Slide 1

Charles County Historic

Preservation Program Highlights

November 17, 2020

Presenter

Cathy Thompson, Program

Manager

Slide 2

Program OverviewPreserving Irreplaceable Historic Places

• Historic Preservation Commission

• Community Revitalization

• Special Projects/Community Outreach

Slide 3

Historic Preservation Commission

• County Appointed Citizen Board

• Review of impacts from Subdivision and Land Development

• Local Historic Landmark Designation

• Review significant changes to local landmarks

• Provide overall program input and guidance

Slide 4

Community Revitalization

Planning for Unique Historic Villages

• Port Tobacco

• Benedict

• Hughesville

• Pomonkey

Slide 5

Special

Projects• Public Archaeology

Program

• Non-Profit/Community

Partnerships

• Community Outreach

Projects

• Alexandria Cemetery

• Preservation Matters

Magazine

• Historic Roadside

Markers

Landscapes Pomonkey Village

• National Register

Designation

• Historic Marker

Slide 7

Blue Jay Motel - Historic Marker

Arthur Farrar, a local African American self-made businessman, founded the Blue Bird Inn on Rt 925 in the late 1930s, which

served local working class African American citizens. Mr. Farrar later opened the Blue Jay Motel on this site in 1953. The

Blue Jay was listed in the Green Book from 1956-1964, a guide for African Americans traveling through the segregated

South. Many entertainers and athletes stayed at the Blue Jay such as James Brown and his band, Patty LaBelle, Sam Cooke,

Althea Gibson and former offensive lineman Jim Parker of the Baltimore Colts.

Slide 8

Preservation

Snapshot

• National Register of Historic Places - 47 (+Hughesville, pending)

• Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties +1000

• Maryland Historical Trust Easements - 16

• Local Historic Landmark Designations - 4

• County-owned historic sites/assets - 4

• Land Preservation Programs

Slide 9

Program Goals

Diversify Portfolio of Historic Sites

• Expand National Register of Historic Places https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalregister/index.htm

• Promote use of State preservation tax credits https://mht.maryland.gov/taxCredits.shtml

• Expand local landmark designations https://www.charlescountymd.gov/

• Work with a diverse group of stakeholders to tell a broad range of stories

• Continue coordination with heritage tourism and land preservation partners

Slide 10

Presented By:

Cathy Thompson, Program Manager

Charles County Government

Department of Planning & Growth

Management301-396-5815• thompsca@charlescountymd.gov

Department Address

MD Relay Service: 7-1-1

Equal Opportunity Employer

It is the policy of Charles County to provide equal employment opportunity to all persons regardless of race,

color, sex, age, national origin, religious or political affiliation or opinion, disability, marital status, sexual

orientation, genetic information, gender identity or expression, or any other status protected by law.

www.CharlesCountyMD.gov