Maine Preservation’s growth as a professional statewide historic preservation nonprofit can be attributed in large part to over three decades of outstanding leadership and dedication from Anne Niles.
Anne attributes her appreciation of old buildings to an internship at Historic Harrisville in New Hampshire during her senior year of high school. There, she witnessed the rehabilitation and reuse of old mill buildings which ignited a lifelong interest. From her hometown of Lincoln, Massachusetts, Anne headed to Bowdoin College where she majored in history. An independent study course found her conducting an architectural survey of Cundy’s Harbor under the mentorship of Maine Preservation Trustee Sally Rand.
Anne’s first job out of college was as a Field Representative at the Boston office of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. She then had a short stint as the first Executive Director of the New Haven Preservation Trust in Connecticut, before returning to the Trust to run the Yankee Magazine Intern Program. The innovative program placed interns in municipalities across New England to support local preservation efforts.
Anne later earned her law degree from the Seattle University School of Law and began practicing in land use. She and her husband eventually made their way to Maine, specifically South Freeport, where they would raise their family and take every possible chance to sail on their wooden boat, the Concordia yawl Allure.
In 1994, Anne joined the Board of Trustees of Maine Preservation, a role she would comfortably fill for nearly 20 years, including six years as President of the Board. While at the helm, she helped the organization grow and strengthen by garnering new members, recruiting Trustees, expanding programming, and hiring staff.
With Anne’s vision, oversight, and belief in the mission, Maine Preservation achieved status as a Statewide Partner with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, securing a three-year capacity-building grant. The direct result was installation of Maine Preservation’s first Executive Director, Roxanne Eflin.
Anne’s legal training, steady pragmatism, and forethought was essential as the long-time chair of the Easement & Revolving Fund Committee for over 20 years. She helped establish the Historic Preservation Revolving Fund, the precursor to today’s Protect & Sell program, to acquire significant endangered properties and catalyze their rehabilitation. The initiative meant measuring risk and taking action, saving important places like the c. 1791 Abijah Buck House in Buckfield and growing a portfolio of preservation easements.
While a member and chair of the Development Committee for more than 30 years now, Anne has helped set fundraising goals, secure grants, and assist in planning numerous Galas, introducing countless new faces to the organization and its mission. She also increased professionalism through her exceptional writing, elevating the organization's newsletters, annual reports, brochures, member letters, grant applications, and funding appeals.
Anne’s most notable role was helping steer one of Maine Preservation’s proudest achievements–ensuring perpetual protection of the Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village, a National Historic Landmark. Maine Preservation joined with the Trust for Public land, Royal River Conservation Trust, New England Forestry Foundation, Friends of the Shakers’, the State of Maine, and the USDA to raise $3.5 million to purchase easements on 1,700 acres of farm and forests and 17 historic buildings. The capital campaign was a first for Maine Preservation, also endowing a stewardship fund for the future care of the land and buildings.
The collaborative effort to protect this living landscape with land conservation nonprofits, state and federal agencies, and the Shaker community was a testament to the strengthened capacity and depth of support behind Maine Preservation. We thank Anne for playing her quiet but mighty role in shaping the organization we are today.
Photo Credits: Historic Harrisville, Inc.; The United Society of Shakers, Inc.
