations could still move forward in the event it’s not awarded.

“Even if we don’t get the LCHIP grant, we have enough money to start the project,” said Steuernagel.

Installing a drainage system and gutters would help a lot, she said.

Then, those at the library would triage the building as other funding comes in, she said.

“We have our fingers crossed about the LCHIP grant, but we’re still doing the fundraising,” said Steuernagel.

Throughout the process, containing costs has been a challenge.

“The price of anything goes up every time you blink,” said Steuernagel, adding that she’s asked contractors who are submitting quotes to include an estimated percentage increase.

The library is appreciative of the funding raised to date.

“We’re very grateful for everyone’s support,” she said. “We’re humbled by the number of small donations that came in that moved us forward with the fundraising. Thank you to the community.”

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