Preservation Maryland looks forward to highlighting the amazing work of Maryland’s preservationists each year at the Best of Maryland awards. This year, the list is stacked from legislative champions to creative developers and from career artisans to inspiring grassroots groups. Please help us recognize the following awardees:
BEST OF MARYLAND AWARDEES
Elizabeth Hughes, SHPO, with advocates in DC, 2016.
Elizabeth Hughes, State Historic Preservation Officer
Maryland Historical Trust
SPECIAL RECOGNITION
As our Historic Preservation Officer, Elizabeth Hughes leads statewide preservation efforts through the Maryland Historical Trust, and also served as the leaders of the National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers that advocates for federal historic preservation programs.
Delegate Brooke Lierman
District 46, Baltimore City
LEGISLATIVE CHAMPION
Del. Lierman is largely responsible for the budget language which resulted in the 2016 Joint Chairman’s Report outlining the need for the restoration of the Maryland Historical Trust Preservation Grant Fund; the Report led to the inclusion funding in the 2017 budget for the first time since 2010.
Speaker Pro Tem Adrienne Jones
District 10, Baltimore County
LEGISLATIVE CHAMPION
Speaker Pro Tem Jones introduced the Maryland Historic Trust Grant Fund Improvement Act which seeks to ensure the Maryland Historical Trust’s Grant Fund receives funding every year. The bill passed in both the House and Senate and will hopefully be signed into law in the near future.
Senator Bill Ferguson
District 46, Baltimore City
LEGISLATIVE CHAMPION
Sen. Ferguson introduced the Maryland Historic Trust Grant Fund Improvement Act, a bill that seeks to guarantee funding to the Preservation Grant Fund at the Maryland Historical Trust, that will support preservation projects across the Old Line State.
Delegate Brett Wilson
District 2B, Washington County
LEGISLATIVE CHAMPION
Del. Wilson introduced the legislation that raised the funding cap for the Maryland Heritage Areas Program that passed this March and will result in additional resources for the thirteen heritage areas across the state that touch every county and support heritage tourism.
Allan Kittleman, Howard County Executive
Ellicott City Flood Recovery Response
PRESIDENT’S LEADERSHIP AWARD
Responding to the devastating flood in Elliott City, Executive Kittleman, instituted an effective approach that included the safety of residents, the vitality of local Main Street businesses, and historic preservation.
Dr. G. Ray Thompson
Salisbury University
GEARHART PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AWARD
Dr. Thompson recently retired after over 40 years of service to researching and preserving the history the Eastern Shore; teaching at Salisbury University, founding the Delmarva Historical Archives now the Nabb Research Center, and preserving Rackcliffe House, Pemberton Hall, Poplar Hill Mansion and others.
Metropolitan Partnership, Ltd.
Rehabilitation of 10 Light Street, Baltimore
THE PHOENIX AWARD
In Baltimore City, Metropolitan Partnership completed an extraordinary rehabilitation of the former Maryland National Bank at 10 Light Street into downtown apartments and an Under Armour Performance Center gym.
Friends of Tolson’s Chapel
STEWARDSHIP AWARD
Built in 1866 and having seen its 200th year in 2016, Tolson’s Chapel now stands a restored African-American schoolhouse due to the persistence of the Friend’s group that can now turn its attention away from repair and restoration to education and interpretation.
C&O Canal Trust
Canal Quarters Hospitality Volunteers
HARRISON AWARD FOR VOLUNTEERS
The Canal Quarters program allows visitors to stay in historic lockhouses across the C&O Canal National Historical Park – and that programs is greatly supported by the efforts of over 35 volunteers donating over 15,000 hours of service to provide this unique experience.
John Tower, The Tower Co.
Rehabilitation of Naval Academy Guard Houses
PRESERVATION ARTISAN AWARD
Working with the Naval Facilities Engineering Command and architects Citadel DCA, John Tower and The Tower Co. restored the guard houses of the Naval Academy in Annapolis – the only two surviving 19th century structures and the entrance to the campus.
COMMUNITY CHOICE AWARDS
Pyramid Atlantic Arts Center and the City of Hyattsville; Bmore Kitchen by Accelerator Development; Montgomery Modern program of the Maryland-National Parks & Planning Commission; “Laboring Sons Memorial Ground” Documentary by the City of Frederick’s Audio Visual Department
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
Presenting
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