New Projects at HHI

The Trip Hammer Shop

In mid-December Historic Harrisville received good news on two fronts.

First, it was awarded a grant by New Hampshire’s Land and Community Heritage Investment Program (LCHIP) to rehabilitate the Trip Hammer Shop, the small two-story brick building at the southern end of the Cheshire Mills Complex. Built ca. 1844 or before, and purchased by Cheshire Mills in 1859, it is the oldest structure on the mill site, was probably built by Calmer Harris, and initially was used as a machine shop. Timber frame, roofing, masonry, and carpentry work will begin early in the spring. When completed, it will provide two apartments for HHI’s affordable housing program.

Secondly, an application to the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) renewable energy generation program won approval. The grant enables HHI to install pellet boilers that will help heat the Cheshire Mills Complex by providing heated water to the mill’s existing distribution system. When installed and fully functioning, the pellet boilers will reduce energy costs by replacing some of the fossil fuel used with a source of renewable energy. This biomass project, along with the reestablishment of waterpower as a source of electricity for the mill, will move HHI forward in its efforts to conserve energy and reduce its carbon footprint.