Programs Heritage Fund Grants
The Heritage Fund, a cooperative effort of Preservation Maryland and the Maryland Historical Trust, provides direct assistance for the protection of historical and cultural resources and promotes innovative demonstration projects that can be successfully replicated to meet Maryland's historic preservation needs. The Fund is intended to serve the needs of tangible cultural resources in Maryland. Historic sites, buildings, districts, objects, and archaeological resources are all eligible for funding.
Now Accepting Applications Current Grant Recipients News & Updates
Now Accepting Applications
The Heritage Fund provides direct assistance for the protection of endangered cultural resources and promotes innovative education projects that can inform best practices across the state. Non-profit organizations and local jurisdictions are eligible to apply. Eligible projects fall into three general categories: education and research, planning and feasibility, and repair and rehabilitation. The next round of Heritage Fund applications are now being accepted through Friday, March 20, 2020.
Projects eligible for funding
Projects must be located in the state of Maryland
Stabilization or acquisition of endangered historic properties
Feasibility studies, architectural plans, structural assessments and historic structure reports
Projects benefiting archaeological resources including curatorial services
Repair and restoration of historic materials
Educational, research, and planning efforts related to resource preservation
Organizational development for local preservation organizations – including but not limited to:
Board and volunteer development
Establishing strategic planning goals
Collaborative projects are encouraged
Legal services engaged to protect endangered historic resources – including structures, sites, archaeological resources, or the creation or strengthening of a local preservation ordinance
Specifications for Fiscal Year 2019
The minimum grant is $1,000 and the maximum grant is $10,000. Application deadlines are March 20 and September 18, 2020.
Criteria for grant awards
The following criteria will be used by the selection committee to evaluate and select projects for funding, on a competitive basis, that meet the purposes and priorities of the Heritage Fund:
Relative historical and cultural significance of the resource(s)
Urgency of the need for financial assistance
Provision for long-term resource preservation
Administrative capability of the applicant
Extent to which the project stimulates or promotes other preservation activities
Educational value of the project
Demonstrative and innovative value of the project
Extent to which the project leverages other sources of financial assistance
Readiness of the applicant to initiate and complete the project
Extent to which the project contributes to the equitable geographic distribution of Heritage Fund money across the state
Funds will be disbursed on a reimbursable basis.
When relevant, all work must comply with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.
A cash or in-kind match of at least 10% is required.
Any materials or publicity produced in relation to the project must include the following citation: "Funding for this project was provided in part by Preservation Maryland and the Maryland Historical Trust." Copies of the materials should be submitted to Preservation Maryland.
Grant award recipients may apply for same project or site one year after the award date.
Projects must be completed within one year of grant approval.
Award recipients must submit a brief recap of their project and at least two photos of completed bricks and mortar projects or alternate forms of documentation for other projects.
Interested parties should contact Preservation Maryland to discuss the proposed project before submitting an application. Open the online application and review the questions on the application form. We encourage you to craft your long-form answers into a separate document before beginning and copy and paste them into the form. Gather all required supplementary materials in a digital format. There is a total file size limit of 20MB for all attachments submitted on the application form. Resize items to meet this requirement. Complete the online application and attach supplementary material.
Required supplementary materials include:
Organization's latest financial statement or audit
IRS determination letter of tax-exempt status
Project budget including all project expenses and in-hand or pledged funding
Relevant guiding documents, plans, estimates, and proposals from contractors or consultants
Minimum of one letter of support or endorsement from a local elected official
Minimum of two representative photographs of the project
If the nominator and property owner are different, a letter of support from the property owner
Upon receipt of a completed application, staff will conduct a review and determine if any additional information is needed. Applicants will be notified about grant decisions 6-8 weeks after the grant deadline.
Next Deadline: Friday, March 20, 2020
Watch the FAQ Video
Download the Guidelines (PDF)
Start the Online Application
Current Grant Recipients
Awarded in Spring 2019
Mausoleum Restoration at Rose Hill Cemetery
Organization: Cumberland Historic Cemetery Organization
Type: Bricks-and-Mortar
Project Name: Carpenter Family Mausoleum Restoration Project
Location: Cumberland, Allegany County
Located in Rose Hill Cemetery, the mausoleum of the Carpenter Family is a uniquely designed structure housing nine crypts. The mausoleum is currently in a deteriorated condition and needs mortar work to the structure and the outside steps providing access to the site. The Cumberland Historic Cemetery received $2,500 for the estimated $5,000 project with the remainder coming from the organization and private donors.
Stewardship of Churches on the Eastern Shore
Organization: Episcopal Diocese of Easton
Type: Education and Research
Project Name: New Dollars and New Partners for the Episcopal Parishes of the Eastern Shore
Location: Multiple Counties on the Eastern Shore
In response to the need of many historic churches to develop strategies for the long-term preservation of their spaces, the Episcopal Diocese of Easton applied to the Heritage Fund to bring in Partners for Sacred Spaces for a four-part training on creating partnerships and fundraising programs to ensure the future of these historic sites. The Heritage Fund will provide $10,000 of the full project budget of $30,000. The approximately 10 parishes that are participating in the training will provide a reminder of the funding.
Carriage House at Mt. Pleasant Farm.
Historic Carriage House Restoration at Mt. Pleasant Farm
Organization: Howard County Conservancy
Project Name: Historic Carriage House Rehabilitation at Mt. Plesant Farm
Location: Woodstock, Howard County
The Howard County Conservancy's Mt. Pleasant Farm sits as a relic of Howard County's agricultural past in a rapidly developing area. Each year, the historic site is visited by roughly 25,000 visitors to learn more about Howard County history. A ca. 1900 carriage house on the site is in need of a series of improvements including wood repair, foundation work, and painting. The Heritage Fund awarded $8,000 to the Howard County Conservancy for the approximately $19,000 in restoration work with the remainder of the project costs coming from the Conservancy.
Creating a the Moyaone Reserve Mid-Century Modern Historic District
Organization: Moyaone Association, Inc.
Project Name: Moyaone Reserve National Register Nomination
Location: Accokeek, Prince George's and Charles Counties
The Moyaone Reserve, located in Prince George's and Charles Counties, contains a wealth of mid-century modern structures nestled in Piscataway Park. The Heritage Fund grant will support the creation of a National Register Historic District to study the development, planning, and architecture of the unique neighborhood while also helping preserve the location as part of the viewshed for Mount Vernon across the Potomac River. The $5,000 provided by the Heritage Fund will be supplemented with contributions from the Maryland Historical Trust, the Prince George's County Historic Preservation Commission, and the Moyaone Association, among others to reach the full budget of approximately $62,000.
Restoration of Historic Glyndon Train Station
Organization: Preservation Alliance of Baltimore County
Project Name: Glyndon Train Station Rehabilitation
Location: Glyndon, Baltimore County
The 1904 Glyndon Train Station served passengers until 1959 when it was retrofitted for use as a Post Office and continued to serve the community. The Heritage Fund grant will support needed repairs to the site including work on the brick piers and damaged cupola along with painting. The Preservation Alliance of Baltimore County received $7,800 toward a total estimated project budget of $17,000 with the remainder of the funding contributed by Glyndon Train Station, LLC and Historic Glyndon.
Potomac Street, Brunswick, MD. Photo from Wikipedia.
CREATING A Conservation District IN BRUNSWICK
Organization: Preservation Maryland and Smart Growth Maryland
Type: Planning and Feasibility
Project Name: City of Brunswick Conservation District
Location: Brunswick, Frederick County
The City of Brunswick is a National Register-listed 19th-century railroad town on Potomac River. Responding to increased loss of the fabric of the historic community, the Mayor and Council established a committee, including a representative from Smart Growth Maryland, to help develop preservation goals and implementation tools. Preservation Maryland will serve as the fiduciary for the $10,000 grant to be used to complete the estimated $11,000 consulting process to examine potential conservation district boundaries and develop design guidelines.
REUSE FEASIBILITY STUDY AT WINSTEAD PACKING PLANT
Organization: Southern Maryland Tri-County Council
Project Name: Winstead Packing Plant Feasibility Study
Location: Hughesville, Charles County
The Winstead Packing Plant is part of a district of tobacco warehouses, a key part of Southern Maryland's agricultural history. In order to keep this building a vital part of Hughesville, the Southern Maryland Tri-County Council will use their Heritage Fund grant to bring in a consultant to conduct a feasibility study for viable reuses including retail, entertainment, and other options. The $8,000 grant will be matched by further fundraising and grants from the Southern Maryland Tri-County Council to complete the $25,000 budget.
New Market, MD.
a New Visitor Experience FOR THE TOWN OF New Market
Organization: Town of New Market
Project Name: Visitor's Experience Plan
Location: New Market, Frederick County
The Town of New Market was founded in 1793 and is dominated by 19th-century buildings along its National Register Historic District. In order to support increased heritage tourism to the Town of New Market, funding from the Heritage Fund will bring in a consultant to create a visitor's experience plan for New Market. The Town of New Market will receive $4,500 towards their total project budget of approximately $13,000, using other fundraising and funds from the Town to match the grant.
Awarded in Fall 2018
Stabilization of B&O Railroad Station
Organization: Aberdeen Room Archives and Museum, Inc.
Type: Bricks and Mortar
Project Name: Stabilization of B&O Railroad Station
Location: Aberdeen, Harford County
Description: The 1885 Frank Furness designed B&O Station and since then the station has played an important role in the area's economic canning industry and helped moved troops and scientists to the Aberdeen Proving Grounds during the Korean War. The site is now in need of a new community purpose and the first step is to stabilize the structure while additional plans can be made for reuse. A $6,000 grant from the Heritage Fund will help support the stabilization work needed to protect the building from future deterioration. The total project cost is estimated at $90,000 and the organization has additional funds to complete this phase including from a state bond bill.
Historic Roof Replacement on the Museum of the Ironworker
Organization: Catoctin Furnace Historical Society, Inc.
Project: Historic Roof Replacement on the Museum of the Ironworker
Location: Thurmont, Frederick County
Description: In the industrial village of Catoctin Furnace, an 1820s workers cottage is being restored to become the Museum of the Ironworker. The finished museum will tell the story of the workers who worked on the iron forge at Catoctin Furnace from the 18th to early 20th centuries. The roof of the cottage suffered damage in a windstorm and further damage with the record rains this summer. The Heritage Fund will provide $8,000 for replacing the hand crimped standing seam roof on the cottage. The full project cost is $13,252 and is also supported with a grant from the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority for the overall restoration of the site.
The Colored School Foundation Oral History Project
Organization: Community Projects of Havre de Grace
Project: The Colored School Foundation Oral History Project
Location: Havre de Grace, Harford County
Description: The Havre de Grace Colored School was the first public high school for African Americans in Harford County. Built in 1910 as an elementary school, the structure was expanded over time to accommodate a high school. The site was recently purchased by the Colored School Foundation to preserve the stories and history of the school. As part of this effort, Community Projects of Havre de Grace will collect the oral histories from former students at the school or advocated for its development. A grant from the Heritage Fund of $3000 will support the collection and transcription of oral histories. The affiliated organizations continue to raise funding for the total project budget of $40,186 to film, edit, and release these stories.
Painting the Concord Point Keeper's House
Organization: The Friends of Concord Point Lighthouse, Inc.
Project: Painting the Concord Point Keeper's House
Description: The ca. 1827 Concord Point Light Station was served by four generations of the family of John O'Neill, a local war hero from the War of 1812. After many changes over the 19th and 20th centuries, the Friends of the Concord Point Lighthouse restored the building to its 1884 appearance removing several modern additions. The keeper's house is now in need of exterior and interior repairs including painting both to improve it aesthetically, but also to ensure its preservation. The Maryland Historical Trust holds easements on the Lighthouse and the Keeper's House. The Heritage Fund will support the painting of the interior of the keeper's house with a grant of $3500 towards a total project budget of $36,685. Additional funding was secured from the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority, the Chesapeake Chapter of the U.S. Lighthouse Society, and private donations.
Newcomer House Visitor Experience Plan and Updates
Organization: Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area
Project Name: Newcomer House Visitor Experience Plan and Update
Location: Keedysville, Washington County
Description: The Newcomer House is a late 18th century house that now serves and an Exhibit and Visitor Center for the Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area. Antietam National Battlefield will be undertaking a major restoration of their Battlefield Visitors Center, heightening the importance of the Newcomer House to serve as a resource for visitors to the Battlefield. A $8000 grant from the Heritage Fund will supplement additional support from Rural Maryland Councilhttps://rural.maryland.gov/, Visit Hagerstown, Antietam National Battlefield, and the National Park Service among others the help pay for the creation of a visitor experience plan and to create and fabricate new exhibits. The full project budget is $75,107.
City Dock in the Annapolis National Landmark District, 2017.
Emergency Grant: Urban Land Institute Technical Assistance Panel for City Dock in Annapolis
Organization: Historic Annapolis, Inc.
Project Name: Urban Land Institute Technical Assistance Panel
Location: Annapolis, Anne Arundel County
Located on the downtown Annapolis waterfront, City Dock is a vital part of the Colonial Annapolis National Register Historic District. Recently proposed rezoning threatens to undo the character of the historic waterfront. In response to this threat, the National Trust for Historic Preservation identified City Dock as one of America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places for 2018. Preservation Maryland has joined efforts to invite the Urban Land Institute Baltimore (ULI) to conduct a Technical Assistance Panel (TAP) related to City Dock, which will bring in experts from across the country to provide strategic, multidisciplinary advice about land use and to offer further details of redevelopment alternatives. The TAP will build upon studies approved by the Annapolis City Council and will allow for a public conversation about the future of the historic City Dock. Historic Annapolis received $5,000 toward a total project budget of $20,000, joining the grantee and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
William Brown House Restoration
Organization: London Town Foundation
Project Name: William Brown House Restoration
Location: Edgewater, Anne Arundel County
Description: The circa 1760 William Brown House on the Historic London Town and Gardens historic sites is an active preservation rehabilitation and restoration project. A grant of $8,000 from the Heritage Fund will support the replacement of the West Door to the house which is deteriorating and has a poor seal. Historically, this door was a main entrance to the publik house and may return to that purpose as London Town continue their Restore the Bar campaign. The larger restoration project has a budget of $500,000 and is supported by Anne Arundel County, the State of Maryland, and individual donations.
DISCOVERING LGBTQ HISTORY IN MARYLAND
Organization: Preservation Maryland
Project Name: Raising Awareness on LGBTQ Historic Locations
Location: Statewide
Description: Preservation Maryland is leading a statewide effort known as the Maryland LGBTQ History Collaborative to identify and document places of importance to LGBTQ Marylanders and their contributions to society. Preservation Maryland will work with the University of Maryland on an education initiative to obtain first-person histories and to host a free public lecture by LGBTQ history expert, Susan Ferentinos, Ph.D. Lastly, the grant will support an intern position at Preservation Maryland to gather, evaluate, and verify existing lists of LGBTQ sites throughout Maryland. The $7,000 grant will be matched by Preservation Maryland to complete $7,700 budget of the project.
Preservation Plan for Westminster Burying Ground
Organization: Westminster Preservation Trust
Project Name: Preservation Plan for Westminster Burying Ground
Location: Baltimore City
Description: Westminster Burying Ground is most famous as the final resting place of Edgar Allan Poe and many others including Samuel Smith and Dr. James McHenry. Despite the renown of many of the 230-year-old burying ground's interments, no comprehensive plan for the care of the markers and the site's entrance has been performed. The Heritage Fund will support the Westminster Preservation Trust's efforts with a $7,000 grant to perform the evaluation, which will serve a template for comprehensive restoration work of the $16,350 project supported by the Trust's endowment.
Planning for Preservation of the Hilltop Garden
Organization: The Alice Ferguson Foundation
Project Name: Planning for the Preservation of the Hilltop Garden
Location: Accokeek, Prince George's County
The Alice Ferguson Foundation seeks to connect people to the natural world and care for the collections and cultural heritage of the Hard Bargain Farm in Accokeek. The Farm was the home of painter Alice L.L. Ferguson where she created Hilltop Garden between 1922-1940. It is one of the few gardens of its era open to the public. The Foundation received $7,000 for landscape and masonry repairs that will include the creation of a CAD field survey, garden analysis diagram, conditions assessment, historic planting analysis, and a consultation with a historic concrete mason.
Pre-Purchase Survey of the Wilma Lee Skipjack
Organization: Annapolis Maritime Museum and Park
Project Name: Pre-Purchase Survey of the Wilma Lee
The Annapolis Maritime Museum and Park seeks to return a Chesapeake Bay skipjack to the waters of Maryland. The plan is to use the ca. 1940 Wilma Lee to offer an authentic skipjack experience to students and adults. Before completing the sale, the Museum will visit the skipjack in North Carolina and give it a complete inspection to assess condition and safety. This grant of $4,500 will help pay for the survey before the potential purchase.
Doors Open Baltimore Public Relations Development
Organization: The Baltimore Architecture Foundation
Project Name: Doors Open Baltimore Public Relations Development
Doors Open Baltimore is a popular annual free event and an inventive way to broaden public awareness of historic resources around Baltimore. Due to its popularity, the event will expand to two full days in 2018. To keep pace, the Baltimore Architecture Foundation will expand on their existing marketing efforts including a more robust social media campaign, increased presence in print and other media outlets, and working with new partners. Funding: The Heritage Fund awarded $3,000 of the $44,000 budget for the campaign.
Downtown Frederick Preservation Education Toolkit
Organization: Downtown Frederick Partnership
Project Name: Downtown Frederick Preservation Education Toolkit
Location: Frederick, Frederick County
The Downtown Frederick Partnership works to enhance, promote and preserve the vitality and livability of Downtown Frederick – that includes its many historic resources. This $5,000 grant will support the creation of an Education Tool Kit that provides information to address the needs of specific audiences, like residents, merchants, and professionals. The Tool Kit will be freely distributed by the Downtown Frederick Partnership, the City of Frederick, and many other preservation partners.
Documenting a historic church in Dorchester County, 2017.
Strategic Planning for Malone's Church
Organization: Harrisville Malone Cemetery Maintenance Fund
Project Name: Strategic Planning for Malone's Church
Location: Madison, Dorchester County
The Malone's Church property was built in the 1890s and includes an historic church and cemetery. Together the cultural landscape of this African American community offers an opportunity to better understand daily life deep in Dorchester County in the face of slavery, the Civil War, reconstruction, and Jim Crow. Located along the Harriet Tubman Byway, the cemetery includes the final resting place of Tubman's nephew and in-laws. The Harrisville Malone Cemetery Maintenance Fund will use this $2,5000 grant to plan for maintainene and access now that the active congregation has dissolved.
International Preservation Trades Workshop
Organization: Preservation Trades Network
Project Name: 22nd Annual International Preservation Trades Workshop
The Preservation Trades Network is devoted to promoting the building trades and holding educational training on those trades. This year, annual International Trades Network Workshop will be in Frederick and provide a much-needed opportunity to learn about preservation trades and skills from preservation and craft experts. The Heritage Fund will help support this program with a $3000 grant.
Stabilization of Tombstones in Methodist Cemetery
Organization: Sharpsburg Historical Society, Inc.
Project Name: Stabilization of Tombstones in Methodist Cemetery
Location: Sharpsburg, Washington County
The Methodist Church dates back to the early 19th century in Sharpsburg and the associated cemetery accepted burials until the 1930s. While the cemetery still stands, the records of the church and cemetery are missing, making the stones themselves a valuable and essential research tool. With a $4,000 grant, the Sharpsburg Historical Society will stabilize and restore tombstones that are fallen, tilted, or broken and use what is learned for research and education purposes.
Friend Family Museum Building Improvements
Organization: Town of Friendsville
Project Name: Friend Family Museum Building Improvements
Location: Friendsville, Garrett County
The Friend Family Museum and Library is located in a 1900 building originally constructed for the First National Bank on a prominent corner in downtown Friendsville and previously used as a Town Hall. Through heavy use, the structure is in need of repairs to its roof and the wood trim around the windows. With a Heritage Fund grant of $7,000, the Museum will complete the necessary repairs and will continue to have a place to house and share their collections.
Adaptive Reuse of the Glade Valley Mill Building
Organization: Walkersville Southern Railroad Museum, Inc.
Project Name: Adaptive Reuse of the Glade Valley Mill Building
Location: Walkersville, Frederick County
The Walkersville Southern Railroad Museum was founded in 1991 to preserve and interpret the area's transportation history. The Museum has seen an increase in visitors and volunteers each year, and will use a $4,500 grant to create an architectural and development plan for Museum expansion of the Museum into the ca. 1911 Glade Valley Mill Building. The Heritage Fund will help support the work to bring in an architect to create a master plan and schematic drawings for the adaptive reuse of the building.
Planning in Piscataway Park
Organization: Accokeek Foundation
Type: Planning/Feasibility
Project Name: Planning in Piscataway Park: Connecting People and Landscapes
Piscataway Park, across the Potomac from George Washington's Mount Vernon, seeks to tell the story of the relationship between the humans and the natural world. It has been 50 years since the dedication of Piscataway Park, giving the organization a perfect opportunity to develop a comprehensive long-term interpretive plan. The process will include both internal and public dialogs resulting a guide for the Accokeek Foundation's further work at Piscataway Park. The Accokeek Foundation received $5,000 for the $20,000 project. The Foundation is seeking additional funds from state and national agencies as well as private foundations.
Monument Restoration at SAINTS Peter and Paul Cemetery
Project Name: Restoration of Monuments at Saints Peter and Paul Cemetery
The Saints Peter and Paul Cemetery is one of Cumberland's oldest cemeteries, with graves spanning two centuries and is the final resting place of many of Cumberland's founders. The Cumberland Historic Cemetery Organization will undertake a restoration effort for monuments that are beginning to deteriorate. The restoration of the monuments will ensure the cemetery's continued use as an important educational site and tourism destination. The Heritage Fund will provide $4,600 of the full project budget of $6,230. The Cumberland Historic Cemetery Organization will provide the match through their donations and in-kind labor.
The tour group at Highland Beach, 2017.
Highland Beach Preservation and Education Initiative
Organization: Fredrick Douglass Museum and Cultural Center, Inc.
Type: Education/Research
Project Name: Frederick Douglass Museum and Cultural Center Preservation and Education Initiative
Location: Highland Beach, Anne Arundel County
The Frederick Douglass Museum and Cultural Center is located in Highland Beach, a community founded by Frederick Douglass' son Charles and his wife Laura in 1893. The Museum is located in the National Register-listed home Charles Douglass built for his father, who died before he was able to occupy the house. The organization is now undertaking completing an inventory of their collections, creating new exhibits, and training new docents. The Heritage Fund program awarded $5,000 of the $20,000 budget for the new exhibits and inventory work. Remaining funds will come through in-kind assistance and additional grants and fundraising.
Historic Greenbelt & Maryland Documentaries
Organization: Old Greenbelt Theatre
Project Name: Telling our Stories: 80 Years in 80 Seconds
Location: Greenbelt, Prince George's County
The Old Greenbelt Theatre, a single-screen movie theater, has been entertaining the area since its construction in 1937. The non-profit Friends of Greenbelt Theatre has been operating the theater since 2015. As the City of Greenbelt and the theater itself approaches their 80th anniversaries, the Friends of Greenbelt Theatre will produce a series of short documentaries that will highlight Greenbelt, regional, and statewide history and promote awareness of preservation and share personal histories of area residents. The Friends of Greenbelt Theatre will receive $5,000 towards their total project budget of $7,000, using funds from their organization to cover the rest of the costs.
Acquisition of Main Street Properties
Organization: Main Street Middletown
Project Name: Purchase of 19 and 21 West Main Street
Location: Middletown, Frederick County
Much of Middletown and 19 and 21 West Main Street are included in the Middletown National Register Historic District. The two properties on Main Street stand out as historic commercial buildings due to their small size and distinctive façade trim. With no local preservation ordinance to protect these structures, the planned sale of the buildings could present a threat depending on the buyer. Main Street Middletown plans to purchase the two buildings to model the value of a preservation approach and demystify the process. The $10,000 provided by the Heritage Fund will be supplemented with funding from other organizations and state agencies, in-kind contributions, and funds from the organization to reach the cost of purchasing the buildings. The seller is working closely with the organization in the sale.
Local TV Station Digital Archive
Organization: Mid-Atlantic Regional Moving Image Archive
Project Name: Baltimore Sights and Sounds: Audiovisual Documentation as Historic Preservation
The Mid-Atlantic Regional Moving Image Archive (MARMIA) works to preserve and provide public access to moving images and recorded sounds in the Mid-Atlantic. Among the resources they are working on are the WJZ-TV collection of content from the station made between the 1950s and 2000. From this collection, MARMIA would pull out videos that document Baltimore's historic places and share them with Baltimore Heritage who would then upload them to the Explore Baltimore Heritage app and website to augment the content provided on those platforms. MARMIA will receive $4,000 of a total project budget of $9,500 the remainder will be matched by MARMIA and in-kind assistance through Baltimore Heritage.
Historic Window Restoration
Organization: Nanticoke Historic Preservation Alliance, Inc.
Project Name: Window Repair at Handsell
Location: Vienna, Dorchester County
The Nanticoke Historic Preservation Alliance works to preserve Handsell, a National Register-listed building in Dorchester County. The site tells the story of the cultures that contributed to the history of the site, the native people of Chincone Village, African Americans, and Colonial settlers. Many of the windows at the house are in need for restoration including custom-made sashes and frames. The work is the will help move the preservation effort at the site forward. The Nanticoke Historic Preservation Alliance will receive $10,000 from the Heritage Fund for their $25,000 project. The rest will come from the organization's restoration fund and other fundraising efforts.
Emergency Masonry Chimney Repairs
Organization: Stepping Stone Museum Association, Inc.
Project Name: Restoration of Chimney at Foard's Blacksmith Shop
The Steppingstone Farm Museum interprets the rural heritage of the Harford County through collections and structures, including a late nineteenth century blacksmith shop. The Foard's Blacksmith Shop was relocated to the Stepping Stone Museum and is utilized as a demonstration area. Last winter, one of the building's two chimneys collapsed. The grant will help fund the restoration of the fallen chimney and the stabilization of the building's other chimney. Once completed, the site can resume its educational mission. The Stepping Stone Museum will receive $10,000 to complete the $20,700 restoration project. The Museum will provide the remainder, including contributions from their "Fix our Forge" campaign.
Dielman Inn Preservation Plan
Organization: Town of New Windsor
Project Name: Reuse and Business Plan for Dielman Inn
Location: New Windsor, Carroll County
The Dielman Inn is a mid-18th century building in the center of the Town of New Windsor with 43 rooms that reflect the evolution and expansion of the building over time to meet the needs of commerce. The Town of New Windsor took ownership of the site and have undertaken lead abatement and stabilization work. The property now needs a preservation plan to guide the future work towards revitalization. The Heritage Fund award of $5,000 will go towards the $7,500 process with the matching funds coming from the Town and in-kind donations.
Vernacular Architecture Forum Tours
Organization: Vernacular Architecture Forum
Project Name: Vernacular Architecture Forum Conference
Location: Southern Maryland
The Vernacular Architecture Forum (VAF) is devoted to the study and appreciation of vernacular buildings and landscapes. The organization's annual conference brings hundreds of VAF members from around the country together to tour a region and learn more about its architectural heritage. In May of 2018 the conference will come to Alexandria, Virginia and spend time touring Southern Maryland and parts of Prince George's County. Some of the themes explored will be the African American experience, tobacco production, protecting view sheds, and early Catholicism in Maryland. The Heritage Fund will provide $3,500 to the Vernacular Architecture Forum representatives in Maryland to go towards the total budget of $120,000. The remainder of the funding comes from state, academic, and organizational partners.
Awarded in 2017
The Ark, 2016. Photo from the Calvert Marine Museum.
"The Ark" Ship of Hungerford Creek
Organization: Calvert Marine Museum Society
Type: Repair and Rehabilitation
Project: Relocation and Restoration of "The Ark" Ship
Location: Solomons, Calvert County
Description: The Ark started as a life boat on a German passenger liner turned American WWI troopship. Following the war, the ship sat in the Patuxent River, becoming part of the Ghost Fleet of anchored and surplus ships. Around 1936 an Episcopalian minister acquired one of the wooden lifeboats and brought it ashore at his summer cottage, later building a house on the boat – because of his religious affiliation, it became known as Faith Chapel – The Ark. It was recently acquired by the Calvert Marine Museum Society, that plans to move it to their museum grounds and finish the restoration work.
Funding: The Calvert Marine Museum Society received $4,915 towards an $8,155 project. In-kind labor funds and funds from the Calvert Marine Museum Society will supplement the grant amount.
The John Grinder House in Smallwood State Park, 2017.
Stabilization of the John Grinder House
Organization: Friends of Smallwood State Park
Project: Structural Asssesment and Stabilization at the Grinder House
Location: Marbury, Charles County
Description: The John Grinder House is Charles County's only example of a brick construction vernacular farmhouse from the post-Civil War era, and named for it's builder, a DC brick maker who provided bricks for the Washington Navy Yard among other projects. The House has been vacant since a fire in 2014, and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources made a decision to demolish the house, however the Charles County Historic Preservation Commission filed and was granted an extension to consider alternative actions. With the grant, the Friends will secure the home from further interior damage and determine the structural stability of the house to create long term plans for reuse.
Funding: Friends of Smallwood State Park received $10,000 towards the $12,000 project.
Shafer Farm on South Mountain Battlefield, 2016.
Stabilization Work at the Shafer Farm
Organization: Burkittsville Preservation Association
Project: Structural Stabilization of West Wall and Roof of the Shafer House
Location: Burkittsville, Frederick County
Description: The Hamilton Willard Shafer Farm was the site of a Union headquarters during the Battle of South Mountain in 1862, and is part of that National Register Historic District. The property was owned by one family since 1859, retaining the basic layout of the house and out buildings – but the property is in deteriorated condition. Recently purchased by the Association, the grant money will help fund the stabilization and eventual restoration of the west wall of the building – if left unaddressed, it could result in a collapse of the wall. Preservation Maryland as been an active partner on this project through our Six-to-Fix program.
Funding: The Burkittsville Preservation Association received $10,000 for a $30,000 project.
Aerial view of the Kent County landscape.
Historic Landscape of the Eastern Shore
Organization: Kent Conservation and Preservation Alliance
Type: Research and Education
Project: Inventory of the Scenic and Historical Cultural Landscape of Kent County
Location: Kent County
Description: Kent County is home to a picturesque rural and historic landscape containing a wealth of historic resources. While zoning has helped prevent sprawl in this area, renewable energy development could drastically alter the look and feel of the region. The result of this inventory and documentation project will be a datebase to store geographic data, as well as, more narrative stories and histories about locations to create a better understanding of the significance of the landscape.
Funding: The Kent Conservation and Preservation Alliance received $6,000 toward the $41,625 project.
Storefront at 516 Race Street in Cambridge.
Old Cambridge Gas Company Building
Organization: Cambridge Community Radio
Type: Planning & Study
Project: Design and Restoration Planning at 516 Race Street
Location: Cambridge, Dorchester County
Description: Cambridge Community Radio, operates WHCP-LP 101.5 FM, a community radio state that shares oral histories, and has a reading for the blind program and a student training center. The organization is expanding its operations into 516 Race Street and will be the first anchor public space initiative in the block, helping catalyze and validate revitalization efforts. The grant will help fund an architectural assessment with a restoration plan and a feasibility study for use as a community broadcast facility.
Funding: Cambridge Community Radio received $5,000 towards the $150,000 project.
The Church Hill Theatre in Queen Anne's County, 2015.
Exterior Restoration at Church Hill Theatre
Organization: The Church Hill Theatre, Inc.
Type: Repair & Rehabilitation
Project: Restoration of Exterior Art Deco Stucco
Location: Church Hill, Queen Anne's County
Description: The Churh Hill Theatre, a 1929 Art Deco theater provides a showcase for the performing arts as well as educational opportunities in Queen Anne's County. The Church Hill Theatre, Inc. undertook an evaluation of the historic building and created an hierarchy of needed repairs to ensure it's safety and preservation. The grant award will help fund the restoration and repair of exterior stucco that shows signs of deterioration and cracking.
Funding: The Church Hill Theatre, Inc. received $10,000 towards the $19,000 project.
South Baltimore Learning Center in the ca. 1896 Police Station.
Survey and Repair at the South Baltimore Learning Center
Organization: South Baltimore Learning Center
Type: Bricks & Mortar
Project: Condition Survey and Report; Immediate Skylight Replacement
Description: A non-profit organization, the South Baltimore Learning Center helps improve the self-sufficiency of educationally disadvantaged adults by providing functional literacy and life-skills training. They have operated out of the ca. 1896 Southern District Police Station since 2000; the building retains much of its original character including a single holding cell. Funds will be used to immediately replace cracked and leaking skylights, and help the Center asses the current condition to identify future needs and plan for needed repairs.
Funding: The South Baltimore Learning Center received $6,000 towards the $6,560 project with the remainder coming from the South Baltimore Learning Center Reserve Fund.
Sea level rise threat to Annapolis. Map from Maryland Department of Planning and Maryland Historical Trust.
Keeping History Above Water Conference in Annapolis
Organization: City of Annapolis
Type: Research & Education
Project: Hosting the National Keeping History Above Water Conference in Annapolis
County: Annapolis, Anne Arundel County
Description: Annapolis draws millions of visitors each year to visit the historic region around the Colonial-era National Landmark District between the Severn and South Rivers in the Chesapeake Bay that is threatened by sea level rise. The Keeping History Above Water conference gathers experts – preservationists, engineers, city planners, legislators, developers, insurers, historic homeowners and other decision makers – to discuss impact of climate change and sea level rise on historic, archaeological, and cultural resources.
Funding: The City of Annapolis received $3,000 towards the cost of hosting the Conference on October 29 through November 1, 2017.
Harford County Post Office, 1979. Photo from Maryland Historical Trust.
Restoration of Harford County Historical Society
Organization: The Historical Society of Harford County, Inc.
Project: Removal of Non-Historic Exterior Entrance Vestibule
Location: Bel Air, Harford County
Description: The Historical Society of Harford County is located in Bel Air in a large, ca. 1936 Colonial Revival style United States Post Office building. While in use as a post office, a modern metal and glass vestibule was added to the front entrance, significantly altering its historic appearance. Now owned by the Historical Society, the grant will help fund the removal of the vestibule, allowing the restoration of remaining architectural details and reconstruction to original appearance of the entrance.
Funding: The Historical Society of Harford County received $4,905 towards the $5,450 project with the remainder coming from the Historical Society.
Ca. 1930 dairy barn on Franklin Farm in Anne Arundel County.
Franklin Farm Agricultural Complex Dairy Barn
Organization: Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation
Project: Rehabilitation of a Historic Dairy Barn
County: West River, Anne Arundel
Description: The Franklin Farm Agricultural Complex, owned by the Anne Arundel County Government, is located in West River and traces the agricultural development in Anne Arundel County and the State of Maryland in the early 20th century. On the site is a ca. 1930 dairy barn, the only of it's kind in the county. Funds from the Heritage Fund will help cover the cost of removing asbestos shingles while the County explores returning the barn into a working agricultural building for a variety of agricultural and heritage tourism uses, and educationally for the Harwood South County 4H, for example.
Funding: The Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation received $10,000 towards the $225,858 project with remaining funding from their partners in Anne Arundel County.
Baltimore Museum of Industry Crane
Organization: Baltimore Museum of Industry
Project: Bethlehem Steel Shipyard Crane Rehab
County: Baltimore City
Grant Award: $5,000
Description: To some, the 1942 110-ton Clyde Model 17 DE90 whirley crane that towers over the Baltimore Museum of Industry has always been a permanent fixture of Baltimore's Inner Harbor. This location in not the crane's first home though but its third. Originally located at Bethlehem Steel's Fairfield shipyard, the crane helped construct wartime vessels throughout World War II, and then after 1945 it served in the repair and conversion of naval vessels to commercial service. This artifact of our industrial past which lives outside suffers through heat and snow year after year, and the elements have taken their toll. During this second phase of restoration work, the wire rope that runs along the crane's 80-ft boom and existing structural hardware will be replaced and upgraded to improve the structural stability of the crane, and the crane will be repainted.
Funding: The Baltimore Museum of Industry received $5,000 towards the $357,000 project.
Historic Plane Restoration
Organization: Glenn L. Martin Maryland Aviation Museum
Project: Paint Restoration on the RB-57A Canberra
County: Baltimore County
Description: For more than 25 years, the all-volunteer organization of the Glenn L. Martin Maryland Aviation Museum has preserved, exhibited and interpreted the rich legacy of Maryland aviation while educating all generations about the value of science and engineering. In order to fulfill its mission, the museum has amassed a collection of 25 aircraft, including a Martin RB-57A Canberra from the 1950s. This model which became the workhorse among combat aircraft and was in continuous service for over 30 years. The use of the incorrect filler during a previous restoration of the aircraft has left it particularly vulnerable to the elements. During this restoration process the previous filler must be removed and replace, the aircraft surface will be prepared and painted and finally new lettering and insignia will be applied.
Funding: The Glenn L. Martin Maryland Aviation Museum received $1,800 towards a $15,600 project. The grant will cover the cost of materials and six members of the museum will volunteer upwards of 600 hours of work to ensure that the aircraft is restored and ready for visitors.
Historic Building Emergency Plan
Organization: Historic Annapolis
Project: Maintenance and Emergency Plans
County: Anne Arundel County
Description: Historic Annapolis manages the maintenance and long-term preservation of twelve buildings, ten of which are contributing resources to the Annapolis Historic District. With any historic resource, it is important to have a maintenance plan, so that needed repairs are anticipated and funds are budgets. To that end, Historic Annapolis will use these grant funds to develop a master maintenance plan for eleven of their properties. The proposed plan will include customized maintenance schedules for each building and will allow for more cost-effective property management by anticipating upcoming costs. At the same time the organization's emergency action plan will be updated to address disaster readiness, protocols for rapid response and prioritization of recovery efforts.
Funding: The Historic Annapolis received $4,000 towards an $8,000 planning project. A grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation will provide the additional funds needed for the project and a consultant will be hired to draft both documents.
Roof Replacement at Knott House
Organization: Historic Sotterley
Project: Roof Replacement at the Knott House
County: St. Mary's
Description: As the only Tidewater plantation in Maryland that is fully open to the public, Sotterley Plantation serves as an important teaching tool in Southern Maryland. The 94 acre site includes Colonial Revival gardens, nature trails and over 20 buildings spanning the period from 1703 until the mid-20th century. It represents a continuum of three centuries of history of inclusive history, wealthy and poor and free and enslaved people who lived and worked on the land. One of the most frequented buildings on the farm today and the focus of this grant is the Knott House. The former tenant dwelling which was constructed around 1910, currently serves as visitor center and is in need of a new roof. These repairs will extend the life of the building and keep it accessible for many more years to visitors and staff.
Funding: Historic Sotterley received $6,000 towards the $12,500. The staff at Sotterley will work with the roofing company to offset some costs and additional expenses will be covered by a private donation.
Slavery Exhibit at Rich Hill
Organization: Historical Society of Charles County
Project: Portable Exhibit about Slavery at Rich Hill
County: Charles
Description: Rich Hill, a farm house outside of Bel Alton is infamous for it's role in the escape of John Wilkes Booth after President Lincoln's assassination. In April 1865, the house was owned by Colonel Samual Cox, a southern sympathizer who hid Booth and his accomplice in a pine thicket on the property for days until a small boat was arranged to take them across the Potomac River into Virginia. While, this sensational tale has been researched and told many times over, the stories of the enslaved people at Rich Hill have not. With this grant the Historical Society of Charles County will conduct research and then produce a portable exhibit that will ensure these stories of Rich Hill's other residents are told.
Funding: The Historical Society of Charles County received $1,500 towards this $2,400 research and education project. The Friends of Rich Hill along with the African-American Heritage Society of Charles County and The Surratt House Museum will contribute the additional funds.
At Preservation Maryland's 2015 Best of Maryland awards, Charles County planner, Kathy Thompson was awarded the Gearhart Professional Service Award.
Vernacular Sign Restoration
Organization: Hyattsville Community Development Corporation
Project: Sign restoration at Sis's Tavern
County: Prince George's County
Description: For over 80 years, the building at 4516 41st Avenue in North Brentwood has been an anchor for the community. This building which housed a grocery store, then a tavern, a music hall and a barber shop, was owned by and operated for the African-American community that called this part of Prince George's County home. Starting in the 1960's the building was known as Sis' Tavern and it was a central social hub for the town. It attracted famous acts like Duke Ellington and Pearl Bailey who would perform there after hours when they visited the Howard Theater in DC. The Town of North Brentwood owns the building and plans to open it as a community and arts programming space. This grant will help with the façade restoration and will specifically cover the cost of rehabilitating and recreating the historical signage for the building.
Funding: The Hyattsville CDC received $3,000 towards a $4,200 research and education project, and the CDC will match this grant with Community Development Block Grant funding in order to finish the project.
Archaeology YouTube Videos
Organization: Lost Towns Project, Inc.
Project: Educational and Promotional Videos
Description: The Lost Towns Project has been a name about archaeology in Maryland for offer 25 years and became a certified non-profit in 2014 with the purpose of promoting, facilitating and enabling the preservation, discovery and study of cultural resources, historic structures and archaeological sites. To those ends and in partnership with the Cultural Resources Division of Anne Arundel County Government and the County's video and media production department, Lost Towns Project produce a dozen 60 second video spots that highlight heritage stories and sites in the County. These YouTube-ready videos will explore topics such as the impacts of climate change and sea level rise on cultural resources and provide a closer look at some of the most important archaeological sites in the County.
Funding: The Lost Towns Project, Inc. received $6,000 towards the $25,000 research and education project. In-kind production services will supplement this grant funding.
Ellicott City Flood Recovery
Project: Ellicott City Preservation Resource Center
County: Howard County
Description: On the evening of Saturday, July 30, 2016, historic Ellicott City was devastated by a flash flood. Within minutes six feet of water washed down Main Street and left millions of dollars of damage in its wake. Immediately after the flood, Preservation Maryland mobilized to preserve the damaged historic storefronts and help property owners, business owners and residents rebuild. This grant funding will help defray the cost of a temporary Preservation Resource Center in downtown Ellicott City. Center staff will help by providing assistance in finding contractors, architects and engineers, navigating low-interest loans and preservation tax credits and hosting workshops on specific rebuilding/preservation issues. Over the next nine months, this center will have a direct impact in helping Ellicott City rise again.
Funding: Preservation Maryland received $5,000 towards a $100,000 research and education project. Additional funding to support the creation of the Preservation Resource Center will come from donations, grants and corporate partnerships.
Historic Tin Roof Restoration
Organization: St. Thomas's Episcopal Church
Project: Tin Shingle Roof Restoration
County: Prince George's
Description: St. Thomas' Episcopal Church is an active congregation of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington. Within its care are three National Register buildings and five Prince George's County Historic Sites which range in age from 1745 to 1341 including The Chapel of the Incarnation. This unique example of Mission-style church architecture with a decorative parapet and a stucco like exterior finish was designed by William J. Palmer in 1916. As part of a phased rehabilitation project which includes the interior and exterior of the building, the aging asphalt roof will be replaced. This grant will offset the cost of installing a tin shingle roof that is a reproduction of the original roof. This project will ensure that this special piece of architecture on a prominent corner in Brandywine continues to stand.
Funding: The St. Thomas' Episcopal Church received $5,000 towards this $9,500 project and will raise the remaining funds through donations and their maintenance fund.
Tagged In: Heritage Fund, History, Preservation Maryland News, Preservation News,
By Jessica Feldt
Heritage Fund Highlight: Havre de Grace Colored School Foundation Oral History Project
The Havre de Grace Colored School Foundation is stewarding the structure and stories of the Havre de Grace Colored School and working to create new museum and cultural center. The Heritage Fund supported the organization's efforts to gather important first-hand oral histories of African American students of the school from the 1930s to the 1950s.
Tagged In: Annapolis City Dock, Heritage Fund, Resiliency, Six-to-Fix,
Six-to-Fix Update: Video Sneak Peak of Reimagined Historic City Dock in Annapolis
With support and advocacy from an array of national, state, and local partners, including Preservation Maryland, the City Dock Advocacy Committee has worked steadily on crafting a sustainable and vibrant reimagining of Annapolis' historic downtown waterfront.
Tagged In: Heritage Fund, Preservation Maryland News, Preservation News, Resources,
Heritage Fund Supports Seven New Preservation Projects
Preservation Maryland and the Maryland Historical Trust are pleased to announce the newest grantees of the Heritage Fund grant program. The Heritage Fund is one of few stable sources of preservation funding in Maryland and has provided over $1.4 million dollars in direct funding to projects across the state.
Heritage Fund Highlight: New Visitor Service Plan for the Newcomer House at Antietam Battlefield
The Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area received a Heritage Fund grant to craft a visitor experience plan for the historic Newcomer House on Antietam Battlefield. The historic 18th-century home served as a makeshift hospital during the battle and is now a visitor center for tourists exploring Western Maryland's history and scenery.
Tagged In: Heritage Fund,
Heritage Fund Highlight: Historic Swains Lockhouse Reopens along C&O Canal
Earlier this summer, the C&O Canal Trust reopened the historic Swains Lockhouse after a three-year rehabilitation project supported in part by the Heritage Fund grant program. The Lockhouse dates to ca. 1916 and now open to the public as part of their very popular Canal Quarters program.
Tagged In: Heritage Fund, LGBTQ History, Preservation News, Six-to-Fix,
By Meagan Baco
New Resource: UMD Class Releases Toolkit for LGBTQ History in Baltimore City
Over the course of a studio semester, students from the University of Maryland College Park have created a new public toolkit for documentation LGBTQ history in Baltimore City with a specific focus on Mount Vernon, Abell, Waverly, and Greater Waverly.
Tagged In: Heritage Fund, Only in Maryland,
Heritage Fund Highlight: Cambridge Community Radio's Vintage Studio
Cambridge Community Radio in Dorchester County used a Heritage Fund grant to transform a vintage ca. 1930 storefront restaurant into a music venue and radio studio as a new home for their all-volunteer, local radio station.
Tagged In: Heritage Fund, Resources,
Heritage Fund Highland: Baltimore Sights and Sounds via the Mid-Atlantic Regional Moving Image Archive
The Heritage Fund has recently supported a very unique expression and resource of Baltimore history through the digitization and publishing of the WJZ-TV video collection by the Mid-Atlantic Regional Moving Image Archive and Baltimore Heritage, Inc.
Tagged In: Heritage Fund, Preservation News,
Heritage Fund Highlight: Downtown Frederick Preservation Education Toolkit
In spring 2018, Preservation Maryland's Heritage Grant Fund provided a $5,000 grant to the Downtown Frederick Partnership to support the creation of a preservation education toolkit.