Blow-Me-Down Farm occupies more than 40 acres along the Connecticut River, just across the road from Saint Gaudens National Historic Site. The National Park Service owns the property, and has been working with Lebanon-based Opera North on a plan to spruce up the estate and make it a center for the arts.
"When you can combine all the various types of performing arts, as well as the visual arts, in a natural setting, you kind of get the best of all worlds," said Evans Haile, Opera North's general director.
Opera North has now secured $150,000 in federal funds to renovate a farmhouse on the property. It's the first step toward their vision of creating more performance and studio space there. Those plans will take time and fundraising to evolve, but the organization is already planning shows on the property next summer.