Evening star., 1955-09-15
d. {. Men Plan
To Build Resort
|AtPointLookout
Purchase $50 Acres;
Yacht Basin, Beach.
Hotel Renovation Due

A group Of Washington busi-
nessmen have bought q 650-acre
tract at Point Lookout. Md, and
have begun developing the his-
toric site as q resort and resi-
ldential community.
New owners of the property
at the southern tip Of st. Marys
County, 81 miles from Washing
ton. expect to complete the
initial phase Of the improve
ment project In time for use
next spring.
Included in plans for the Point
are q yacht basin on the Potomac
side, q 2.000-foot beach on the
Bay side. renovation Of Point
Lookout Hotel, a fresh-water
swimming pool and tennis courts.
The corporation intends to
Operate the hotel on q year
round basis.
A spokesman for the Point
Lookout Hotel. Inc. which re-
Gently bought the property from
Walter r. Tuckerman. Bethesda
,Ireal estate man, said / 400 build
ling lots in the development ale
ready have been subdivided.
These. however. are not expected
to be offered for sale until the
boat harbor Is completed.
Channel Being Cut
/ The corporation is cutting q
70-foot wide channel across a
narrow strip of land from the
Potomac to a 100-acre salt lake.
This will become the yacht basin.
According to the spokesman.
the channel will enable fishing
craft and pleasure boats to
shorten the trip between lake
and river by IL to IA miles
When Mr.. Tuckerman sold the
property, he decided Az acres to
ISt. Marys County for preserva-
tion as public park.
The park is the site Of Fort
Lincoln. which was the principal
|fortification of Point Lookout for
Federal troops during the Civil I,
War. The Federal installation at
the Point was q prison for Con-
federate enlisted men.
Thousands Died There
The history Of the prison is
one Of the unpleasant chapters
on the Civil War. There, as at
prisons for Union troops in the
South. many inhumanities were
permitted. Nearly 3.400 Con-
federates died at the Point In q
16-month period.
Mr.. Tuckerman, who donated
the park as memorial to his
wife. specified that st. Marys
County should preserve 1t for
public use. The county has en-
listed the help Of the Maryland
State Historical Society In dis
lcharging its responsibility.
The swimming pool at the
hotel Is nearing completion and
renovation of the 50-room struc-
ture win be pushed rapidly.
Delayed by Hurricanes
| One problem confronting the
developers is weather. Their
project already has been delayed
three weeks as the result Of
Hurricanes Connie and Diane.
Each Of those storms washed out
the causeway for q State road
into the property.
i Clay tennis courts are expected
to be laid out shortly but plans
for the golf course will depend.
in part. upon demand for build.
ing lots around the yacht basin.
the spokesman said.
A number Of Washington in.
vestors are behind the Point
Lookout project. President of
the corporation is James g.
Stephanson, proprietor of the
Stephanson Bakery at Twenty
third street and Pennsylvania
avenue Sc.
Mr.. Stephanson said his COM
pany paid $150.000 for the prop
erty, including the hotel. Ap-
proximately 100000 is being
spent on improvements and in
stanations in the immediate fu.
ture.
At present. six men are as
sociated in the development. II
all goes well, additional expen-
Iditures will be made later, Mr..
IStephanson said.