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News

  • Sophie's Selections: What to Read this January

    Sophie Oehler
    January 11, 2023

    Stuck on what to read this year? Check out these titles recommended by our communications coordinator!

  • Coming Soon to Creek Farm: A Better Visitor Experience

    Jack Savage
    January 7, 2023

    With support from the Portsmouth Rotary Club and other generous donors, Creek Farm will soon have new public restrooms.

  • Local Businesses Purchase $300,000 in Tax Credits to Support Forest Society North at The Rocks

    January 1, 2023

    The Tax Credits are being used to renovate the 1884 Carriage Barn as a new program and event center at The Rocks, which will be known as the Forest Society North at The Rocks.

    Read more

Union Leader: Forest Society announces campaign to renovate Carriage Barn at The Rocks Estate

February 13, 2020
The Rocks
Recreation
Working Forests
The charred remnants are pictured after the fire at The Rocks was put out.
On Feb. 13, 2019, Bethlehem Fire Chief Jack Anderson said a fire began accidentally in a lower-level workshop of the 116-year old, multi-story structure known as the Tool Building, which the Forest Society had used as its North Country conservation and education center. Pictured are the remains of the Tool Building after the fire.

By John Koziol, Union Leader Correspondent

BETHLEHEM — A year after a fire destroyed its operations building and a gift shop at The Rocks Estate, the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests has said it will renovate the existing Carriage Barn for an estimated $8 million, turning it into a new “Forest Society North” Conservation Center.

On Feb. 13, 2019, Bethlehem Fire Chief Jack Anderson said a fire began accidentally in a lower-level workshop of the 116-year old, multi-story structure known as the Tool Building, which the Forest Society had used as its North Country conservation and education center.

The fire destroyed the Tool Building, consumed the gift shop in the adjacent former electrical building and damaged several tractors, farm equipment and a car.

No one was injured. The property was insured. Firefighters made a heroic effort to prevent the fire from spreading the very short distance to the home of Nigel Manley, who is The Rocks’ longtime manager, said Jack Savage, then the Forest Society’s spokesman.

On Wednesday, Savage, who has since been named president of the Forest Society, said in a prepared statement that the renovation of the Carriage Barn “will give us a home base to expand our work on behalf of New Hampshire forests.”

He said the renovation will “allow us to enhance The Rocks as a popular recreational destination, as a successful Christmas Tree Farm… and a popular place to learn about maple sugaring at the New Hampshire Maple Museum.”

Read more in the Union Leader.

The Union Leader

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Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests54 Portsmouth St.Concord, NH 03301
Phone: 603.224.9945Fax: 603.228.0423info@forestsociety.org
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