Southwest Partnership

Historic Preservation Committee

April 17 2017

918 Lemmon St 6pm

Present

Scott Kashnow

Michael Mellett

Dotie Page

Edith Gilliard Canty

Kimberly Sheridan

Elizabeth Weber

 

State Grant Funding Opportunities

The Committee reviewed upcoming state grant programs that the Southwest Partnership is eligible for, including the Community Legacy program, Project C.O.R.E., and the Baltimore Regional Neighborhood Initiative (BRNI). Generally, all programs fund projects that will increase the economic vitally of neighborhoods and communities. Project C.O.R.E. funds the acquisition, demolition, and stabilization of vacant buildings while Community Legacy and BRNI fund more general projects. BRNI is probably a better bet for the SWP, as it is only for Baltimore and not the state as a whole.

 

The Committee discussed possible projects that would be appropriate for the grant programs. The Southwest Partnership Committee Chairs will be reviewing the proposed projects from all the Committees, and putting together a package of proposals that will be the most successful.

 

Proposed projects are:

  1. The Historic Sign Project, expanded from last year to include sites of interest from around the community, as well as the neighborhood signs. The signs will lead to heritage tourism and increased visitors to the area. Potential partners include the Baltimore National Heritage Area and museums in the area. The Committee began listing possible sites for historic signs. Michael Mellett will put together a draft list and language, and Elizabeth will reach out to the associations and others who may have input. A walking tour could also be included.
  2. Stabilization funding for the Malachi Mills House if the needed ownership permissions can be gotten.
  3. A stabilization and deconstruction fund that would allow the Committee to cover cost differences between deconstruction and demolition of vacant historic buildings and stabilize important buildings in the area that are in need. There are concerns that this project would not be particularly competitive, as it would require a large amount of money to be effective.

 

Project Updates

Short Historical Facts for Social Media/Storytelling Project

The Committee has been asked to put together short historical facts and photos to share on social media. The Committee has many ideas for the project, and this will be relatively easy to put together. We can easily connect this project with the Storytelling Project–by using what has been shared and submitted to expand upon stories, and to raise interest of the projects. We should also plan another Storytelling Event for the spring/summer, now that the weather is nice.

 

Museum House Approach Beautification

Scott would like to see the Committee working with the Colonial Dames and the B&O Railroad Museum on improving the approach to the Carroll Mansion from the Whistle Stop (on the railroad line). He would like to see it cobblestone rather than asphalt. The Committee discussed possible ways that the area around the Mount Clare House.

 

Deconstruction Project

Pop!Farm has been offered as a storage site for old bricks that can be preserved and used by community members for projects. A truck and forklift will be needed to collect the bricks.

 

Malachi Mills Research

Kim Sheridan has been doing a lot of research on Malachi Mills and his family. She has found a number of references to the Mills family. In the 1870 census there is a Malachi Mills, a carpenter age 63 and his wife, Mary. They are recorded in the census as white, but census takers were not always known for their accuracy.

 

There is also a reference to a younger Malachi Mills, who is recorded as black, who lived at 32 S Schroeder St and is the son of a William H Mills, who is about the right age to be the older Malachi’s brother. There are a number of other Mills brothers in the census and other records, including George and Thomas. All work in related industries including caulker (a traditionally African American profession caulking ships) and stevedore.

 

Kim has found a grave for the elder Malachi Mills (who we believe to be the builder of the house on W Baltimore St) in Mt Olivet Cemetery. His death date is given as 1886 and his age at death was 84 (which differs slightly from the dates in the census). She’s also found other gravesites for the family members, and will continue to do further research. Dotie offered to give her a ride to Annapolis to the state archives.

 

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