Draft Plan is Available Online for Comment by September 17
PRINCE FREDERICK, Md. (August 31, 2010) -– The Calvert County government is encouraging the public to view and comment on the Biscoe Gray Heritage Farm draft master plan, a guide for turning the county-owned property into a cultural heritage destination. The plan is available for view online at
www.co.cal.md.us/residents/building/planning/heritage/Heritage/.
Developed by Poole Design, LLC with input from Calvert County staff and citizens representing a variety of agencies, the plan outlines the development of the Biscoe Gray property as a working heritage farm for tourism and education. The 196-acre farm is located off of Grays Road south of Prince Frederick and was acquired by Calvert County in 1996 with funds through Maryland’s Rural Legacy Program.
Plan details include proposals for use of the property and its structures and an implementation framework for bringing the project to fruition. The goal is to re-create a functioning small-scale family farm of the type common in the region circa 1950 that will provide opportunities for experiential learning, heritage tourism, heritage education and sustainable agriculture.
A final version of the plan will be submitted to the Board of County Commissioners for adoption following the public comment period. Comments may be sent to Kirsti Uunila, Historic Preservation Planner, Dept. of Planning & Zoning, 150 Main Street, Prince Frederick, MD 20678 by September 17, 2010.
Named for the last private owner of the property, the Biscoe Gray farm was owned by an African-American family with the surname of Rice in the 19th century. Four principal structures are on the property: A 1930s frame house, known as the George Rice House, with a chicken coop, meat house and cowshed; a 19th-century side-passage, two-story vernacular house; and two tobacco barns, one dating from the mid-20th century and the other constructed circa 1830. The 1930s house and the 1830s barn are listed on the Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties.