4 minute read
PROJECT IN PROGRESS
On a frigid February night in 2019, fire tore through the Forest Society’s North Country Education Center at The Rocks in Bethlehem, demolishing the historic fourstory Tool Building and adjacent Electric Plant. These buildings formed the nucleus of operations at The Rocks for more than a century, originally supporting the working farm at the heart of the Glessners’ White Mountain estate and more recently, housing meeting and classroom space, which served upwards of 14,000 visitors annually, offices and living space for staff, and the main workshop and equipment storage for the Christmas tree farm. The loss was a profound shock..
But from the ashes rose an outpouring of support. In the days after the fire, the Forest Society received emotional notes from people across the nation who hold The Rocks in a special part of their hearts, and nearly 150 donations came in to support the recovery effort.
The Forest Society’s campaign for Forest Society North at The Rocks was softly launched that summer, while plans for rebuilding took shape. An ad hoc committee consisting of members of the Board of Trustees and staff huddled for months with architects and engineers to consider a wide range of alternatives, from not rebuilding at all to designing a new state-of-the-art green building. Two things were clear from the beginning: the panoramic view of the White Mountains revealed in the absence of the lost buildings was too beautiful to block—it should be featured. And the quietly elegant—and large—1884 Carriage Barn stood ready to offer historic continuity and connection to the past while providing the space needed for twenty-first century purposes.
From these principles, the vision grew for a Forest Society North at The Rocks that not only restores but expands the Forest Society’s capacity to provide educational programs, community meeting and event space, land conservation and stewardship services located north of the notches, recreational opportunities for many abilities, and a thriving Christmas tree farm in the North Country. Renovating the Carriage Barn as a net zero facility with geothermal and solar systems allows us to continue an organizational commitment to sustainability and green building while also preserving the sense of place and history that is so fundamental to the character of the property. The Forest Society North at The Rocks Campaign is not simply a building project. It is a commitment by the Forest Society to invest in the forests, communities, and economy of northern New Hampshire as part of our statewide and regional mission.
Transforming the landscape and buildings at The Rocks is an $8.5 million effort.
The plan includes: • Creating a hillside amphitheater overlooking fields of fir trees and boasting views of the White
Mountains • Reconnecting the flow of outdoor space to highlight the gardens and views and linking the Carriage Barn with the amphitheater and path to the NH Maple Museum • Renovating the Carriage Barn as a net zero program center
Once renovations are complete, the 1884 Carriage Barn at The Rocks will be used as the Forest Society’s North Country program center.
Left: Guests tour the gardens at The Rocks in Bethlehem. Right: The renovations at The Rocks include building a new hillside amphitheater that boasts views of the Kilkenny and Presidential ranges.
• Centering farm operations from the Red House, separate from public space • Securing a $2 million endowment for both programs and operations in the future
Thanks to leadership gifts and pledges from both individuals and foundations, we are more than halfway to our goal of raising $8.5 million! To meet our milestones in this multi-year campaign, our goal is to secure $2 million in commitments by the end of December 2022. A leadership gift now has the potential to make a transformational impact. And, as we continue to prepare competitive applications for funding, demonstrating broad support for this project through donations large and small also makes a difference.
Please join the Campaign for Forest Society North at The Rocks by making a gift today or contacting Anne Truslow, vice president for development, with questions or to discuss planned giving, multi-year pledges, or gifts of stock. During the summer and fall, access to The Rocks will be limited due to construction, so please contact Anne if you would like to arrange a special visit to see the site in progress!
YES, I’D LIKE TO SUPPORT THE FOREST SOCIETY NORTH AT THE ROCKS CAMPAIGN
Name:
Address:
Telephone: Town/City:
Email: State: Zip:
Enclosed is my tax-deductible contribution of $_____________
VISA MasterCard Number: ________________________________ Exp. date: ______ Security code: ______
Please mail the completed form to: Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests 54 Portsmouth Street, Concord, NH 03301 Or donate online at forestsociety.org/fsn.
For more information, call Anne Truslow at 603-224-9945 or email atruslow@forestsociety.org.
