February 21, 2019
Media Contact:
Scott L. Peterson, Director of Communications, Office of Public Information, 202-277-9412
ELLICOTT CITY– Howard County Executive Calvin Ball today pre-filed two pieces of legislation to preserve local history by adding nine sites to the Historic Sites Inventory and two sites to the Cemeteries and Grave Sites Inventory. Since the 1970s, the County has made extensive efforts to document historic properties, buildings and resources. The County maintains a Historic Sites Inventory that consists of more than a thousand sites comprised of historic homes, outbuildings, bridges, cemeteries and land.
“Protecting our history is vital,” said Ball. “Preserved, historic sites become local landmarks that can teach us about our past and strengthen our communal sense of identity. This legislation will add to our County’s extensive collection of historic places and maintain the sites for both current residents and future generations.”
The first resolution would add nine locations to the Historic Sites Inventory, which currently includes such significant properties as the Patapsco Female Institute, Savage Mill, Thomas Viaduct, and many more. The Historic Sites Inventory can be found in our searchable, interactive map.
The Historic Sites Inventory was last updated in April 2011 and properties on the inventory are eligible for the County’s historic tax credit to repair and restore historic structures and, where applicable, are considered during the subdivision and land development process. The Department of Planning and Zoning (DPZ) has reviewed each of the nine structures and has determined the properties meet the criteria of historic significance as exhibited by their age, architecture, unique features and/or history. DPZ also notified all nine owners of the proposed update, many of whom initiated the request to be included.
Additionally, DPZ, in cooperation with the Cemetery Preservation Advisory Board, maintains the Cemeteries and Grave Sites Inventory. This Inventory serves as a working document to assist land owners, developers, consultants, plan reviewers and other concerned parties in complying with the requirements of Section 16.1303 of the County Code (Council Bill 13-1993).
The second resolution would add two recently discovered sites to the Cemeteries and Grave Sites Inventory. This list was created in 1994 and last updated in 2012 (Council Bill-172-2012). Sites on the inventory are eligible for the County’s historic tax credit that helps defray the cost of repair and maintenance of gravestones, walls, fencing and other site features.
Proposed Additions to the Historic Sites Inventory:
- Gall-Wolle Property, Waterloo vicinity
- Ezra & Ann Fell House, Ellicott City
- Williams-Peddicord Farm, Marriottsville vicinity
- Engle-Hartsock-Knill Farm, Lisbon vicinity
- Wallich-Kahler Farm Barn, Columbia
- Seventeen-Mile House and Gearhart’s Store, Ellicott City
- Davis-Williams House, Sykesville
- Wildair, Woodbine
- Hennessy Farm, Sykesville
Proposed Additions to the Cemeteries and Grave Sites Inventory:
- Reimensnider Family Graves, Elkridge
- Pickett Cemetery, Woodbine
To read County Executive Ball’s proposed legislation, visit https://bit.ly/2GWUGL6 and https://bit.ly/2XinRxC.
To learn more about historic preservation in Howard County, visit: https://www.howardcountymd.gov/Departments/Planning-and-Zoning/Conservation-and-Preservation/Historic