A $30,000 grant from The Eppes-Jefferson Foundation has enabled the American Independence Museum (AIM) to replace the roof on Folsom Tavern (1775).
The award could not have come at a better time, according to AIM Executive Director Jennifer Carr. “Water was beginning to damage clapboard siding, wood trim around doors, and the attic,” she said .
According to David Ward, co-executive director of The Eppes-Jefferson Foundation with his wife Sharon, the project resonated with their philanthropic objectives, especially after they visited the property. “When we visited and talked with Jennifer, we really sensed her authenticity and the credibility of the American Independence Museum—it struck us both,” he explained.
Sharon said the project also reflected an area of interest of William D. Eppes for whom the foundation was named. Born in 1918, Eppes formed the private foundation to support the arts, historical preservation, and education. “We generally like to fund projects that check two of those boxes,” she said.
Expressing appreciation for AIM’s broader mission to tell inclusive stories through its recently launched We Are One initiative, David said The Eppes-Jefferson Foundation is interested in helping others tell their stories, too.
“One of the programs we are trying to get off the ground is Looking Forward, Looking Back,” he explained. “It’s a program basically designed to get people to preserve their family stories.”
He said their hope is to launch the program by hosting workshops in which participants will learn basic skills in how to tell their life stories. “People can choose their format—whether it be a legacy letter, brief story, or spoken word recording,” he added. “We are excited about this program.”
Carr said she is also excited about Looking Forward, Looking Back, as she cited storytelling as fundamental to the human experience, an idea she said they will increasingly explore at AIM. “Everyone has a story to tell and everyone’s story matters,” she said. “We appreciate being part of Mr. Eppes’s story and that of his foundation.”
Home to a world-class collection of 3,000 historic artifacts, AIM develops programs, events, and exhibits that honor and invite inclusive and diverse perspectives. In 2023, guided tours of Folsom Tavern and the Ladd-Gilman House take place Wednesday through Saturday at varying times.
About American Independence Museum
Located in Exeter, NH, the American Independence Museum features a rare collection of historic artifacts that shed light on the Revolutionary War. Examples of popular items in our exhibits include a dragoon pistol, brown bess musket, and 18th century powder horn. Many of our programs offer insight into civic duties, civic engagement and civic responsibility, while we also feature a variety of things to do in NH, such as camps for kids, festivals, summer festival, reenactments, and homeschool programs. Perfect for a day trip or weekend trips, we believe in inclusivity and inclusive history and the spirit behind the phrase, ‘we the people’.