Save Rollinsford’s Historic Pear Yard School 

To gauge the level of community interest in and support for preserving Rollinsford’s historic Pear Yard School, the Association for Rollinsford Culture and History (ARCH) will host an informational meeting at 6 pm on Tuesday, August 22 at the Colonel Paul Wentworth House on Water Street in Rollinsford. 

The Pear Yard School on Rollins Road was built in 1854 to replace an earlier 18^th century schoolhouse which stood near a pear orchard belonging to Andrew Rollins. Until the construction of Rollinsford Grade School in 1936, the Pear Yard School was one of four one-room schoolhouses where children living in the rural areas of Rollinsford were educated, and as such it represents a tangible link to Rollinsford’s agricultural and educational past.  

An important outcome of the meeting will be the formation of a steering committee of local citizens who would be interested in working on the project. Agenda items for the meeting include the feasibility of preserving and restoring the schoolhouse; the costs involved and possible sources of funding for the project; potential uses of the building; and its eligibility for the state historic register.  Also, because the schoolhouse must be moved from its current location, another important topic will be the logistics of moving the building and possible new sites.  

ARCH has applied for a mini grant from the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance to hire a consultant to prepare a condition assessment of the schoolhouse, and Andrew Cushing from the Preservation Alliance will attend the meeting to report on the results of the study, provide guidance, and answer questions.  

Interested persons who are not able to attend the meeting or who have additional questions are encouraged to send an email to ARCH at paulwentworthhouse@gmail.com.