In 1776, American independence was anything but certain. Maryland troops under General Washington fought a pitched battle that may have saved the entire army and earned the state its nickname; The Old Line State. On August 27, 1776, the British Army, under the command of General William Howe launched the first major assault since the Americans had declared their independence on July 4, 1776.
The power of history is something well known to historians and preservationists across Maryland, but hearing our governor recently make a compelling case for the critical value of history at this moment is reason to celebrate. While addressing the graduating class of 2023 at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Gov. Wes Moore used his platform to detail the role that history — and an awareness of history — plays in public and private life.
In honor of National Preservation Month Preservation Maryland hosted elected officials, members of the preservation community, and stakeholders today in Frederick to recognize the passage of The Frederick Jobs and Historic Preservation Training Center Land Acquisition Act.
L-R: Preservation Maryland’s President & CEO Nicholas Redding, HPTC’s Superintendent Moss Rudley, HPTC’s Deputy Superintendent Brandon Gordon, Frederick County Council President Brad Young, Congressman David Trone, Senator Chris Van Hollen, Frederick County Executive Jessica Fitzwater, and Frederick Mayor Michael O’Connor tour HPTC.
Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Congressman David Trone (D-Md.), Frederick County Executive Jessica Fitzwater, Frederick Mayor Michael O’Connor, and Frederick County Council President Brad Young joined Preservation Maryland’s President & CEO Nicholas Redding and National Park Service’s Historic Preservation Training Center’s (HPTC) Superintendent Moss Rudley for the event, which included a guided tour of HPTC’s current facility and a formal program at Frederick’s Visitor’s Center.
L-R: Redding, Mayor O’Connor, Congressman Trone, Gordon, Senator Van Hollen.
Sponsored by Senators Cardin and Van Hollen and by Congressman Trone in the House of Representatives, the legislation gives the National Park Service congressional authority to build out a larger, fully functioning center for historic trades training; the new center will allow for the needed expansion, as the current demand for qualified individuals far outweighs those that have been trained. Preservation Maryland and NPS’ Historic Preservation Training Center, located in downtown Frederick, run the national workforce development program The Campaign for Historic Trades which works to expand and strengthen training and career opportunities in historic trades.
Attendees were able to see HPTC staff and trainees at work and learn more about the type of training and hands-on work that will expand as a result of the legislation and subsequent future increased footprint of a new training center. 
Senator Van Hollen, Rep. Trone, County Executive Fitzwater and Mayor O’Connor also delivered remarks and presented proclamations in honor of Preservation Month before the program concluded.
Learn more about The Campaign for Historic Trades
Rock Run Gristmill at Susquehanna State Park
Funding from The National Park Service, part of $10 million awarded from the Semiquincentennial Grant Program commemorating the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States
Preservation Maryland today announced it has been awarded $747,216 in funding from the National Park Service to preserve the historic Rock Run Mill, a contributing resource to the Lower Deer Creek Valley National Historic District, located within Susquehanna State Park in Havre De Grace, Maryland.
The Maryland Park Service (Maryland Department of Natural Resources) and Preservation Maryland will partner on the project; work will result in restoration of the roof, windows, doors, masonry, and structural components of the late 18th-century mill, as well as site work to protect the foundation from flood damage.
“Preservation Maryland is committed to revitalizing Maryland communities and preserving their unique history,” said Preservation Maryland President & CEO Nicholas Redding. “This grant, one of the largest received in the organization’s 90+-year history, allows us to preserve an early piece of our nation’s story. We’re thrilled to partner with the Maryland Park Service to preserve the structure as we commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States in 2026.”
Preservation Maryland’s Historic Property Redevelopment Manager Laura Houston, who will be managing the project for the organization, added “Restoration of this remarkably unaltered 18th c. structure will allow it to remain a site of education for the public, a connection to our nation’s early years, and an exemplary resource for the Susquehanna State Park.”
“We’re thankful for the opportunity to work with Preservation Maryland to ensure future generations of Marylanders will continue to be able to visit this historic mill at Susquehanna State Park in Havre de Grace,” said Angela Crenshaw, Acting Superintendent of the Maryland Park Service. “We know that the mill served as a centerpiece of the community when it was operational and with this grant it will continue to serve as a centerpiece of the park.”
Built in 1797 along the banks of the Susquehanna River, the Rock Run Mill is a surviving connection to when the wheat and flour trade provided a much-needed economic foundation for the new American republic. Maryland’s Piedmont Region saw the establishment of many commercial grist mills among other early industries during the latter half of the 18th century. The appearance of these mills coincided with the Seven Years War and the American Revolution, and they signified Baltimore’s emergence as a major seaport and foreshadowed the rise of American industry in the 19th century.
This project is being supported by a Historic Preservation Fund grant administered by the National Park Service, Department of the Interior. “The Semiquincentennial is an opportunity for the nation to recognize and reflect on the diverse cultures, events, and places that have helped shape our country,” said NPS Director Chuck Sams in an NPS-issued press release last week. “Through the Semiquincentennial Grant Program, the National Park Service is supporting projects that showcase the many places and stories that contributed to the evolution of the American experience.”