Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1940-02-23
PEOPLES COLUMN.
Beverly Manor
Pocomoke City, Md.


Worcester Democrat,
Pocomoke City, Md.
Mr.. Editor
Down in Annapolis, the capitol of
our state, amid beautiful lockwood,
stands the Hammond-Harwood House.
Since 1771, when it was built by
Matthias Hammond, it has stood
there. This house is not only part
of Maryland, it is the very soul of
Maryland. It represents her culture,
her history, her beginning.
Yet today we are on the verge of
losing this historic landmark. A loss
that will be as much ours, here on the
Eastern Shore, as it is to our friends
and fellow citizens across the bay.
Too many old houses have already
fallen into ruins. Some have disin-
tergrated from lack of care, others
mutilated, their mantels and paneling
torn from them and sold. These are
gone from us forever. You may re-
call that eight years ago the paneled
drawing room of the beautiful, old
seventeenth century Pearce House, al
so known as "The Abbey" of Chester
town, was put up for sale. Efforts
were made by the people of the East
ern Shore to raise fund to preserve
this room in it's original setting. But
these efforts failed and "The Abbey"
was dismantled. Are we going to fail
again? When here we have what is
conceded as "the most perfect exam
pie of Georgian architecture in Amer
ica." 1t has been protected by the
Hammond Harwood Association since
1888, but they can carry on alone no
longer.
To have the most perfect example
of Georgian architecture alone should
make us proud, but this great house
represents far more than that. With
in it's brick walls are echoes, could we
but hear them. Echoes that made
Maryland possible, and a great state
in which to live.
Reprinted below is a letter which
I received this morning. It distresses
me more than I can say to think of
turning our backs and shutting our
minds to such worthy cause. Any
contributions no matter how small,
will help save this great place. Don't
hesitate to send a small amount, if
you can afford more, so much the
better, but send something and pre-
serve this landmark.
Your contributions can be sent
either to me or to Mrs. George G.
Cutler, campaign treasurer, 300 Bel
vedere Hotel, Baltimore. They will
be greatly appreciated and you will
have helped to accomplish a great
thing for Maryland.
Thank you,
Mrs. Arthur Shettle
1.-THE letter referred to by Mrs.
Shettle is as follows:]
The Hammond-Harwood House Asso-
citation, Inc.
Office 300 Belvedere Hotel
Baltimore, Maryland
February Is, 1910
Dear Mrs. Shettle-
The future of the beautiful and his
toric ACKNOWLEDGMENT House in
Annapolis is in grave danger.
It is owned by st. Johns College
but rented to a group of interested
men and women known as the Ham,
ond-Harwood House Association,
Inc, who since 1888 have been sup
porting it as museum open to the
public. Unfortunately this situation
cannot continue. The College Trus-
tees feel that st. Johns financial
needs require them, at the earliest
possible moment, to realize upon this
asset-not the whole amount spent
upon it, but only the amount borrow
ed to make the original purchase.
That sum is $4,000 and the Associa-
ton has been given an option to buy
at that figure before June 1, 1910.
When our present lease terminates
in May the following alternatives
face US and the College:
1. The house is definitely on the
market. "a wealthy non-Marylander
has already measured the house and
indicated his intention, if he gets it,
to tear it down and reerect it on his
property in distant state.)
2. It may be converted into apart