Rotary Log: May 31, 2012 (Strawbery Banke)

EDITOR'S NOTE: you did not get a log last week because  Editor Flagg is a very bad Editor and should be fired (or at least heavily fined). Today's Log writer, Joanie Dickinson, has done a timely and swell job:

Rodney Rowland (Dir. Spec. Projects, Strawbery Banke Museum), spoke about the Heritage House Program which is a cultural, community and economic initiative to restore and lease ten underutilized properties at the Strawbery Banke Museum in the center of the City of Portsmouth.

Objective: “Creating a virtual $5 million endowment fund with sweat equity and some help from our friends”

Produce an additional gross income of $300,000 ($260,000 net of taxes & insurance) for the long term sustainability of Strawbery Banke by raise 60% in cash and 40% in kind (donated labor and materials).

The program has three objectives:

·        
To restore the exteriors of these historic house to their original period condition so that they are an integral part of the museum.

·         To provide attractive residential and office space for rent in these historic houses close to the excitement of downtown Portsmouth.

·         To generate an income stream that will maintain the buildings and contribute to the long term sustainability of Strawbery Banke.

The Heritage House Program combines two of Strawbery Banke Museum’s unique assets:

• Historic houses on a ten acre site in the heart of Portsmouth
• The extraordinary level of goodwill that exists towards Strawbery Banke.
• The program creates a virtual endowment fund to support the long-term cultural and community programs that this iconic institution provides to the New England region.
• For more information go to www.theheritagehouses.org
• 

Very interesting program and a real jewel in our own backyard!