ROCKINGHAM — The Rockingham Historical Commission (CLG) is seeking nominations for the Rockingham Old House Awards.
“This is an excellent opportunity to celebrate the property owners in our town who are restoring and renewing their historic homes and commercial buildings,” wrote Christy Hotaling, CLG Coordinator for the Town of Rockingham, in a news release.
There will be multiple award categories and, therefore, multiple awardees. In the past, categories have included awards for best commercial building, apartment building, private residence, long term maintenance, and curb appeal.
The categories for this year have yet to be determined as they depend on the nominations that are received by property owners, neighbors, or admirers.
Those who want to nominate their house or commercial building can contact Hotaling. Anyone can nominate a resident who has recently improved the appearance of an historic house or building in town.
Eligible properties are older homes that have been renovated, painted, or otherwise enhanced on the exterior in the past five years. Properties must be located within the Town of Rockingham, including the villages of Bellows Falls and Saxtons River, the hamlets of Cambridgeport, Bartonsville and Brockway's Mills, and the town's rural areas.
To qualify, properties must be at least 50 years old and may be residential or commercial in use. Nominations may be made by calling the Town's Development Office (802-463-3964, ext. 110), sending an email to clg@rockbf.org, or writing to: CLG Coordinator, Town of Rockingham, P.O. Box 370, Bellows Falls, VT 05101.
All nominations should include the property's address and, if possible, the owner's name. Photographs are welcome.
The deadline for nominations is Thursday, July 30. The Rockingham Historical Commission will select winners at its meeting in August. There will be a small gathering in September to celebrate the winning property owners and to distribute the Old House Awards plaques.
This program is supported by a grant from the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation.