| Home > Government > Boards and Commissions > Historic District Commission > 1999 > Minutes > July 20 |  |
Submitted: 9/14/1999 Approved:
CITY OF ROCKVILLE
HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION
MINUTES
Tuesday, July 20, 1999
Meeting No. 8-99
The City of Rockville Historic District Commission
convened at 7: 13 p.m. at Rockville City Hall.
PRESENT
Craig Moloney, Chairman
Bruce Noble Anita Neal-Powell
Staff: Bob Spalding, Chief of Planning
Jim Wasilak, Planner
Judith A. Christensen, Preservation Planner
Approval of the Minutes of June 29, 1999 was deferred to the September meeting
.
Staff stated that the public was notified of this evaluation through 2,200 first class postcard notices to citizens and civic groups, signs on the property, and Internet notices. In addition, the consultants report is available on Rockvilles Internet site. Staff said that the record will be held open for additional public comment following this meeting and the evaluation will be continued to the next HDC meeting where a final recommendation to the Mayor and Council will be rendered.
Robert Harris, of Wilkes, representing Fallsgrove Associates, requested that the record and minutes of the previous HDC courtesy review of the site be incorporated into the record of this evaluation by reference. Mr. Harris noted that at the courtesy review, the HDC requested more information on the family associations with the property prior to the Thomas ownership; the Thomas Family history and their role, if any, in the dairying industry in the County; and asked for a more precise dating of the farm buildings. Mr. Harris said the consultants report addresses all these issues and the applicants are working with the Mayor and Council, the Planning Commission and the community on development plans. At this time, the tree-lined driveway from Darnestown
Road is to be preserved as the main visual feature of the site. He introduced Bob Cox and architectural historian Anne Adams, who prepared the report on the architectural, historic and cultural significance of the Thomas Farm for Fallsgrove Associates.
Anne Adams stated that her research and investigations resulted in a finding that the property and buildings do not have sufficient architectural, cultural, or historical significance to warrant designation as a Rockville historic district. She said the buildings are not architecturally significant and are compromised in original integrity. She illustrated her conclusions with slides of the subjects. The buildings are not familiar landmarks as they are not visible from the public way. In addition, the main house appears to have been built in stages upon or around a farmhouse from the previous century. The exterior of the original house, most likely the right wing, has been incorporated into the present structure and the entire interior has been remodeled several times with trim and interior details replaced. Noting its lack of architectural continuity and building stages, she characterized the structure as a "hodgepodge". The larger main section, the front sunporch, and bathrooms can be dated to the 1950's by the fixtures and colors. She noted that the house is entered via the right wing sunporch, as there is no formal front exterior door and entrance. The attic structure confirms that the additions were added in the 1950s or 1960s and 90% of the house appeared to have been built after 1950. The interior has been vandalized while vacant and most interior architectural details were removed or destroyed.
She noted that the Thomas' purchased the farm in 1933 as a summer home and added adjacent properties to it in subsequent years. Mr. Thomas was born in Frederick and practiced his profession as a patent attorney in Washington DC while residing in Chevy Chase, Maryland. Mrs. Thomas was educated at Forest Glen Seminary. They moved to the farm in the 1940's and the entrance allee of trees and the landscaping probably dates from this decade. Although the farm was a working dairy farm when purchased, the Thomas' hired a farm manager to operate part of it and leased other land to nearby farmers. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas supported many charities and community interests including the Montgomery County Historical Society and the National Cathedral.
Other buildings on the site include the house known at the "Selby House," but no connection to the Selby family was found in the land records. This house is located on Shady Grove Road, which took most of its front yard for right of way. The surrounding area is zoning for office park use. Two small tenant or field workers' houses date from the 1940's and 1950's and are separated by Key West Avenue from the rest of the farm. One is a masonry cinder block house and the other is frame.
The "Dairyman's House" is a simple undistinguished structure with German siding under cement composition wood grained "asbestos" siding. Anecdotal history relates that it was moved to its present location and this is borne out by the mixture of old and new cement block used in the foundation. The Dairy Barn itself has been demolished. The existing timber-frame bank barn is a typical utilitarian structure with no ventilators or ornamental detailing and has been patched and expanded over the years. Several of the recent additions have been removed. The interior structure suggests that it may have been built with used lumber and the oldest concrete block in the structure dates from the 1930's.
The corncrib and storage shed have concrete block foundations and modern galvanized joist hangers, which suggest construction after 1950. The equipment shed has German siding and older concrete block, which suggests a 1940's construction date. The frame one car garage by the Dairyman's House has ashlar cut concrete block and German siding and may date from the 1920's. However, its condition is not good and it shows evidence of animal and insect infestations.
For comparison, Ms. Adams showed slides of a number of local barns that are considered significant architecturally, noting that these examples are more evocative of farm buildings and are visible from the public ways. The Thomas Farm structures are not visible, do not possess architectural significance, and do not convey their use.
As a whole, Ms. Adams characterized the farm as a collection of buildings, many of which postdate 1950, are not architecturally significant and are compromised in integrity. She noted that although the Thomas family had illustrious antecedents and supported many non-profits and charities, they were not Rockville citizens as the farm has been within Rockville's boundaries for only 6 years. She noted that this fact alone compromised local significance. Although it was a dairy farm when Mr. and Mrs. Thomas purchased it, dairying or farming was not their principal interest or business.
In conclusion, Ms. Adams asked the HDC to concur with other reviewers, the Montgomery County Historic Preservation Commission and the Maryland Historical Trust, and find the property does not meet the criteria and is not eligible for historic designation.
Chairman Moloney asked if any structures are retained in the development plan. Ms. Adams said that the driveway and allee of trees and the landscaping and green space around the main house will be preserved as possible. Commissioners Neal-Powell and Noble had no questions.
The following citizen offered comments:
Jean Ward, 10531 Tanager Lane, stated that the most visible aspect of the farm was the woods and meadows and the wildlife upon it. She asked if these features would be preserved.
Mr. Harris responded that 79 acres of woodland and stream valleys are to be retained. In addition, the land will not be graded flat and the allee of trees will be preserved. The unfarmed areas will not be developed. Planner Wasilak offered to explain the development plan after the evaluation.
Chairman Moloney stated that the evaluation would continue to the September meeting. After some discussion, it was determined that the record should close on September 1 to allow staff to prepare an analysis. But the record may be reopened for further testimony in September.
Commissioner Noble, seconded by Commissioner Neal-Powell, moved to continue the evaluation of the Thomas Farm to the September HDC meeting and close the record on September 1, 1999.
VOTE: 3-0
After some discussion, Commissioner Noble nominated Chairman Moloney for another term as Chair of the Historic District Commission. Commissioner Neal-Powell seconded the motion. Chairman Moloney was reelected Chairman by a vote of 2-0-1 (Chairman Moloney Abstaining.)
Anita Neal-Powell reported that between 300 and 400 persons attended the day long event at the Farm Market Park celebrating the 50th anniversary of the annexation of Lincoln Park and Haiti/Martins Lane to the City of Rockville. Other events were planned to highlight Rockville as the center of the Countys black community. A photo exhibit was presented at the Rockville Arts Center, community displays were in the tents, a walking tour of Historic Black Rockville was held, a plaque was dedicated at Jerusalem United Methodist Church, and food, live entertainment and a Sunday morning church service with gospel music were provided.
The City and HDCs contributions were the historic plaque and the walking tour booklet. Councilman Wright and HDC Chair Moloney spoke on behalf of the City of Rockville. Other speakers and presenters were Doug Duncan, Mike Gordon, Connie Morella and the Assistant Superintendent of the Montgomery County Public Schools. Governor Glendening sent a message of congratulations and a proclamation.
The Lincoln Park Historical Society, Peerless Rockville, and HDC staff are planning to make some corrections to the walking tour booklet and put it on the City of Rockville web site. The black history walking tour will be repeated in September as Rockvilles contribution to the "Happy Birthday Montgomery County" celebration.
Commissioner NealPowell distributed programs of the event and listed sites all over Montgomery County which will be toured this fall as part of the "Tracking the Footprints of African Americans in Montgomery County" project.
Ms. McGuckian congratulated the HDC and Lincoln Park Historical Society on a successful History Day project and stated that Peerless led 11 walking tours of Rockville historic sites and the Courthouse as their contribution to History Day. She said Peerless was interested in combining efforts of the three Rockville groups in a joint project for the next history day. She said Peerless will be showing the Anniversary Quilt at the Montgomery County Fair in August and screening the 1963 film "Lillith", which was partly filmed on Forest Avenue in Rockville, on September 5, 1999 at the Red Brick Courthouse. The F. Scott Literary Conference will be held on September 24 and 25th at Montgomery College. Ms. McGuckian also said a historic bicycle tour was under development for October 23rd.
Chairman Moloney said Montgomery County Executive Doug Duncan spoke to him and Council Member Wright on History Day about removing the power lines that obstruct the view of Jerusalem Church. Mr. Duncan said the County would contribute to their removal. Commissioner Neal-Powell followed up this on this offer at a subsequent meeting with the County Executive.
Commissioner Neal-Powell said the Montgomery County Public School system (MCPS) is considering tearing down Carver High School and Jr. College to expand and rebuild the administration offices. Staff is to contact the facilities division and invite them for a courtesy review focused on how to accomplish their needs while preserving the façade and spirit of the historic site. She said that the plaque ceremony last year has helped to raise sensitivity on the accomplishment and meaning of the building to Montgomery County.
Chairman Moloney said he recently attended the Thomas Farm work session and another one on the 5 acre City Park at the King Farm. Staff is to obtain the final consultant report for the HDC Commissioners who did not attend. Mr. Moloney said the City was obtaining advice on window repairs and lead abatement to the main house and is stabilizing the other farm buildings until a final use or uses are identified.
Staff requested the Commission complete registration forms for the October National Trust conference in Washington DC. The HDC has received a matching grant from the Maryland Association of Historic District Commissions for this purpose.
Commissioner Noble said he had contacted the City on the problems with the brick sidewalk restoration and rebuilt on Forest Avenue.
The City of Rockville Historic District Commission meeting of July 20, 1999 was adjourned at 9:20 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Judy Christensen
HDC Staff Liaison