DUMMERSTON — The Landmark Trust USA, the nonprofit group that manages Rudyard Kipling's Naulakha in Dummerston, has been offered a challenge grant from the Thomas Thompson Trust of Boston to increase the capacity of the historic preservation organization.
The Thompson Trust has agreed to provide a grant of $25,000 if the Landmark Trust USA can raise an equivalent amount by March 31, 2018. The challenge grant will help the Landmark Trust USA extend the impact of its public programs and increase its capacity to preserve historic properties.
The Landmark Trust USA rescues, restores, and then manages, vacant or underutilized historic properties for public use as short-term vacation rentals. Its model of conservative restoration and short-term rental provides an opportunity for people to discover and enjoy historic properties on a personal level. The organization was established in 1991 as an independent not-for-profit spin-off of the Landmark Trust UK.
In addition to Rudyard Kipling's Naulakha, the Landmark Trust USA has restored the Kipling Carriage House, the Dutton Farm House, and the Scott Farm Sugar House in Dummerston as well as the Amos Brown House in Whitingham. All five properties are available as vacation rentals.
The Landmark Trust USA also owns and operates the scenic Scott Farm in Dummerston as a model of sound and sustainable local agriculture. The working farm has over 125 heirloom varieties of apples introduced and grown ecologically by internationally-known orchardist, Ezekiel Goodband.