The Moffatt-Ladd Warehouse
Learn about our rare 18th century warehouse and its restoration!
The Moffatt-Ladd Warehouse is a rare survival of a merchant’s store and warehouse from the 18th century. It was modified with the addition of a carriage bay and doors at the front, probably about 1790. Archaeological evidence suggests that it was moved to its current site about 1840, and we suspect that it originally stood on a nearby property, perhaps within the same block as the Moffatt-Ladd House. We interpret the space as a Warehouse and store, and offer activities related to its use for school and camp groups, some of which are designed to be available throughout the season to all families and visitors coming to the site.
The Warehouse is a great venue for a variety of different programs. Its versatility has made it possible for us to offer a wide range of programs, including overnights for Girl Scout troops (through the Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains), Pirate Camp, lectures, and concerts. We also welcome non profits and other groups to consider partnering with us to bring a special event to the public — as we do with the New Hampshire Film Festival and Portsmouth Maritime Folk Festival, and the Piscataqua Maritime Commission — or to rent the space for your own program or celebration.
Story and Purpose of the Project to Restore and Rehabilitate the Warehouse, 2008-2009
The Grand Ribbon Cutting ceremony opening the restored Warehouse took place on May 31, 2009. The project was made possible through the generous support of the 1772 Foundation, the Lane & Elizabeth Dwinell Charitable Trust, the Felicia Fund, the Arthur P. Getz Foundation, and New Hampshire’s Land and Community Heritage Investment programs, and more than 100 private and corporate donors.
We are still adding to the educational components of the building. If you are a donor or business interested in sponsoring three large interpretive panels, please contact the office of the Moffatt-Ladd House and Garden at (603) 430-7968 to see how you can help, or visit our Donate Now page to make a contribution using your credit card. Thank you for your interest in the Moffatt-Ladd House and Garden.
Story of the Restoration
In 2005 it became evident that the building then known as the Coach House was in a serious state of disrepair. Thus began an ambitious project to restore this rare 18th century outbuilding (far left in ca. 1885 photograph) which is one of a few colonial-era shops or warehouses to survive on the New Hampshire Seacoast. New Hampshire’s State Architectural Historian describes the Warehouse as a “rare and significant structure.” Its restoration was an act of remarkable dedication to the principles of historic preservation, by The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America in the State of New Hampshire, which owns the site, and has operated the Moffatt-ladd House & Garden as a museum since 1912.
Skilled artisans have restored the building, using the latest restoration techniques to update the sills, girts, and posts of the timber-frame building. Original material was retained and reused as much as possible. Lumber from an ash tree, removed from the adjacent hillside, was used to construct the beautiful and durable new floor of the Warehouse.
Between April and August 2008 the building was lifted to allow for the excavation of a foundation and perimeter drainage. Prior to this work being done, archaeological investigations and paint analysis revealed that the structure has been on its present site since approximately 1840. The new, modern foundation of the building has been faced with stone, to help preserve its historic character. The building is now heated and available for use from April through mid-November.
In addition to the restoration of the historic space, the project also included the construction of a lean-to addition with modern storage in the Goss Collections Center, and audio-visual equipment and storage for function furniture and garden equipment. The building is handicap accessible via a ramp located in the lean-to section of the building. A retractable screen and built-in projector make it an ideal location for power-point presentations. The wooden interior creates an acoustic environment that makes it a favorite for acoustic music.