The highly-detailed modernist Washington Suburban Sanitation Commission (WSSC) headquarters building in downtown Hyattsville remains threatened by demolition for development. The National Register-listed structure is included in a proposal by Werrlein Properties to build on the WSSC site and parcel immediately adjacent to Magruder Park.
It’s time to turn on the twinkly lights and invite friends and family over to celebrate. This year, why not follow your sweet tooth, while showing off your favorite era of architectural history? At Preservation Maryland, we’ve assembled the ultimate collection of gingerbread architecture examples spanning major American architectural styles:
The vernacular Art Deco architecture of the Church Hill Theatre in rural Queen Anne’s County is a rare site – and its home to a local performing theatre company that also well cares for their historic theatre. Preservation Maryland will recognize Church Hill Theatre with a Community Choice award at the Best of Maryland preservation awards.
Photo from Downtown Frostburg.
The City of Frostburg in Allegany County, Maryland is currently accepting proposals for the purchase and redevelopment of the historic Nickel Building on Main Street through an open RFP process.
The building, which formerly housed the popular “Au Petit Paris,” a French Restaurant, has been vacant since the restaurant’s closing in 2012. The City of Frostburg, with the support of Allegany County and the State of Maryland, has acquired the structure and has been awarded $150,000 in Community Legacy state grant funds to be allocated to the future developer.
Nickel Building Frostburg, courtesy Crossroads Business Journal.
The oldest known use of the site was for McCulloh’s Tannery, which is not believed to have had a large structure. The current building is believe to have existed by 1871 and served a variety of uses including a furniture store, apartment complex and auto-repair shop before its last use as a French restaurant.
There is no minimum purchase price and proposals will be accepted on an ongoing basis until a successful completion.
From Frostburg First, the Main Street organization of the City of Frostburg:
Located off I-68 exits 33 & 34, Frostburg is just 2.5 hours from Baltimore and Washington, D.C., one hour from Morgantown, WV, and two hours from Pittsburgh, PA. Those who visit discover a small-town Main Street, historic homes, friendly residents, a vibrant arts scene, and four-season beauty.
Frostburg, population of 9,000, owes its beginnings to the authorization of the National Road in 1806. Originally called the village of Mt. Pleasant, Josiah Frost bought a tract of land lying across the route and laid out a series of ‘town lots.’ His son, Meshach, built a log house on Lot 1 (site of the current St. Michael’s Church Rectory) and brought his bride to it in June, 1812. When stagecoach service was inaugurated in 1818, the village of Mt. Pleasant became a regular stopping point for east-west travelers. The cluster of taverns, smithies, and houses was also known as Frost Town. The Post Office Department identified the community as Frostburg in 1820.
Coal was discovered near Frostburg as early as 1782. The completion of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad to Cumberland in 1842 and the Cumberland and Pennsylvania Railroad to Frostburg in 1852 made it possible to ship coal in large quantities. Frostburg became a commercial center for mining, both thriving and suffering with the fluctuation of coal prices.
In 1898, the lobbying of local citizens led to the legislature’s $20,000 appropriation for State Normal School #2. In 1902, fifty-seven students attended the two-year elementary school teacher training program. Today, Frostburg State University (FSU) serves 4,755 undergraduate students, 630 graduate students, and employs 1,068 faculty and staff. FSU serves as a center of multi-cultural activity for the residents of our region.