A reminder of the urgency and reality of preservation
A recent article on The BayNet revealed that a St. Mary’s County landmark was lost this month. Located in Leonardtown, the telescopic style farmhouse, referred to by many as “The Three Bears House” and for years this home served as a source of inspiration for artists and photographers. Our Interpretive Programs Manager recalls passing the house daily on her way to and from school. She, like many, often wondered about the lives of those who once called the unique building home and what stories the house could tell.
But being a landmark doesn’t always guarantee that a structure will be saved or preserved. The Three Bears House was one of many historic homes and buildings that have been lost but that while they were still standing, they revealed through their architecture the history of our area. Historic Sotterley tells a story of a similar structure in our “Saving History: Urgency of Preservation” exhibit on Resurrection Manor, a historic home demolished in 2002. Like Resurrection Manor, the Three Bears House had become uninhabitable and dilapidated over time. While the community in the case of both houses advocated for saving these sites, the reality is that both were privately owned, which results in a variety of challenges to preservation.
While private owners may wish to protect and preserve their historic building, preservation requires funding. Lots of funding. And it usually involves getting input from historic restoration experts, which also requires funding. The price tag can be overwhelming. Private owners can try to find alternate funding by seeking historic landmark designation through the National Park Service or local governments and applying for preservation grants, but the amount of paperwork involved to achieve these designations is the equivalent of climbing Mount Everest; Not impossible but definitely challenging. And a landmark designation does not guarantee funding.
So with all of these hoops, how do any historic buildings get saved? Community support is key. The most successful preservation projects are often backed by donations and volunteer hours from a caring community that is passionate about saving history and keeping their local landmarks alive.
Historic Sotterley is deeply grateful to be one of the lucky sites with a community of supporters that help us preserve local history and American stories. You make preservation possible. Because of your commitment, we are able to interpret more than 300 years of history and care for the 1703 Manor House, 1830s Slave Quarters, post-Emancipation Homestead House, and numerous other historic outbuildings.
Grant funding, member support, and the dedication of our community ensure that this history remains accessible to future generations.
Want to continue supporting Historic Sotterley?
- Donate – Direct donations help us fund critical preservation projects, like the work being done to the second floor of the Manor House, or repair work being done after last year’s stormy season.
- Become a Member – Membership gives us continued support while giving you great benefits such as free tours and discounts in our museum store.
- Volunteer – We are always looking for new volunteers to help us with tasks around the site. From museum interpreters to garden guild volunteers, we’re looking for all kinds of skills to give us a hand.