CENTER HARBOR ---- Christopher “Chris” Peele Williams, 77, of Windy Row Lane, passed away at home, in a bed that he built, in the early hours of Saturday, June 1, 2024, after a courageous battle with Parkinson’s disease.
Born in Denver, CO, on April 21, 1947 to Margret Anstis Keith and Dr. Arnold Hunnewell Williams, Chris lived in various western states by the time he entered high school at Solebury School in New Hope, PA. Through all of these experiences, he observed different ways of living and traditional construction methods and developed a love of history and vernacular architecture that would follow him through his life. After spending a large part of his youth as a Boy Scout, Chris spent his teenage summers working on a Colorado cattle ranch. Later, he summered in New Hampshire, working for his beloved uncle Rowley Keith at Kip and Joe’s Volkswagen in Gilford, NH.
From a young age, Chris knew he wanted to become an architect and received his BFA at Carnegie-Mellon University in 1972. In 1968 he met a young painting student named Ann on her first day at the school. They moved to New Hampshire after graduation and married at his grandmother’s Holderness, NH, home in October 1974. In 1978, they bought a large undeveloped property in Center Harbor, NH, where he designed and built his passive solar house with lumber that was largely logged on site with the aid of a friend’s horses. Chris did a lot of the carpentry himself, while Ann constructed the stone wall inside their greenhouse that would provide thermal massing.
After interning with WM Design Group, Chris opened his own architectural office in 1984. Though the business started in the basement of his home, he quickly expanded into a small office in Meredith, NH, before moving to Steven’s Avenue. With a personal interest in vernacular architecture, Chris quickly specialized in historic preservation and sustainable design. He participated in many community design charrettes and was involved in many non-profit boards throughout the state. In 1985, he helped found Inherit New Hampshire (now the NH Preservation Alliance) to help preserve the character of NH communities and landscapes. He was heavily involved in the Architectural Institute of America (AIA), particularly AIANH, and served for several years on the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB), New Hampshire Board of Architects, and several State of New Hampshire Governor’s Committees.
He was involved in numerous non-profits and arts groups, including the Lakes Region Advisory Board to the NH Charitable Foundation, NH Furniture Master Association, New Hampshire Commission on the Arts, Squam Lakes Association, and Lake Waukewan Association. Chris was also immersed in his local community: he helped found the Greater Meredith Program, served on the Lakes Region Planning Commission, Moultonborough Area Community Development Corporation, New Hampshire Main Street Program, the Center Harbor Energy Committee, Center Harbor Planning Board, and Center Harbor Zoning Board.
Chris was a keen amateur photographer who managed to fill the few hours between his ample working hours and volunteer time with woodworking in his large shop, hiking in the White Mountains, sailing in Newfoundland and Labrador or off the coast of Maine, and kayaking in the Lakes Region while his health would still allow it. He was also an avid traveler, bringing his family across the United States and to Japan, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Ireland, England, and Scotland to look at historic buildings and gardens. He was also extremely interested in music, particularly blues, and actively supported the local scene, circulating his “Blues Blasts” emails with local concert information among a large group of friends and colleagues.
He was proactive in his battle against Parkinson’s and thoroughly enjoyed the comradery of the community of Rock Steady Boxing in Laconia. Chris kept his sense of humor to the end.
Chris is survived by his wife, Ann Hulley Williams of Center Harbor, NH; sisters Caroline Williams, of Okotoks, Alberta, Canada and Marcia Nowak, of Wickensburg, AZ; and his daughter Mae Williams (Brad Tratzinski), of Center Harbor, NH. He is predeceased by his brother Arnold Williams, Jr., as well as his parents.
There will be no Calling Hours.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.
For those who wish, memorial contributions can be made to the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance, PO Box 268, Concord, NH 03302-0268 and Lakes Region Conservation Trust, PO Box 766, Center Harbor, NH 03226.
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services/603Cremations.com, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, NH is assisting the family with the arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial go to wilkinsonbeane.com.