Benefits of Historic Preservation and Tax Credits

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The National Trust for Historic Preservation defines “Historic Preservation” as identifying, protecting, and enhancing buildings, places, and objects of historic and cultural significance.  As one of the oldest counties in Maryland and the nation, Anne Arundel County has a rich history that is locally and nationally important. Preserving relics of the diverse archaeological and architectural past reinforces the County’s identity and benefits its communities and residents. Preservation deepens the understanding of physical, cultural, and ecological heritage, drawing people to explore and learn about the past. Rehabilitation of historic structures fosters economic development by creating jobs for local labor and by enhancing the tax base with improved properties. Investing in historic neighborhoods and managing the kind of development that occurs within them reinforces the authentic places that locals and visitors seek, leveraging “sense of place” as an economic asset to promote a high quality of life. Preserving and repurposing old buildings is environmentally sensitive because it reduces demolition waste sent to landfills, maximizes the use of existing infrastructure serving established neighborhoods, and thus conserves undeveloped land. Rehabilitated properties improve property values in the surrounding area and spur other private sector investments. Moreover, historic buildings and objects are tangible resources of our collective heritage that connect us to a specific place in time, persons, or events that can teach us about our history and culture and that as present society we should strive to preserve for future generations.    

Friendship Parsonage: Friendship, MD

In order to foster responsible stewardship of historic buildings in Anne Arundel County, the first ever Historic Preservation Tax Credit Program was codified in 2016.  Historic preservation tax credits are a proven and effective incentive across the state and the nation in promoting the stewardship and preservation of significant historic resources. Tax credits are an effective tool to encourage private owners to sensitively restore and rehabilitate historically significant buildings.  These credits stimulate sustainability and adaptive reuse of existing building stock and can help offset expenses related to rehabilitation on historic landmarks in the county. Through this program, a 25% property tax credit is eligible for both eligible residential and commercial historic properties and 5% for compatible new infill construction within historic districts.  Expenditures for certain interior or exterior preservation, restoration and rehabilitation work on landmark properties may qualify for the tax credit, as long as the work meets preservation standards that ensure the historic nature of the property is not compromised. 

Talbot’s Lot II: Davidsonville Historic District

Since 2016, the County has awarded credits for both small- and large-scale projects to commercial rehabilitation projects and residential historic property owners.  Some past projects include the re-siding of a historic parsonage building built in 1806, now an antiques store in Friendship; the roof replacement of a late 19th -century contributing historic building within the Davidsonville Historic District (listed in the National Register); and the full rehabilitation of a large Italianate style-farmhouse built c. 1860 in Jessup.  The house was rehabilitated into use as a community clubhouse and rental office for the Elms at Shannon’s Glen apartment complex.  Rehabilitation work that qualified for the tax credit included foundation repairs, the restoration of original windows, doors, and flooring; in-kind roof replacement, and electrical and plumbing updates to meet current building codes.

Trusty Friend: Jessup, MD

For more details on the Historic Preservation Tax Credit, including application forms, qualifying properties, and qualifying types of work, please visit the Office of Planning & Zoning’s, Cultural Resources Section’s website at https://www.aacounty.org/historic-tax-credit.

Contributed by Darian Beverungen, Historic Sites Planner, Anne Arundel County Cultural Resources Section.  

Dr. Emily Wilson: A Pioneering Country Doctor

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Dr. Emily Hammond Wilson was a pioneer in the medical profession and accomplished a lot of firsts in her life, including practicing outside racial norms during the era of segregation.  Over her 53 year career, she garnered a lot of respect and endearment among her peers, friends, and the local community. 

Emily Wilson, 1930s

Born on July 8, 1904 in Beech Island, South Carolina, Emily graduated in 1927 from the Medical College of Georgia. She was the only woman in her class and only the second woman to graduate from the school. She would end up researching at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore before becoming the first female doctor in South Anne Arundel County.  In 1929, Emily borrowed money from her uncle and set up her practice in Lothian, MD.  She had to prove herself from the start, as many residents were wary of her capabilities as a female doctor.  In 2004, she was quoted in The Capital as saying “One woman told me she sent for me just to see what I looked like.  People weren’t real sure I knew what I was doing.”  Her first office was in a summer kitchen with no water and electricity.  She was very much a country doctor, making house calls by horseback or buggy when the local roads were too muddy to traverse by car. When patients did not have the cash money to pay her ($1 for office visits and $15 for at-home baby deliveries), they would often pay her with a bushel of oysters, chickens, or farm labor work. 

In 1932, she married her first husband, John Fletcher Wilson.  Together, they purchased the historic “Obligation” property in the 1940s.  Listed in the National Register of Historic Places, the dwelling was built in 1743 for the locally prominent Stockett family.  Unfortunately, when the Wilsons purchased the property, it was in a deteriorated state, but they worked hard to restore it and it is where Dr. Wilson lived the remainder of her life.  Around the same time, she moved her office to the small building at the corner of Solomon’s Island Rd and Owensville Rd (Rt. 255) which was formerly a tea house that was owned and operated by local resident, Anne Cheston. Anne was the daughter of Dr. Caspar Morris Cheston and Sally Murray Cheston and was a  long time resident of Owensville.  She built the tea house when the State Road was built around 1910. 

Anne Cheston’s Tea House, c. 1920s

In early 20th century America, tea houses were women-owned and operated businesses and became a “third place” for other women to gather and socialize.  This was a huge milestone in the social and commercial history of women in this country, as most businesses and social clubs were male dominated. Many of Anne Cheston’s male forbearers, in fact, were members of the prominent Old South River Club (the longest surviving men’s club in America) that still stands today on South River Clubhouse Road.  Unfortunately, the tea house was not a successful venture and closed after a few years and then became a dwelling for many years prior to it becoming the office of Dr. Wilson.  The building still stands today as a commercial business.

Dr. Emily Wilson makes a house call, 1950s

Unlike many doctors’ offices in America that were segregated, Emily Wilson did not abide by those same constraints.  Her patients, both white and black, sat in the same waiting room and she showed no preference in the order that they were seen.  It was always on a first-come first-served basis and depended on the seriousness of the ailment.  She also made herself available to any sick person needing medical care, no matter who they were or what time of day it was.  She continued her groundbreaking career by becoming the president of the Anne Arundel Medical Society in 1951 and the Chief of Staff of Anne Arundel Hospital, now Anne Arundel Medical Center.  As Chief of Staff, she established clinics for pre-natal care and to treat syphilis.  Dr. Wilson gave up practicing at the age of 78 and is said to have delivered over 1,000 babies during her long career.  She remained living at Obligation in Harwood and was active in the community until her death on July 10, 2007 at 103 years old. 

Contributed by Darian Beverungen, Historic Sites Planner, Anne Arundel County Cultural Resources Section.  

References: 

Magnotti, Therese. Doc: The Life of Emily Hammond Wilson. Published by the Shady Side Rural Heritage Society.

“Emily Hammond Wilson Walker MD (1994-2007).” MSA SC 3520-14731.  Archives of Maryland (Biographical Series).