The Board of Commissioners for St. Mary's County, accompanied by representatives of the St. Mary's County Historic Preservation Commission and the County's Historic Preservation Planner, Teresa Wilson, recognized the 2006 Historic Preservation Award Nominees with certificates at the Commissioners' meeting on Tuesday, May 23, 2006, for outstanding achievement and excellence in the field of historic preservation in St. Mary's County.
Awards are offered in two categories: Preservation Project Awards recognize specific projects or accomplishments in restoration, research or education. Preservation Service Awards recognize long-term commitment and services to preservation in St. Mary's County.
This year, three service awards were given to the St. Mary's County Board of Library Trustees and the Community Affairs Committee for the Cookbook: 300 Hundred Years of Black Cooking in St. Mary's County; Greenwell State Park volunteers Mike Bush and Dave Kelsey for Stewardship of the Historic Tobacco Barns at Greenwell State Park; and John K. Parlett, Jr. for Leadership of the Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) Committee, which has examined the TDR program in St. Mary's County and made suggestions to the Planning Commission and County Commissioners on how the program could be improved. One project award was given to St. Andrew's Parish for undertaking a major restoration of St. Andrew's Church c. 1767.
Each year in the spring, the Historic Preservation Commission accepts nominations from the public for Historic Preservation Awards. Individuals, businesses, and organizations are eligible for the awards and self-nominations are accepted. For more information about the awards, contact Teresa Wilson, Historic Preservation Planner, Department of Land Use and Growth Management, at (301)-475-4200 X 1548.