|
Harriman’s Falls Educational Centre and Museum (HFECM) is a
private (501(c) (3) foundation established by Mr. Charles Diamond
of Bath, New Hampshire . Mr. Diamond is a public-spirited entrepreneur
who has been extremely successful in his adopted home and is now looking
to give back to his beloved North Country .
The Purpose of HFECM is multi-fold:
-
Use the restored structures as living laboratories to develop
and house socially responsible programs that will benefit the community,
provide economic stimulus to the North Country, and act as models
for the rest of the country.
Mr. Diamond has already restored several structures in Bath including
the reactivation the Harriman’s Falls hydroelectric generator
station. The station now provides clean power to Bath and surrounding
areas from a renewable resource.
The most recent and most visible project to be undertaken by HFECM
is the Moses P. Payson
Mansion, located on historic Main Street, Bath, New Hapmshire.
The mansion has suffered years of neglect and most recently, an unexplained
fire. The previous owners decided to tear it down and it was only saved
by the actions of Mr. Diamond who, in a scene out of “Woodsman
Spare That Tree”, literally threw himself in front of the
wrecking crane.
Having persuaded the wrecking crew to “...work over there”,
Mr. Diamond was able to contact the owners and plead for one more chance
to save the structure. He persuaded them to give him from 6PM that
night to 9:30 the next morning to purchase the property at the full-appraised
value. He did so with his own money. He then gave HFECM a 99-year lease
on the property.
|