No German surface ships were ever spotted off the New Hampshire Seacoast from Pulpit Rock Tower in Rye. But a new enemy continues to plague the historic structure built for just $18,000 in 1943. Its deterioration has caused the New Hampshire Historical Preservation Society to place it on a list of the seven most endangered historic structures in the state. Its grounds, off Route 1A, were littered with old bottles, other trash, even an automobile engine.
Then it was named to the National Register of Historic Places, and a concerted cleanup of the property began with volunteers, including local boy scouts. The tower is still open to the public several times a year, but will require thousands of dollars to restore it to its original look. In his latest podcast, Roger Wood talks with Steve Tobin of the non-profit group friendsofpulpitrocktower.org.
This year, the society added an eighth endangered category, covering all the family-owned farms and agricultural businesses in the state. The Society pointed out that in Rockingham County alone, one-third of former farmland went to development in recent years, and that statewide, one of every four acres was developed. For indepthnh.org I’m Roger Wood