Portico Restoration Project

One of the outstanding features of the Thomas A. Hill House is its three-sided portico.

Several years ago, it became very apparent that something was happening with the portico since the granite decking became uneven and some slabs were even separating from the building. We were granted funding from the Belvedere Historic Preservation Fund to do an engineering study. As suspected, in 1835, foundation building practices weren’t quite what they are today. The foundation under the portico has suffered the ravages of Maine winter frost and has deteriorated. Today, the condition of the portico threatens the structural stability of Hill House.


To restore the portico, we will need to remove all of the granite slabs, remove the columns and restore them, excavate, rebuild the foundation, replace the granite slabs, and restore the columns. Originally, the project came with a big price tag of more than $350,000 (that was the estimate when we started applying for grants). The final price when we contracted the company to do the work was $399,00, thus creating a funding gap.
Update as of May 31, 2025

To date, we have raised $379,000 through a combination of grants and the generous support of our donors. The National Park Service mandated that no work could be started until their award process was complete, or funding would be lost. The approval process by NPS took a year. In that time, the cost increased by $79,000, and the timeline was delayed by 10 months.
Please help us fill the funding gap, fix the portico, and restore the stability of Hill House by making a contribution today:


Pillar Preserver—$1,000 (16 pillars)
Support a Slab—$500 (77 slabs)
Foundation Fixer—$250
Step Supporter—$100
Portico Patron—$50

Please help us restore this valuable asset of our community.