Who We Are...

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:

• Preserve, Restore and Protect historically significant structures in the area known as the North Country, New Hampshire .

• Have these structures and areas listed as National Historic Districts and National Historic Buildings .

• Raise the level of awareness about the National Historic District on both a local and national level, resulting in increased tourism to the North Country .

• 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.

• Structure all programs so that, after initial start-up costs, they will be self-funding and no longer a burden on the tax rolls.

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.