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PICKERING FOUNDATION
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
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March 2011
Dear Friends,
Thank you for your interest and support of the Pickering Foundation. This letter is to update you on the progress of the Foundation over the past year and invite you to renew your support of our mission.
The most notable news of the past year has been the success and enthusiasm garnered by the book about the House entitled, "The House That John Built." It has served to invigorate our historical research and community outreach. Much of the credit and thanks for this fascinating recitation goes to one cousin, Richard Armstrong. It is an absorbing and enlightening real-life tale about the cast of characters that started farming this land in the mid-1600's and helped shape the community's and country's history over the centuries. If only these walls could talk! This book is the closest we can come - it is available on the Pickering House website at www.pickeringhouse.org.
In 2008, we initiated the Sarah C. Pickering Memorial scholarship and it has quickly become a highlight of our year. This cash award is given annually at the Open House in June to a deserving Salem High School student who has demonstrated a passion for American History (as elected by his or her teachers).
Five years ago the Board committed themselves to solving several long-term physical challenges facing the Pickering House. The central chimney, one of the House's most distinctive features, was slowly sinking. The roof was leaking. The heating system was inefficient and unreliable. The kitchen and north wing wiring was hazardous. With research, hands-on management and extensive internal fund-raising, the Board resolved all of these troubles without significantly eroding its endowment.
We were able to protect our old house with a new roof of Slateline architectural shingles, copper downspouts, a stabilized chimney foundation, mahogany terrace steps, and code-compliant electrical wiring. Thanks to 100% participation by generous Board members and close family members, we accomplished the work without constraining our future by accepting public funds and their attendant strings.
But this old House needs your annual membership support as well. The Board of Trustees has a bold charge to expand the membership, strengthen the operating budget, and grow the endowment. We share the long view that preserving our history is essential to appreciating our present. We hope you will consider supporting our mission with your membership. It means a lot to us.
Thank you for your consideration,
H. Benson Pickering. Jr.. President
The Pickering Foundation
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