Rebuilding Memories at The Preserve at Chocorua
April 11th, 2018
Tamworth, NH – When Ed and Mary Phelps woke up the night of November 14, 2017, they saw their incredibly popular wedding event barn completely engulfed in flames. The landmark structure on the grounds of the Preserve at Chocorua in Tamworth, NH was a total loss. Thankfully, there were no injuries in the fire, however the family had already scheduled dozens of weddings and special events on the property for the upcoming year.
The Phelps’ were determined to rebuild the beloved barn. The question was, how could it be done in time to preserve the 2018 wedding season? After making several calls, Ed Phelps was given the recommendation of Jewett Construction Company, a design-build construction management company out of Raymond, NH that might be able to help.
“We received a call on a Thursday and I think we drove up to visit the site on Friday,” recalls Craig Jewett, President and Owner of Jewett Construction. “Hearing the story of the barn and what had happened, we really wanted to try to help. Add in the challenge of trying to rebuild in record time and we could not resist.”
Jewett Construction reached out to Samyn D’Elia Architects out of Ashland, NH because of their success and history with timber frame structures in the area. Architect Cris Salomon and the team at Samyn D’Elia had the expertise, connections and resources to quickly design and procure the materials for the barn to give the team a chance to meet project timelines.
Building a barn in the New Hampshire North Country, through the winter and with minimal delay is no easy feat. The team at Jewett Construction, along with Samyn D’Elia, and a number of other local vendors and contractors have all come together to make it happen. Jewett broke ground on the project in early February and as of mid-April the timber frame is in place and the SIPs panel walls and roof are being installed. Timberpeg, a local timber supply company out of Claremont, NH, fabricated and delivered the timber frame and SIPs panels.
The barn was designed as a replica of the original but will have modern electrical, heating, cooling and fire protection systems. It will feature exposed timbers, a second floor mezzanine, cupola and a basement for storage. There will be various windows and doors that open up to a wraparound deck, patio and a new gazebo.
The team is working hard to have the barn open and operational during the summer months of 2018 with the hopes of hosting several events and weddings at the venue this year. For more information on construction progress or to inquire about events at The Preserve at Chocorua, visit www.reservethepreserve.com.
Jewett Construction, an official Butler Builder, specializes in commercial, retail, automotive and industrial projects throughout the New England. Jewett’s trademarked 4EverSafe program guarantees that safety is always the number one priority on every project. For more information, visit www.jewettconstruction.com.
