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Elkton Town Hall, July 12, 2012 – The Elkton Historic Architectural Review Committee (HARC) tangled with the matter of whether the board responsible for protecting historic properties should approve a change to municipal regulations Thursday evening.  The debate centered on whether a rule stipulating that new construction in the district can’t increase the size of an existing building by more than 25% should be eliminated.This matter came up as the Home Partnership, a nonprofit developer of affordable housing, wants to take the vacant jail and turn it into a 48 unit senior’s apartment complex.  That plan, aired before the mayor and commissioners a day earlier, preserves about 10 percent of the 1870s structure and increases the size of the original work by 75%.  To eliminate that legal barrier, the nonprofit submitted wording for a rule change that eliminates the size restriction but still requires additions to be minimally disruptive and in keeping with the original style.

Grappling with the rule change, two HARC members expressed concerns about “arbitrary changes in regulations.”  Paula Newton emphasized this  as she told colleages, “First, I have problems with changing ordinances because an ordinance is in place to protect people and property.  Second, that’s the only historic structure on this block.””There’s never going to be a jail there anymore,” Mark Clark replied.  “This building is obsolte.  It would be wonderful if someone would bring it to it’s former glory, but in this case no one is going to bring it to it’s former glory.  And it’s not what we’d want. ”

As that discussion continued for over an hour Chairperson Newton remarked, “We’re not getting off dead center here.  We can’t proceed with the other requested exceptions unless we change this ordinance.”  So Clark moved to approve the developer’s rewrite of the Elkton code, but the motion failed as there was a tie vote.  Newton and Josh Brown opposed the motion, while Clark and Steve Leonard voted for it.

So the dialogue continued as Clark suggested other considerations and eventually asked “can we entertain another motion on the subject?”  Building an argument for a second motion, Clark advised that he’d taken a survey of selected people about whether the 19th century building should be preserved.  “No one is interested in saving a building like that. . . It’s a jail.  It’s obsolete.”   Clark has made similar arguments before.

The committee is charged with protecting architectural resources and it operates under the Secretary of the Interior Standards, Newton countered.  “This project violates eight out of ten of those standards. . . . More of it needs to be preserved,” she added as she went through the national preservation guidelines.

Over the next three-quarters of an hour Clark introduced two more motions, modifying the developer’s language as he tried to pick up one additional vote.  Again Clark made the point — no one is interested in saving a building like that.  “Part of a loaf of bread is better than no loaf of bread at all.  We think someday this guy is going to appear and we’ll save the whole building.”

Clark and Brown exchanged points of view about a number of technicalities related to historic districts and preservation.  “I’m always nervous when you are left with vague language. . .  Even if you strike out the size requirement, the change won’t be minimal,” Brown observed.  “You are asking me to decide whether that’s minimal?”

With the discussion between the two getting really tangled up about responsibilities of a historic district commission, Clark inquired, “Are you a Democrat or Republican?  Democrats want a bunch of rules and laws passed to save society and Republicans want individuals to make the decisions.”  Since this discussion was bogged down, Newton stepped in remarking, “I keep thinking of Mr. Simmers and everyone told him you can’t save that bridge.  You can’t save that bridge. And he saved that bridge.”  “I don’t even know what that’s about,” Clark responded.

The debate about the mission, purpose, and role of HARC continued as Newton advised that “all we’ve done is settle” with the applicants when something is requested.  “We’ve demolished two houses.  Why do we have a historic commission?”

With three failed attempts now on the record during nearly two hours of deliberations, the effort was finally abandoned and the committee moved on to other items on the agenda.  The committee also agreed there was no need to consider the developer’s other waivers for the code as it stood didn’t permit those changes.  But they were alerted to the fact that the Mayor and Commissioners could intervene and hold a public hearing to change the law.

Two journalists from the “Back Story with the American History Guys,” a public radio show, were in Elkton a few weeks ago working on an hour long installment for the weekly production titled “Committed:  Marriage in America.”  The Virginia Foundation for the Humanities and University of Virginia sponsor the shows, which bring “historical perspective to the events happening around us today.  On each show, renowned U.S. historians . . . tear a topic from the headlines and plumb its historical depths.”  As they explore the roots of what’s going on today, they seek to reveal connections or disconnections between the past and the present.

For this week’s airing the headline under the magnifying glass concerned marriage in America.  From the colonial era to the present, they included segments on a range of issues and one involved “the town that was Vegas before Vegas was Vegas.”  According to the historians “eloping to Elkton had entered the nation’s lexicon” by the 1930s.  While they were here they visited the Historical Society to get background insight, attended a ceremony at the Little Wedding Chapel and talked to local people at restaurants out on Route 40.

It aired last week and here’s a link to the broadcast. 

“The melting pot,” a grand gala hosted by the Cecil County Arts Council, kicked off the arrival of the Smithsonian’s traveling exhibit, “Journey Stories” in Cecil County yesterday.  As the evening got underway, downtown Elkton shops remained open to celebrate the occasion.

For July, it was a comfortable evening as those doors opened to greet a gathering of over 300.  Enjoying the professionally curated exhibit, along with performances by the Heritage Troupe, this crowd filled the cultural center on E. Main Street.  Out in the street, enjoyable original music flowed while people strolled along, stopping at businesses to sample fine foods and browse the merchandise.

It was delightful to see the business area filled with strollers, enjoying the ambiance of the evening, the entertainment and the display, while sampling local delights offered by seven restaurants.  Strollers paused, as they passed from shop-to-shop, enjoying an old Main Street.

This was a wonderful demonstration project for the community.  Hundreds of patrons made the county seat a destination and were introduced to an old Maryland community’s town center.  After the show, a number of the older businesspeople remarked about how surprised they were with the turnout and how they too enjoyed the evening.  It reminded them of a time long ago when Main Street was bustling place on shopping nights.

Thank you Cecil County Arts Council for sponsoring this fine gala opening.  Now look forward to a full calendar of events sponsored by all the collaborating groups, including the Cecil County Public Library and the Historical Society.

“Journey Stories,” a Museum on Main Street exhibit, is brought to the state by the Smithsonian and the Maryland Humanities Council.

A day before a nonprofit affordable housing group is scheduled to appear before the Elkton Historical and Architectural Review Committee (HARC) to present plans for the old jail at 214 North Street, the developer met with the Mayor and Commissioners.  Frank Hodgetts, representing Home Partnership, outlined plans to build a 50-unit age restricted multi-family housing apartments on the 1.12 acre parcel.

To allow the project to go forward, he asked the town to modify its historic district zoning regulation, which stipulates that a project can’t increase the size of an old structure by more than 25%.  Suggested language for the code revision was submitted, which apparently eliminates the size restriction but says that the work must be in keeping with the architectural nature of the project.  “You’ve pulled out the stinger so to speak, but you are still giving them some claws,” Lewis George, the town administrator remarked.

Home Partnership also noted that they are going to ask for financial considerations.  Specifically, they will seek relief from about half of the property taxes for ten years.  It was estimated that the property would generated $18,250 in revenue for local government.  And they will ask that various permit and inspection fees be waived.

The concept plan calls for keeping the front façade and building the 50 unit modern structure in the the rear of that.  When an official asked about the history of the building, Hodgetts replied “We don’t know exactly what’s historic yet.”

The 1871 structure has two sections.  In front, the two story pressed brick wing facing North Street contained the sheriff’s house, office and the dining room.  In back, the portion with thick, solid granite walls was where the prisoners were securely detailed.  Somehow the post-Civil War lockup managed to outlive its usefulness to the county in a mere 128 years so in 1984 inmates moved to the new detention center on Landing Lane.

Town Administrator George wrapped things up by noting the process required to change a zoning ordinance.  HARC, the board charged with protecting Elkton’s architectural and cultural resources, will get their first chance to formally hear the proposal at a meeting Thursday evening at 6:00 p.m. at the town hall.

 

The Chautauqua 2012 that is bringing three famous figures from the past to Explore the War of 1812 continued this Saturday afternoon in Elkton.  For the second show, Rosalie Stier Calvert, a member of a wealthy Maryland family talked about life on a plantation near Bladensburg as the British marched on Washington, D.C., scattering ill-prepared defensive forces.

As this voice from the past echoed through the sanctuary, Rosalie playfully called on members of the audience to perform supporting roles, so she could sketch out the broader campaign on the Chesapeake.  Before it was over a hastily recruited President Madison, Admiral Cockurn, and Dolly Madison joined the 19^th century lady on stage to the delight of the attentive audience.  Laughter frequently interrupted those scenes as the drafted, amateur thespians jumped into their roles to present various parts, usually with guidance from Rosalie.  But sometimes they ad-libbed to the delight of the crowd.

The performer today was the award-winning actress, Mary Ann Jung.  And while there was a lot of laughter filling that old Elkton Church on this hot Saturday afternoon, there was a great deal of learning going on too.  Listening to conversations as delighted patrons departed, it was obvious that they’d gained a deeper appreciation and understanding of this unique Maryland story in a most compelling way.

Prior to the show members of the Cecil County Heritage Troupe staged a fine presentation also sharing stories about the time when war came to our shores.

The final event is Sunday at 4 p.m. at the Elkton United Methodist Church as Jill Peters performs as Mary Pickersgill.  This free event is brought to Elkton by the Maryland Humanities Council and the Cecil County Tourism Office.

As the mercury approached 100 degrees Saturday afternoon a comfortable crowd settled in at the Elkton United Methodist Church to open the 2012 Chautauqua.  The sponsor for the annual event, the Maryland Humanities Council, is bringing three famous figures from the past to the area to explore the War of 1812.The local kick-off, sponsored by the Cecil County Tourism Office, found about 250 people intently listening as Alan Gephardt brought Francis Scott Key to life.  The American lawyer and amateur poet penned the lyrics of the Star-Spangled Banner, which became our National Anthem.

For nearly an hour this Marylander, a participant in some of the nation’s most stirring events, dramatically told the first-hand story of our second war with Britain and the Battle of Baltimore.  After the 19^th century gentleman finished his formal remarks, the audience enthusiastically peppered him with questions.  The evening also included a talk on Cecil County during the conflict.

If you missed this engaging show you missed a superb portrayal, but two more historical characters are still on the schedule.  This afternoon at 4 p.m., there’s a visit from Rosalie Stier Calvert, a member of a wealth Maryland family whose extensive correspondence illuminated life on the Calvert plantation leading up to and during the War of 1812.  Sunday afternoon, it’s Mary Pickersgill, the Baltimore flag-maker who stitched the Star Spangled Banner Flag that flew over Fort McHenry will visit Elkton.

Chautauqua is brought to the state every summer by the Maryland Humanities Council.  It is something many people look forward to each year.

The Town of Elkton has released the agenda for the July 12, 2012, Historical and Architectural Review Committee meeting.  The primary business is a request from Frank Hodgetts, representing Home Partnership, to develop the old jail property at 214 North Street in Elkton into 50 units of age-restrict multi-family housing apartments.  The agenda for July is reproduced below this post. An earlier meeting in June was canceled. 

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Town of Elkton Historic and Architectural Review Committee

July 12, 2012, 6:00 PM —  Agenda

• Approval of the minutes of the February 29, 2012 meeting 2.
• Request by Frank Hodgetts representing Home Partnership to redevelop 214 North Street, Elkton, MD into 50 units of age-restricted multi-family housing apartments.
• Old Business
• New Business

From Cecil Whig

By Jane Bellmyer                               |

Forty years ago today, many Cecil County residents were mired in mud and debris thanks to Hurricane Agnes.  It was a storm that set records for rainfall, storm surge and flooding, with the Susquehanna River cresting at almost 37 feet. The Rev. George Hipkins said bricks marking the high water levels on what is now the Port Deposit Post Office in Center Square have been removed, but he recalls that both sides of Main Street were inundated when the storm came