the
Preservationist
Winter 2008Montgomery County Historic Preservation Commission
In This Issue:
• Falkland ApartmentsDesignation.Page 2• HPC on TV.Page 2• 2008 PreservationGrant Awards.Page 3• Historic PreservationTax CreditApplication.Insert
Wright Shares Oral History Covering20 Years of County Preservation
Former Historic PreservationSupervisor Gwen MarcusWright is now Chief of Countywide Planning.
Former Historic Preservation Supervisor GwenMarcus Wright has shared her experience of 20years in Montgomery County in a two-hour oralhistory recorded with HPC commissioner DavidRotenstein this past July. The interview has beentranscribed and will be archived in the HistoricPreservation Section office and a copy will bedonated to Montgomery Preservation, Inc.Education and professionalism were guidingprinciples of Wright’s tenure in MontgomeryCounty historic preservation. During theinterview she recounted her efforts to educatemembers of the county council and planningboard on the importance of historic preservation.“I viewed those early designation processesmainly as big education efforts. Not just for thecitizens, but for our planning board and ourcouncil,” she explained.With undergraduate degrees in architectureand historic preservation from Yale University,Wright came to historic preservation afterinitially considering a career in architecture.Her intent after college was to move to Houstonfor a job with an architectural firm; instead, sheended up at the Historic Galveston Foundation,where she worked from 1979 to 1987managing preservation easements and ensuringrehabilitation projects’ sensitivity to historicproperties.Coming to Montgomery County in 1987,Wright eventually consolidated staff working inthree county agencies on historic preservationissues into a single comprehensive programthat supports the Montgomery County HistoricPreservation Commission by reviewing historicarea work permits, conducting research toidentify historic properties for designation inthe
Master Plan for Historic Preservation
andorganizing community outreach. Historians,archaeologists, and interpretive staff workingin county-owned historic sites also joined thecomprehensive program Wright built.It is a strong professional program thathas earned credibility in the public andprivate sectors. “We’re viewed as competentprofessionals; we aren’t viewed as, you know,little old ladies in tennis shoes telling peoplewhat color to paint their mailboxes,” she said.“We can actually effect positive change, both inhistoric districts and through the lessons we’velearned from our work in historic districts that isapplicable elsewhere.”Under Wright, the inventory of historicproperties protected by the county’s historicpreservation ordinance has grown by the additionof historic districts in Beallsville, Takoma Park,Chevy Chase, Kensington, and Garrett Park, aswell as numerous individual historic sites. Thecounty’s
Master Plan for Historic Preservation
includes a wide array of individually designatedproperties distributed throughout the countyand representing all of the periods duringwhich the area now comprising MontgomeryCounty has been occupied, from NativeAmerican archaeological sites to post-WorldWar II suburbs. These sites were put into thebook
Places from the Past
by staff member ClareKelly (Cavicchi), under Wright’s leadership.Wright was also instrumental in developing andobtaining state recognition and certification of the county’s Heritage Area, which promotesheritage tourism across the county.Historic preservation in the twenty-firstcentury will face a number of challenges,including the designation of late twentieth-century properties and increasing pressure fromhistoric property owners to use more syntheticmodern materials such as vinyl siding. Meetingboth, she believes, will be a matter of educationand negotiation. “The biggest [challenge] is justkeeping preservation in the forefront of people’sminds,” said Wright. “If I’ve learned anything, it’sthat the job of education, the job of promotingpreservation is never done.”
See “Wright” on page 3
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Historic PreservationNews and Notes
the
Preservationist
The Preservationist is the official publication of the Montgomery County HistoricPreservation Commission, 8787 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Phone:301-563-3400. Statements herein do not necessarily reflect the official policies of theCommission. Created by the Historic Resources Preservation Ordinance (Chapter24A, Montgomery County Code) the Commission is responsible for identification,designation, and regulation for purposes of protection, preservation, continued use,and enhancement of sites and structures of historical, archeological, architectural,or cultural value. Commission members are appointed by the Montgomery CountyExecutive and confirmed by the Montgomery County Council.Commission Jef Fuller, AIA, ChairDavid S. Rotenstein,Vice Chair Nuray Anahtar, AIA Lee BurstynCaroline Alderson Timothy J. Duffy Thomas C. Jester Warren Fleming Leslie K. MilesHistoric Preservation Supervisor Scott WhippleRequests to be on the mailing list and content informationshould be directed to the Commission.
Featured Public Historic Site
Beall-Dawson House
103 West Montgomery Avenue, RockvilleYou can learn about the county’s beginnings atthe historic Beall-Dawson House, an elegantfederal style brick house in Rockville thatfeatures period rooms and changing exhibits. Themuseum tour highlights the culture and dailylife of both the upper class Beall family as wellas the enslaved African Americans who laboredin the house and on the adjacent property. TheBeall-Dawson House is open for public toursTuesday through Sunday from noon to 4:00 p.m.For group tour reservations call 301-340-2825.Admission: $3 for adults; $2 for seniors andchildren. Closed major holidays.
Falkland Apartments DesignationApproved by Planning Board
The Montgomery County Planning Board hasdetermined that the Falkland Apartments,a portion of which had been proposed to bereplaced with high-rise apartment buildings andstores, should be considered eligible for historicdesignation. The complex at East-West Highwayand 16th Street was built between 1936 and1938 in the wake of federal New Deal programsthat brought an influx of new residents to theWashington, D.C., region. First Lady EleanorRoosevelt cut the ribbon at the Falkland’sdedication in 1937.Board members agreed on December 6 thatthe complex merited eligibility for historicdesignation, saying that the Falkland Apartmentsrepresent a key part of history and should bepreserved even as the county approves moredense projects in downtown Silver Spring. “Thisis a very good example of suburban apartmentdesign and architecture,” said PlanningBoard Chairman Royce Hanson. “The idea of preserving historic and architecturally importantcommunities even in dense urban areas maybe as important, if not more important, thanpreserving them somewhere else. This is a rareopportunity to preserve something of real value.”This winter, the Historic PreservationCommission will consider an amendment to theMaster Plan for Historic Preservation regardingthe Falkland Apartments, which will then go onto the Planning Board and County Council forfinal action.
HPC on TV
A new cable TV program highlights the countypreservation program. “Montgomery Plans,”an award-winning program on County CableMontgomery, has recently completed an episodehosted by Clare Lise Kelly, Historic PreservationPlanner. The segment informs residents andproperty owners about the preservation program,including how a structure becomes a historic siteand what it means if you own a historic property.There are many county historic sites shown inthe program — maybe you will see your historicproperty featured! You may view the show atwww.MontgomeryPlanningBoard.org.
History Volunteer Conference
Calling all Montgomery County history orarcheology volunteers, or anyone who isinterested in being a history volunteer. TheMontgomery County Historical Society ishosting the 2nd Annual History VolunteerConference on Saturday, January 26. From8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. you can learn about thehistory and pre-history of Montgomery County,grant writing, creating a persona, and muchmore. The cost is only $25 for volunteers, or$30 for not-yet volunteers, and that includesbreakfast and lunch! The conference will beheld at Montgomery College, Germantown.The application can be downloaded from www.montgomeryhistory.org. For more informationcall (301)-340-2825 or email kylottes@montgomeryhistory.org.
Beall-Dawson House.
Historic Preservation TaxCredit Applications Due byApril 1
Applying for the County historicpreservation tax credit iseasy. A complete applicationrequires:• A brief description of the work.• Photocopies of receipts and/ or cancelled checks or otherproof of payment.• Photographs of the structurebefore (requested) and afterthe work (required).• A signed two-pageapplication.A tax credit application form forwork done and paid for in 2007is included in this issue of
The Preservationist.
Completedforms must be postmarkedby April 1, 2008. Additionalforms can be obtained, orquestions about any aspectof the program answered,by calling the MontgomeryCounty Historic PreservationCommission at 301-563-3400,or by visiting our website at:http://www.mc-mncppc.org/ historic/instructions/info_tax.shtm.For information on thestate rehabilitation taxcredit program, go to: www.marylandhistoricaltrust.net/taxcr.html, or call the Officeof Preservation Services at410-514-7628.
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2008 Preservation Grants Awarded
In June 2007, Montgomery Preservation, Inc.awarded Wright the 2007 Montgomery Prize forexcellence in historic preservation.Following the recent hiring of new PlanningDirector Rollin Stanley, Wright — who hadserved as Acting Planning Director for severalmonths — is to resume her role as Chief of Countywide Planning.The complete oral history may be downloadedfrom the Historic Preservation Section Web siteat www.mc-mncppc.org/historic.
Wright, from page 1
The Historic Preservation Commission hasawarded year 2008 grants for a wide varietyof programs, including a play, archiving andresearch projects, brochures, a video and aconservation plan for a historic building.Congratulations to the following organizations:•
Adventure Theatre
to create a play forfamilies about the desegregation of GlenEcho Park. The play will be performed bothat the theatre in Glen Echo Park and intraveling shows.•
Boyds-Clarksburg Historical Society
todesign and print 5,000 copies of a brochureabout the organization and the Boyds NegroSchool historic site.•
C & O Canal Association
to create a video:
Saving Our History: Restoring the Monocacy Aqueduct.
•
Cabin John Citizens Association
to research,design and print a book on the history of Cabin John.•
Chevy Chase Historical Society
for phase IIIof their on-going Oral History Project.•
City of Rockville
to create a brochure on thehistory of the Rockville Cemetery and print5,000 copies for the public.•
Damascus Heritage Society
to catalogue,register and archive their collection of photographs, documents and objects.•
Heritage Tourism Alliance of MontgomeryCounty
for an ad, brochures and signs forthe annual Montgomery County HeritageWeekend.•
Heritage Tourism Alliance of MontgomeryCounty
to redesign and print 25,000 copiesof the
Heritage Montgomery
brochure.•
Historic Medley District
for research, designand printing of instructional appendixes tothe children’s book
Paul’s Montgomery.
•
Kensington HistoricalSociety
to update andexpand the
Walking Tour of Kensington
brochure.•
Montgomery CountyHistorical Society
to design and printWaters House HistoryCenter brochures.•
MontgomeryPreservation, Inc.
for the 22nd annual Preservation AwardsReception.•
Montgomery Preservation, Inc.
to organizefrom two to four instructional meetings forthe public on historic preservation topics.•
National Capital Trolley Museum
to developa conservation plan for the Capital TractionCompany Switch Tower which is in need of major repairs.•
Peerless Rockville
for Rockville’s Recent Pastresearch, phase VI.•
Peerless Rockville
for the MontgomeryCounty Cemetery Inventory, phase IV.•
Town of Brookeville
to create interpretivesignage for a nature/history trail in PowersWoods, a park behind the 1860s BrookevilleSchoolhouse.•
Town of Garrett Park
to design and print1,000 copies of a Walking Tour map/brochureon the town’s history and architecture.•
Town of Washington Grove
for a bronzeplaque to be placed at the Railroad Street andGrove Road entrance to the town, describingthe town’s history.
Waters House HistoryCenter
Former HPC Chair O’MalleyReceives Harrison Award
On November 16th Preservation Maryland,the statewide nonprofit historic preservationadvocacy organization, presented the GeorgeT. Harrison Preservation Award to formerMontgomery County Historic PreservationCommission Chair Julia O’Malley for heroutstanding volunteer contributions to historicpreservation in Maryland.
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