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Conservation commission agrees to relabel Joppa Hill sign after private farm claims name
Summary
The Bedford Conservation Commission voted to cover the wording “Joppa Hill Farm” with a plate reading “Joppa Hill Conservation Area” after a private business registered the trade name and asked the town to stop using it.
The Bedford Conservation Commission on a January evening voted to cover the portion of a historic sign that reads “Joppa Hill Farm” and replace it with “Joppa Hill Conservation Area.”
The commission’s vote followed a presentation from Kathleen Ports, the town’s conservation planner, who told the panel the name “Joppa Hill Farm” is a registered trade name for a private farm and that "the town is, not allowed to use that name anymore." The commission discussed options including leaving the sign as is, removing it, or installing an overlay that would read “Joppa Hill Conservation Area.”
The vote came after commissioners agreed they did not want to remove the sign’s Holstein-cow image, which several members described as historically familiar and visually appealing. Ports said the sign appears to be in relatively good condition and suggested a metal plate or painted overlay could be fitted to cover only the phrase Joppa Hill Farm.
Commission members discussed trademark and trade-name registration steps, including securing a trade name via the New Hampshire Secretary of State’s office, but members said they preferred a quick visual fix at the site rather than pursuing formal name registration for the town. Several commissioners emphasized keeping the cow image because of its local recognition.
Bill Carter moved to proceed with an overlay or small mounted plate replacing “Joppa Hill Farm” with “Joppa Hill Conservation Area.” The motion was seconded and approved by voice vote; no dissenting votes were recorded on the audio record.
Ports said the overlay or plaque would be installed to avoid stating Joppa Hill Farm on town property while keeping the remainder of the sign intact. Commissioners asked staff to pursue a tasteful, professionally fabricated plate matching the sign’s type and color and to coordinate minimal cleaning of the sign as part of the effort.
The decision resolves a recent request from the private farm owner to remove the wording and aims to preserve the sign’s imagery while addressing the private owner’s registered trade name rights.
