Posts Tagged Jessica Feldt
Nominate a Site you Love to Endangered Maryland
Posted by Preservation Maryland in Endangered Maryland on August 7, 2012
Top: The Ridgeley Rosenwald School in Prince George’s County at the time of its listing in 2007 and in the spring of 2010 during restoration. Middle: Bucktown Store in Dorchester County at the time of its listing in 2007 (right) and in 2010. Bottom: St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Cecil County at the time of its listing in 2009 and at its rededication ceremony in September of 2010.
It’s that time again! Preservation Maryland, in partnership with Maryland Life magazine, is seeking nominations for the 2013 Endangered Maryland list. The goal of Endangered Maryland is to raise awareness of some of the state’s most threatened historic and cultural sites. The deadline to submit nominations is September 21, 2012. Sites will be chosen from across the state and the final Endangered Maryland list will be published in Maryland Life magazine’s March/April 2013 issue.
Endangered Maryland is modeled after the nationwide list created each year by the National Trust for Historic Preservation as well as other successful statewide endangered lists. The article presents an opportunity to raise public awareness, create dialogue, and find solutions for threatened sites. The progress made on some past Endangered Maryland sites is very exciting.
Submitting a nomination is quick and easy. Use our PDF nomination form to let us know about the site you wish to nominate. You can enter your text into the form and save it. It may take a moment to load the document after you click the link. When complete you can either mail or email the form to Preservation Maryland. Full submission information is included on the form. We also have a set of instructions to help answer your questions and guide your nomination.
Give thought to each question in the nomination form. Let us know if the site is in a local or National Register historic district, designated as a landmark at any level, under easement, or inside the boundary of a certified Heritage Area. Think about not only the present struggles, but envision the future for the site and share that vision with us. The map below shows past Endangered Maryland sites.
Jessica Feldt
July Monthly News Round-up
Posted by Preservation Maryland in Monthly News Round-up on July 31, 2012
Columbia’s Waterfront, a 2010 Endangered Maryland site
Below is a round-up of news articles on preservation and heritage issues in Maryland and beyond.
ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY
Reopening of Market House may be delayed – Baltimore Sun 07-08-2012
BALTIMORE CITY
Group hopes to restore Peale Museum into history, architecture center - Baltimore Sun 07-26-2012
Mobile History – North Baltimore Patch 07-17-2012
BALTIMORE COUNTY
Fate Uncertain For Historic Holt Park Cabin – Parkville Patch 07-25-2012
Lutherville residents upset about possible rezoning at assisted-living center – Baltimore Sun 07-27-2012
FREDERICK COUNTY
Frederick city to tear down ‘fake’ buildings – Gazette 07-27-2012
HOWARD COUNTY
Whole Foods to open in Columbia – Baltimore Sun 07-26-2012
KENT COUNTY
Kent’s rivers dedicated as part of Smith trail - Star-Democrat 07-09-2012
PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY
Preservation group awards Greenbelt group national grant – Gazette 07-05-2012
QUEEN ANNE’S COUNTY
Preservation grants go to two nonprofit organizations - Star-Democrat 07-15-2012
ST MARY’S COUNTY
Historic Sotterley – Southern Maryland News Online 07-20-2012
Old Morganza post office gets new life – Washington Post 07-17-2012
STATEWIDE
Star-spangled historic trail set for launch – Washington Post 07-29-2012
Md. seeks Harriet Tubman national monument - Wall Street Journal 07-20-2012
If you have a news article on a preservation-related issue you wish to add to our monthly news round-up, please send the link to me at jfeldt@preservationmaryland.org.
Jessica Feldt
When Historic Sites Meet Historic Weather Events: A refresher on what to do when disaster strikes
Posted by Preservation Maryland in Disaster Response on July 12, 2012
Tree damage at Mt. Harmon Plantation
The storms of Friday, June 29th caught everyone off guard. When a hurricane approaches we have time get ready and prepare our homes and businesses. When an event like last year’s earthquake or last month’s storms occurs, there is no warning, no time to make special preparations. These sudden events serve as a reminder that it is always a good time to prepare for disaster. Years and decades of work on an irreplaceable historic site can be threatened by one bad event. Why not do what you can today to make sure that doesn’t happen to you? We’ve posted guides to disaster prep in the past on this blog, but I thought it might be a good time for a refresher on where to go.
FEMA’s website has lots of resources including how to protect your home and property from a variety of disasters. The National Trust for Historic Preservation also has a full stock of disaster planning and response resources. Included on this page are guides for homeowners and for local organizations and Main Streets.
Damage at Mt. Harmon Plantation
If you are looking to get a disaster plan in order, you can visit the website of Maryland dPlan. This is a tool for cultural and civic institutions to use to create a disaster plan. If you need help convincing your organization of the need to use tools like Maryland dPlan to create a disaster plan, the National Trust has outlined the case for disaster planning on all levels.
So, now that the refresher is over, I’m curious to see how everyone fared in June’s storms. We know our friends at Mt. Harmon Plantation in Cecil County sustained significant damage to their historic trees and the building itself and have begun efforts to raise money for the cleanup effort. Let us know if your sites were damaged and how your recovery work is going.
Jessica Feldt
June Monthly News Round-Up
Posted by Preservation Maryland in Monthly News Round-up on June 22, 2012
The Star-Spangled Sailabration and the 1812 Bicentennial was big news in June.
Below is a round-up of news articles on preservation and heritage issues in Maryland and beyond.
ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY
Old Senate Chamber restoration effort needs your help – The Capital 06-24-12
Lighthouse Tours for Thomas Point in Md. Resuming – WJZ CBS Baltimore 06-13-2012
Archaeologists look for Filipino relics in Annapolis - The Capital 06-11-2012
MainStreets Annapolis plans for second year- The Capital 06-07-2012
BALTIMORE CITY
Tax credit errors spur calls for audits – Baltimore Sun 06-26-12
Tax break errors cost Baltimore millions, Sun investigation finds – Baltimore Sun 06-24-12
Surveys: One-third of historic property tax credit recipients would do rehabs without subsidy - Baltimore Sun 06-22-2012
Sailabration launches War of 1812 bicentennial -Baltimore Sun 06-09-2012
BALTIMORE COUNTY
Sailors, Marines make 1812 county landmark shipshape - Baltimore Sun 06-11-2012
FREDERICK COUNTY
Property’s demolition could beat ordinance -Frederick News-Post 06-08-2012
PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY
‘We’ve got to protect what we have left’- The Gazette 06-21-2012
Bladensburg battles to preserve historic home – The Gazette 05-29-2012
QUEEN ANNE’S COUNTY
Church Hill Town Hall to get exterior refurbishing – Star Democrat 06-28-2012
Fire damages ‘Captain’s House’ in Centreville - Star Democrat 06-24-2012
ST. MARY’S COUNTY
Archaeologists Uncover Foundation of Maryland’s First State House – The Baynet 06-21-2012
STATEWIDE
10 ways to commemorate the War of 1812 – Baltimore Sun 06-14-2012
The War of 1812: Actors, artifacts and battle re-enactments – Baltimore Sun 06-13-2012
NATIONAL
Pictures: 11 Most Endangered U.S. Historic Sites Named – National Geographic 06-20-2012
To save a schoolhouse — and history - CNN 06-16-2012
If you have a news article on a preservation-related issue you wish to add to our monthly news round-up, please send the link to me at jfeldt@preservationmaryland.org.
Jessica Feldt
Colleagues Corner: Summer Specializing
Posted by Preservation Maryland in Colleagues Corner on June 12, 2012
You can fit in water time and preservation time this summer.
Even though summer doesn’t technically begin for another week, schools are getting out, beaches are filling up and the air is filled with the aroma of grilling. When I think of summer, I think of taking time to do something that I love. While I was thinking about what my summer project would be, it occurred to me that my inbox has lately been filled with the professional equivalent of summer projects. There are lots of chances to follow a more specialized preservation passion over the summer. Below are just a few.
Later this week, in Tuskegee, Alabama, the National Trust for Historic Preservation is holding a national conference on Rosenwald Schools. The conference page is full of great resources, so even if you are not able to head down to Alabama, you can dig more into these remarkable historic resources. The resources include a searchable database of schools from Fisk University.
More in the mood for organizational development? Maryland Nonprofits have regular trainings on a variety of development, membership, and general organizational topics throughout the summer. One that caught my eye happens on July 11 and is called the Social Media Bootcamp. It has social media training for beginners and intermediate levels.
If you’re interests run more towards commissions, this year sees the National Alliance of Preservation Commissions hold their biannual Forum just a few hours away in Norfolk, Virginia. The conference runs July 18 to July 22 and has tours, sessions, roundtables, and networking opportunities. Closer to home the final workshop in the series the Maryland Association of Historic Preservation Commissions has been holding will be June 16 in Easton and will cover Design.
Maybe the National Main Streets conference that happened this past April in Baltimore made you want to participate next year. The 2013 conference will be in historic New Orleans and the call for proposals has gone out. Showcasing the great work done all around Maryland does not have to go away with proximity. If you’re interested in presenting, check out how to submit a session.
Finally, I would be sorely remiss if I didn’t mention the War of 1812 Bicentennial which is seemingly everywhere right now. It’s exciting for those of us who are becoming more familiar with that chapter of history through the celebration, so I can only imagine the excitement level of the War of 1812 experts out there! I mentioned a lot of what is happening in this feature last month, but the central place to find out what is happening in Maryland is the website of the Maryland War of 1812 Commission. The ships start rolling into the Inner Harbor this weekend and will be around until the 19th of June. Hope to see you there!
Jessica Feldt
May Monthly News Round-Up
Posted by Preservation Maryland in Monthly News Round-up on May 29, 2012
Downtown Columbia (Howard County)
Below is a round-up of news articles on preservation and heritage issues in Maryland and beyond.
BALTIMORE CITY
Clifton Mansion to be restored – Baltimore Sun 05-26-12
Inmates rehabilitate Mount Auburn Cemetery – Baltimore Brew 05-15-12
FREDERICK COUNTY
Unexpected demolition causes stir: Park Hall work prompts outcry from preservationists – Frederick News Post 05-23-12
Frederick War Memorial gets $14,300 in upkeep – The Gazette 05-03-12
HOWARD COUNTY
$100 million project to bring upscale apartments, retail to downtown Columbia – Baltimore Sun 05-16-12
MONTGOMERY COUNTY
Competing Visions for Farmland Set Johns Hopkins against Donor’s Family – The Chronicle of Higher Education 05-27-12
First Baptist Church of Silver Spring makes list of endangered historical sites – The Gazette 05-02-12
QUEEN ANNE’S COUNTY
Colonial courthouse roof needs replacing -The Star-Democrat 05-11-12
Centreville Wharf, ‘Captain’s houses’ get historical marker - The Star-Democrat 05-04-12
WASHINGTON COUNTY
Commissioners recognize preservation efforts in Washington County – Herald-Mail 05-22-12
STATEWIDE
Historians fret fate of War of 1812 sites – Baltimore Sun 05-27-12
Western Maryland Trail extension work could start later this year – Herald-Mail 05-16-12
Interior Secretary Designates Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail – Southern Maryland News Online 05-16-12
To Know The Bay, We Need Stories – Southern Maryland News Online 05-01-12
If you have a news article on a preservation-related issue you wish to add to our monthly news round-up, please send the link to me at jfeldt@preservationmaryland.org.
Jessica Feldt
Colleagues Corner: War of 1812 Fever!
Posted by Preservation Maryland in Colleagues Corner on May 22, 2012
As I sift through emails, tweets and Facebook posts each day it is hard to ignore. The War of 1812 Bicentennial is fast approaching. This summer is an exciting one for anyone with an interest in history or preservation. There seems to be events happening in every corner of Maryland and indeed that is just the tip of the iceberg with events being held in many states and Canada.
This weekend kicks off the start of the signature War of 1812 events. New York’s Fleet Week will celebrate the Bicentennial with a huge collection of Navy, Coast Guard, Coalition, and Tall ships descending on the Big Apple. From there the tour goes to Norfolk, Virginia and then it will be Maryland’s turn!
I’ve had June 13-19 circled in my calendar for awhile now and I hope you will be able to visit Baltimore and be a part of the celebrations. The Star-Spangled Sailabration is a week of events that should spark the interest of even those who have only a vague idea of what happened during the War of 1812. The ships will be open for tours, there will also be concerts, air shows and other programs.
While this is the biggest event in Maryland this year relating to the War of 1812, it is by no means the only one. Check out the Maryland War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission’s website to find a bevy of events and sites that will educate and entertain. Baltimore also has a website set up with sites, events, and more information.
Looking for something to do right away? The Baltimore National Heritage Area will be holding a History Happy Hour on Friday, May 25 and tomorrow, May 30, Maryland Public Television will be holding a sneak peak of their documentaryThe War of 1812 on the Chesapeake: Home of the Brave.
Hope to see you on the ships in June!
Jessica Feldt
The Tax Credit and Next Week’s Special Session
Posted by Preservation Maryland in Advocacy, Advocacy Alert on May 11, 2012
A special session of the General Assembly will begin on Monday. This Wednesday Governor Martin O’Malley, joined by Senate President Mike Miller and House Speaker Michael Busch, laid out the outline of the proposed budget plan. This special session is to finish the work left from the regular General Assembly session. As you likely know, the session ended in April without passage of a budget that would have prevented the so-called “doomsday budget,” resulting in hundreds of millions of dollars in cuts from a wide spectrum of programs. Among these cuts would have been the Sustainable Communities Tax Credit for commercial projects.
We are happy to say that funding for the Sustainable Communities Tax Credit was included in the plan laid out on Wednesday. The Tax Credit is considered Maryland’s most effective historic preservation and community revitalization program, resulting in the rehabilitation of over 4,000 historic residential and commercial buildings while leveraging $1.6 billion of private investment. Losing this funding would be devastating to preservation efforts in Maryland.
So what can you do to help make sure this money stays in place during the special session? Let Governor O’Malley, President Mike Miller, and Speaker Michael Busch know that you appreciate their support of the Tax Credit and let your representatives know how important the Tax Credit is to Maryland’s historic resources. Please take a few moments to send them a note or call their offices. There are lots of issues on the table in the special session and we need to make sure our voices in support historic preservation are heard.
If you need material about the Tax Creidt’s benefits, you can find out more on our Advocacy Resources page and Economic Benefits page.
Jessica Feldt
First Restoration & Renovation Fair a Huge Success!
Posted by Preservation Maryland in Education Programs on May 1, 2012
Attendees enjoy a presentation at the Restoration & Renovation Fair
On Saturday an estimated 250 people gathered at the Maryland Historical Society’s Greyhound Terminal Building for the first Restoration & Renovation Fair. All of us at Preservation Maryland were delighted by the huge response to this new event. The feedback we got was overwhelmingly positive with attendees, speakers, and exhibitors all enjoying their time together.
The day was spent visiting the 25 exhibitors who joined us, listening to 12 talks on a variety of home-related topics, and talking to the other attendees. Topics covered included paint, windows, tax credits, energy efficiency, plaster, masonry, and waterproofing. It seemed there was something for everyone with new attendees coming in before each talk.
Our exhibitors had something for every homeowner's needs.
We will be sending out a survey to attendees soon to get a more complete picture of the visitor experience, but feel free to let us know your thoughts. If you attended, let us know if you had a good time and what talks you liked or didn’t like. What topics would you like to see covered? And, the biggest question of all, should we hold this event again?
Thanks to everyone who attended, our speakers, and exhibitors. A special thanks to our sponsors, the Maryland Historical Trust, Abell Foundation, Christman Company, Baltimore National Heritage Area, Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, Penza + Bailey Architects, and Second Chance, Inc. Thanks also to Souper Freak for joining us and serving up warm and delicious food to our attendees.
