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September 1997
Prepared by the
Havfe de. Grace, Maryland
Heritage Corridor Steer^g Committee
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CB 00767
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Havre de Grace
Heritage Corridor Plan
September 1997
Prepared by
Havre de Grace, Maryland
Heritage Corridor Steering Comittee
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
Environmental Science Center
701 Mapes Road
Ft. Meade, MD 20755-5350
Printed on recycled paper by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for the Chesapeake
Bay Program
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Havre de Grace Heritage Corridor Plan
Table of Contents
I. Summary and Major Recommendations 1
A. Introduction 1
B. Historical, Natural and Cultural Resources 1
C. A Public-Private Partnership 2
D. Goal and Objectives 3
E. Corridor Plan 3
II. Background - A Region in Transition 8
III. The Planning Process 10
IV. Heritage Corridor Location/Boundaries 12
V. Heritage Corridor Resources 14
A. The Susquehanna River 14
B. The Lower Susquehanna's Rich History and Culture 14
C. Fish, Wildlife and Other Living Resources 17
D. Scenery 18
E. Aberdeen Proving Grouhd 18
VI. Corridor Plan 19
A. Major Elements 19
1. Lower Susquehanna Heritage Greenway 19
2. Museums of the Region 20
3. Economic Development 25
4. Education Opportunities 29
5. Ecological Conservation 29
B. Management Council 30
C. Specific Recommendations 32
VII. Next Steps 41
VIII. For Further Information 43
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Appendices 44
A. Havre de Grace Resource Guides 44
B. Economic Development Priorities 45
C. Maryland House Bill # 1 Summary 47
D. Memorandum of Understanding 49
E. Related Resolutions 54
1. Resolution No. 97-2 55
2. Resolution No. 9-97 58
List of Figures
Figure 1 Arrival/Gateways Into Town iii
Figure 2 Lower Susquehanna Heritage Greenway - Harford and Cecil Co 6
Figure 3 Lower Susquehanna Heritage Greenway - Havre de Grace Segment 7
Figure 4 Proposed Havre de Grace Heritage Corridor Map , 13
Figure 5 Revitalization Area #5 - Waterfront Development 27
Figure 6 Havre de Grace Waterfront 28
Figure 7 Charles Montgomery Park 34
Figure 8 Heritage Park 35
Figure 9 Waterfront Walk/Promenade inside back cover
ii
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Arrival/Gateways Into town
iii
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I. Summary and Major Recommendations
"If you ever doubt what we can do together to
preserve our heritage, all you have to do is look at
the Bay".
President Clinton, 25th Anniversary Earth Day
Ceremony at Concord Point, Havre de Grace,
MD, April 21,1995.
A. Introduction
A partnership of local officials, community
leaders and private organizations has been
involved in an effort to improve the quality of
life in the Havre de Grace region through
heritage tourism. The purposes of the
cooperative effort are to:
Develop and implement a Havre de
Grace Heritage Corridor Plan that
would identify actions to market the
historical, natural, recreational and
cultural values of the Havre de Grace
region and increase the Region's
community vitality and economic
prosperity.
Promote a coordinated approach in
economic development and protection
of natural resources.
Recognize, certify and designate the
Havre de Grace Heritage Corridor, as a
State and National Heritage Area, as
part of the Lower Susquehanna Heritage
Greenway Area.
The Plan will:
Guide the historic preservation,
promotion, interpretation, protection,
enjoyment and economic revitalization
of the Havre de Grace Heritage
Corridor.
Coordinate and support existing efforts
in the proposed State and National
Heritage Area efforts in the Lower
Susquehanna region.
Facilitate collaboration with other
regional efforts.
Help the community to leverage funding
from the Federal, State and private
sectors.
The Plan is not intended to duplicate or
supplant ongoing public or private efforts.
B. Historical, Natural and Cultural
Resources
Havre de Grace's historical, natural and cultural
resources; community vitality; and location at
the confluence of the Susquehanna River and
A Heritage Corridor is an area recognized
for its important history and its rich and
distinctive natural and cultural resources. It
is an area where local governments, private
groups, businesses, state and federal
agencies, and landowners act on a singular
opportunity to collaborate for the Corridor's
future that makes the most of each partner's
contribution.
A heritage corridor is a special placea
living landscape in which people live and
work and share the responsibility to keep it
special.
1
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the Chesapeake Bay, combined with its
accessibility to the region's largest
transportation corridor, make it a suitable area
for the development of a "Heritage Corridor".
The Lower Susquehanna - Upper Chesapeake
Bay region can shape and define the public
perception of the Chesapeake Bay. The area,
which includes the City of Havre de Grace and
parts of Cecil and Harford Counties, has been
recognized by the National Park Service as a
"Gateway to the Chesapeake Bay" due to its
physical and visual access to the northernmost
point of the Chesapeake.
Heritage can simply be explained as
something transmitted or acquired from a
predecessor. It is in a broad sense our
collective features, traditions, and culture
signifying and illustrating the evolution of
human settlement and resource use.
Havre de Grace's location is unique because of
the Susquehanna and the Chesapeake. The
Susquehanna River and the Chesapeake Bay
have a unique symbiotic relationship. The
River, the largest on the east coast, provides the
Bay with its greatest amount of fresh water, an
essential component of the estuarine system.
The Bay, the nation's largest estuary, provides
the River with migratory fish that spawn in the
freshwater habitats of the Susquehanna. This
ebb and flow relationship helps define the Bay's
unique ecological functions and value, for which
Havre de Grace is a perfect location to
showcase such Bay and River functions.
The region's cultural and historical heritage is
also a resource for improving the community's
well being and economic vitality. The Concord
Point Lighthouse, Susquehanna Museum,
Maritime Museum, Decoy Museum,
Steppingstone Museum, and a National Register
historic district, attract more than 150,000
people a year to the region. These resources
serve as the "anchors" of the Heritage Corridor
effort and through them the Heritage Corridor
will thrive.
C. A Public-Private Partnership
A local steering committee of government and
private sector representatives was established in
1994 to develop a heritage corridor plan for the
Havre de Grace region that would address the
interests, concerns and priorities raised by
community leaders and residents. The Havre de
Grace Heritage Corridor Steering Committee,
has been meeting to refine these shared goals
and develop a concept plan to guide the
development of Havre de Grace's Heritage
Corridor.
The Steering Committee intends to form a
Management Council, which will implement the
Heritage Corridor Plan.
"If there is a single place in this sprawling
watershed best suited to deliver a message about
the synergy of river and bay it is here, at what is
both the mouth of Susquehanna and the beginning
of the Chesapeake
- Susquehanna. River of Dreams
Susan Q. Stranahan
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D. Goal and Objectives
The goal of the Havre de Grace Heritage
Corridor is to:
"Continue the public - private partnership that
will interpret, communicate, publicize, protect,
and restore the natural and cultural heritage
of the Havre de Grace Heritage Corridor."
The objectives are to:
Dedicate the Havre de Grace Heritage
Corridor to the enhancement and
understanding of the historical and
cultural values of the region.
Increase understanding and awareness
of the ecological values and functions of
the Lower Susquehanna - Upper
Chesapeake Bay region.
Promote ecotourism as a form of
economic development.
Ensure that education is the central
mission of the Havre de Grace Heritage
Corridor.
Collaborate with government agencies,
educational institutions, cultural
programs and the private sector on the
development and operation of the Havre
de Grace Heritage Corridor.
Focus facilities, programs and services
on authenticity and quality.
Collaborate on and coordinate action
plans and strategies with adjacent
jurisdictions, civic organizations, Lower
Susquehanna Heritage Greenway
Committee, and State and Federal
agencies for the further development of
Lower Susquehanna Heritage Greenway
Area.
E. Corridor Plan:
The Vision for the Havre de Grace Corridor:
"Gateway to the Chesapeake Bay "
The Heritage Corridor Plan is intended to establish
a framework for collaborative action to create a
regional, State and Federally recognized Havre de
Grace Heritage Corridor and to support existing
and proposed community-based heritage projects,
programs and activities. The Plan illustrates the
mechanisms for implementing the strategies and
recommendations proposed for the corridor. The
Corridor Plan is divided into two sections: 1)
Major Elements and 2) Specific
Recommendations.
Major Elements of the Corridor Plan:
The Major Elements represent the "core" projects
or activities which are critical to the initial success
of the Havre de Grace Heritage Corridor Plan.
These projects and activities form the foundation
of the "Heritage Corridor".
Lower Susquehanna Heritage Greenway: The
Lower Susquehanna Heritage Greenway (Figure 2,
Lower Susquehanna Heritage Greenway - Harford
and Cecil Co.; p 8.) is located along the banks of
the Susquehanna River in Cecil and Harford
Counties. A committee has been established to
coordinate activities among the region's citizens,
organizations, businesses, and governments. Its
features are connected by a series of looping paths.
The Greenway is designed to link, promote and
protect the outstanding natural, historical and
recreational resources of the Lower Susquehanna
River Valley. In Havre de Grace, the Lower
Susquehanna Heritage Greenway will follow two
routes, connecting historical and cultural sites
(Figure 3, Lower Susquehanna Heritage Greenway
- Havre de Grace Segment; p 10).
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The Lower Susquehanna Heritage
Greenway will designate a bicycle route
primarily along Juniata St., Union Ave.,
Commerce St., Market St. and St. John
St. This alignment provides for a
continuous loop through the City with
ample access to the Historic District,
Business District and the waterfront.
A second similar Greenway alignment will
provide a pedestrian path, primarily along
Union Ave., Commerce St., Market St.
and St. John St., ensuring a connection to
the City's Historic and Business Districts
and the waterfront.
The Lower Susquehanna Heritage Greenway will
also be the starting point for pursuing a Maryland
Heritage Area designation as provided for in
House Bill 1 (Maryland General Assembly, 1996
Session). House Bill 1 seeks to stimulate
economic prosperity through the development of
tourist destinations throughout the State and
encourage historical and cultural preservation by
focusing resources and incentives on a limited
number of areas approved as Certified Heritage
Areas.
Museums: The museums of the region are the
major cultural resources within the Heritage
Corridor. Their strong alliance and significant
qualities will be a centerpiece of the Corridor. The
following is a list of museums that are participating
in Heritage Corridor effort.
Susquehanna Museum
Decoy Museum
Maritime Museum
Concord Point Lighthouse and the O'Neill
House
Steppingstone Museum
Through coordination between these museums,
and collaboration with the State and the
Smithsonian Institution Center for Museum
Studies, many of the goals for the Havre de Grace
Heritage Corridor goals will be accomplished.
Twelve additional natural and cultural museums
and environmental education centers, in close
proximity to the Heritage Corridor, also serve as
heritage resources and visitor attractions within
Harford and Cecil Counties.
Havre de Grace's Economic Development: The
City of Havre de Grace recognizes the important
role heritage tourism can play in the economic
development of the City. The Heritage Corridor
Plan will help the City achieve its overall economic
goals by promoting heritage tourism in the City.
A list of "Economic Development Priorities",
developed at a March 1996 "Priorities Summit"
held in Havre de Grace, are included in Appendix
B. Most, if not all, of the projects identified are
important to the goals and objectives of this Plan.
Ecoloeical Conservation: The Lower
Susquehanna is one of the most ecologically
productive and fertile areas of the Chesapeake Bay
watershed. State and local governments have
joined together to develop Tributary Strategies, as
recommended by the Joint Tributary Strategy
Statement that was developed by the Chesapeake
Executive Council in 1993 (Chesapeake Bay
Program Office, Annapolis, MD). Tributary
Strategies will be designed to reduce the amount of
nutrients entering the Bay and its tributaries.
Educational Opportunities: Harford Community
College will help lead the development of a
educational program for the Heritage Corridor. A
proposed Maritime Educational Distance
Learning Program would use the services of the
Higher Education and Applied Technology
(HEAT) Center's environmental program, Harford
County Knowledge Network, (e.g. boat building
classes) and the Internet through a state-of-the-art
multi-media classroom. Students and visitors will
be able to access the information highway to learn
about ecology, the environment and maritime
history.
4
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Specific Plan Recommendations
The following summary identifies some specific
initial strategies that the Management Council and
the community feel must be addressed to begin
implementing the Havre de Grace Heritage
Corridor Plan.
Lower Susquehanna Heritage Greenway
Area.
Promote ecological awareness,
conservation and preservation of the
Lower Susquehanna and the Upper
Chesapeake Bay to maintain and enhance
Havre de Grace's economic vitality and
quality of life.
Support cultural heritage revitalization
efforts by individual organizations that
manage historic and cultural resources.
Support and enhance development of the
Lower Susquehanna Heritage Greenway.
Provide state-of-the-art educational
programming which will include cultural
resource conservation, interpretation and
environmental protection education classes
to students from across the region and
around the world.
Support a Public Awareness Program to
ensure continued promotion and
coordination of Heritage Corridor efforts.
Develop a marketing and promotion
strategy to promote the Heritage Corridor.
Enhance heritage tourism opportunities
through collaboration with tourism
agencies and groups.
Encourage regional cooperation to
promote resource protection and economic
vitality.
Recognize the natural and cultural
heritage of Havre de Grace through State
and Federal Heritage recognition,
certification and designation as part of the
5
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1
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II. Background - A Region in
Transition
The Lower Susquehanna - Upper Chesapeake Bay
is a region in transition. The places and
communities in the region have been defined by
their location and proximity to the Bay, the
Susquehanna River and major highways. When
water and rail transportation were replaced by the
interstate highways, business and visitors were
drawn away from cities like Havre de Grace. With
the availability of direct access routes, such as
Interstate 95, people bypassed their former transfer
points to go directly to the major cities. Now,
through Heritage Tourism, an opportunity exists to
reestablish Havre de Grace as a "destination
point."
Historically, the City's proximity to the
Susquehanna and the Chesapeake has been its
most significant resource. Migratory fish,
proximity to farmland, railroad, water and highway
access, industry and commerce have made the
Heritage Tourism
Richard Roddewigg, a designer of a number of
state and National heritage efforts, defines
heritage tourism as, "An encounter with our
traditions, including not only history and
architecture, but urban and rural landscapes; the
arts; sports; cooking cuisine; traditional leisure
activities of all sorts; languages and social
customs; and even institutions
City prosperous. Founded in 1785, Havre de
Grace today reflects more than 200 years of
Chesapeake activities, traditions, and culture.
Although the economies of the region have
changed, Havre de Grace is well-positioned to
showcase a rich past and use this heritage to foster
a prosperous future.
As the leaders of Havre de Grace plan for the
future and explore vanous economic development
opportunities, they will be challenged to
simultaneously meet environmental, community
and economic objectives. One of the opportunities
to diversify the current economy lies in heritage
preservation and tourism. Havre de Grace's
Heritage Corridor has the potential to be used as a
place to illustrate, demonstrate and promote the
City and region's past, present and fiiture uses.
Heritage tourism, in this unique context, can serve
as a mechanism to achieve environmental,
community, and economic objectives.
Central to both Baltimore and Philadelphia, the
Susquehanna River watershed has provided, and
continues to provide, agricultural products and
manufactured goods and services to those
metropolitan regions. The region's cultural and
historical heritage is a resource that a Heritage
Corridor program could coordinate and promote to
improve the community's well being, economic
vitality, and ecological and historical protection.
The current success of the area's tourism industry
is an indication of what "could be" in the Heritage
Corridor. Such historical resources as the Concord
Point Lighthouse, Susquehanna Museum,
Maritime Museum, Steppingstone Museum, the
Decoy Museum and the state recognized historic
district are the major attractions for a Heritage
Corridor effort. Through these organizations a
Havre de Grace Heritage Corridor will thrive.
The Havre de Grace Heritage Corridor supports,
and is supported by city, county and regional
economic development and revitalization efforts.
The City of Havre de Grace held a "Havre de
Grace Priorities Summit" in March 1996 and
developed a list of capital and other projects to:
8
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Stimulate economic and community
revitalization
Maintain or improve infrastructure
Enhance the quality of life
A regional Lower Susquehanna Community
Development Corporation was formed to combat
community deterioration in Havre de Grace, Port
Deposit and Perryville. The corporation's role is
to provide planning and technical assistance, help
existing businesses increase their productivity and
to promote heritage tourism. The Corporation's
priorities also include providing a mix of
affordable housing, and commercial and industrial
development and redevelopment.
In addition, the City of Havre de Grace and
Harford County have recently completed their
comprehensive plans. Comprehensive plans are
essentially a guide or framework for local decision-
makers relating to future growth and development.
The plans also ensure that growth and
development occur in a fashion that protects
natural resources and promotes economic vitality.
References to the proposed Lower Susquehanna
Heritage Greenway have been incorporated into
the Harford County Master Plan and Land Use
Element Plan (Harford County Government, Bel
Air, MD, 1996). The Heritage Corridor and the
Lower Susquehanna Heritage Greenway are also
referenced in the Havre de Grace Comprehensive
Plan (City of Havre de Grace, MD, 1996).
Including these projects in these Plans supports and
compliments the Heritage Corridor effort.
9
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III. The Planning Process
Havre de Grace and Harford County have a long
tradition of heritage preservation and tourism.
Many of the natural and cultural resource riches of
the area reflect the traditions of historic
preservation, land stewardship, sustainable
development, recreation and tourism. Havre de
Grace's unique natural, and human-influenced
qualities reflect the commitments of local
governments and citizens to maintain a high quality
environment to live and work in and enjoy.
The Havre de Grace Heritage Corridor
collaboration began in 1994 when the City and
Harford County proposed a study, with assistance
from the EPA Chesapeake Bay Program Office
(Annapolis, Maryland), on managing growth and
encouraging sustainable development. Included in
the study proposal was the task "to determine the
feasibility of the expansion of the Lower
Susquehanna Heritage Greenway through the City
of Havre de Grace to the Chesapeake Bay and the
development of a heritage-based local economy."
"Havre de Grace has a sense of place which gives
it a unique identity. This quality is tied to your
views of the Bay and Susquehanna, your tree-lined
streets, distinctive buildings and special places. "
- Ed McMahon, Executive Director
American Greenways Program
Discussions among EPA, Maryland state agencies,
and local community leaders led to the
development of a proposal to establish a
"Chesapeake Bay Regional Heritage Area and
Gallery" in Havre de Grace. The proposal was
discussed with local governments, Maryland's
Department of the Environment, the State's
Greenway Commission staff and community
organizations. Interest in the proposal lead to a
1995 "Havre de Grace Heritage Park and Ecology
Center Workshop" co-sponsored by the City,
County, the Lower Susquehanna-Upper
Chesapeake Bay Heritage Alliance, EPA,
Maryland's Department of Natural Resources, the
Lower Susquehanna Greenways Committee and
the Maryland Office of Planning.
The Workshop was held to review and further
develop the proposal. After presentations by local
government officials and a presentation by Ed
McMahon, Executive Director of American
Greenways Program on "Preserving a Sense of
Place Through Heritage Areas and Greenways," 45
community leaders outlined the following action
agenda for the proposed Heritage Corridor:
Develop, complete and adopt a corridor
plan;
Identify priorities and target specific
actions and strategies;
Seek more public input through additional
public forums and broad outreach;
Pursue fund-raising;
Develop a stronger structure for the
Susquehanna-Chesapeake Heritage
Alliance;
Communicate with political leaders;
Create a heritage corridor management
organization; and
Provide input into the City and County
Comprehensive Plan revisions.
Following the Workshop, a public-private steering
committee was established to develop a heritage
corridor plan for the Havre de Grace region that
would address the interests, concerns and priorities
identified at the meeting.
10
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This group, called the Havre de Grace Heritage
Corridor Steering Committee, has been meeting
since 1995 to refine these shared goals and develop
a corridor plan to guide development of Havre de
Grace's Heritage Corridor. The members of the
Steering Committee include representatives from:
City of Havre de Grace
Discover Harford County (formerly
Harford County Tourism)
Friends of the Concord Point Lighthouse
Harford Community College
Harford County Government
Havre de Grace Decoy Museum
Havre de Grace Maritime Museum
Havre de Grace Chamber of Commerce
Lower Susquehanna Heritage Greenway
Committee
Lower Susquehanna Community
Development Corporation
Susquehanna Museum
Local business leaders, community
residents and interested citizens.
The Steering Committee has received technical
assistance from the following Federal, State and
regional government groups:
Aberdeen Proving Ground
Maryland Greenways Commission
Maryland Historical Trust
Chesapeake Bay Local Government
Advisory Committee
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's
Chesapeake Bay Program Office
11
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IV. Heritage Corridor Location
and Boundaries
Although this plan does not define specific corridor
boundaries, the Havre de Grace Heritage Corridor
(Figure 4, Proposed Havre de Grace Heritage
Corridor Map, p 17) includes the area
encompassed by Route 763 (Superior St.) and the
Route 40/Thomas Hatem Bridge intersection to the
north; the waterfront to the east and south, and
Juniata Street to the west. The Havre de Grace
Heritage Corridor includes:
Further opportunities to expand the corridor will
be explored by the Management Council with
public and private interests representing the
following regional resources:
Aberdeen Proving Ground
Bush River
Edgewood Arsenal
Gunpowder State Park
Susquehanna River National Wildlife
Refuge
Elk Neck State Park
North Park, the connecting point of the
Lower Susquehanna Heritage Greenway to
the City of Havre de Grace.
Along the waterfront to the proposed
South Park, which includes the Concord
Point Lighthouse, O'Neill House, Decoy
Museum, Maritime Museum and Tydings
Park.
To the proposed Ecology Center and the
Promenade.
Although it is not within the actual boundaries of
the Corridor, the Steppingstone Museum, located
to the north in the Susquehanna State Park is also
part of the Havre de Grace Heritage Corridor. The
Corridor reaches out to Aberdeen Proving Ground,
located to the south of the City of Havre de Grace.
The connection between the Proving Ground and
the Corridor is characterized by its ecological
similarity rather than their physical proximity.
Central to the Heritage Corridor are the Lower
Susquehanna Heritage Greenway alignments
through the City (Figure 3 - Lower Susquehanna
Heritage Greenway - Havre de Grace Segments,
p 10). These proposed alignments, one for
pedestrian traffic and one primarily for bicycle
traffic, will link open spaces, waterfront, parks,
the business and historic districts, and other
significant City resources to the Corridor.
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V Heritage Corridor Resources
Many features converge in this Lower
Susquehanna region which lend to the uniqueness
of the Havre de Grace area. These include the
merging of the Susquehanna River with the
Chesapeake Bay; the vast history of the City of
Havre de Grace; numerous varieties of fish, plants,
and other wildlife; remarkable scenery with
breathtaking vistas; and proximity to the wealth of
natural resources on the lands of Aberdeen Proving
Ground.
A. The Susquehanna River
The Susquehanna River is the largest freshwater
river on the east coast; moreover, the River is and
has always been a tremendous natural resource
which has defined Havre de Grace and the mid-
Atlantic region in general. Originating in Otsego
Lake, near Cooperstown, New York, the
Susquehanna totals 444 miles in length. Its 13
million-acre drainage basin encompasses over half
the state of Pennsylvania, as well as portions of
New York, and Maryland. It is responsible for
much of the unusual estuarine ecosystem of
Chesapeake Bay and it is the largest contributor of
fresh water to the Bay, accounting for 50% of the
Bay's fresh water.
The Susquehanna is a shallow river. However,
despite its depth, the River is considered a
significant resource for those that live within its
watershed: it provides the energy to power several
hydroelectric plants; provides drinking water for
millions of people; and is a recreational and
economic resource for fishermen, boaters and
others.
The Susquehanna meets the Bay at Havre de
Grace, where the two combine to create a unique
ecological setting. This is the Susquehanna Flats,
a highly productive shallow water area. The Flats
are home to a wide range of fish populations
including shad and herring, both of which have
been historically important fisheries for Havre de
Grace. Waterfowl, submerged aquatic vegetation
(SAV) or Bay grasses, and other wildlife also
flourish on the Flats.
The Susquehanna Flats were created by the
accumulation of sediments dumped by the River as
it reached the Bay. Due to these nutrient-rich
sediments, large lush beds of Bay grasses grow and
attract some of the largest concentrations of
canvasback ducks and scaups in the Chesapeake
Bay. In the late 1800's it was common to see the
Susquehanna Flats covered with waterfowl. As a
result of these large concentrations of birds, the
region experienced world-renowned waterfowl
hunting opportunities.
Today, people live, work and visit the
Susquehanna Flats. Researchers monitor the
Bay's health and students on board the historic
Martha Lewis skipjack learn about the Bay's
complex ecosystem. The history of Havre de
Grace can be told through the activities and events
that took place where the River meets the Bay.
B. The Lower Susquehanna's Rich History
and Culture
This Lower Susquehanna - Havre de Grace region
has played a significant role in the region's
history. Located between Baltimore and
Philadelphia, the City of Havre de Grace developed
along a significant transportation route between
these two major Atlantic-seaboard commerce
centers. The importance of the Lower
Susquehanna - Upper Bay area as a major
throughway began with the earliest Harford County
settlements, accelerated through the Revolutionary
War period and continued steadily into nineteenth
and twentieth centuries.
The Lower Susquehanna - Upper Bay region was
first explored in 1608 by Captain John Smith, who
led an expedition to the farthest extent of the
Chesapeake Bay. Smith traveled past the mouth of
the Susquehanna to where the River becomes
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unnavigable near Port Deposit, a point in the River
so-named "Smith's Falls" in honor of the
ambitious explorer. First settlements in this area
occurred on Palmer's Island (now known as
Garrett Island) on the Susquehanna just north of
Havre de Grace in 1622. This was an early but
unsuccessful Bay settlement established by Edward
Palmer as a trade outpost with the Susquehannock
Indians. By the mid-seventeenth century, the
island was utilized as a stronghold against the
native peoples.
Colonial settlement in Havre de Grace began with
the establishment of a ferry crossing at the mouth
of the Susquehanna in the late 17th century.
Originally, this settlement was known as
Susquehanna Lower Ferry, distinguishing it from
the nearby "upper" ferry at Lapidum. First roads
through Harford County were along the coastal
plain area from the Gunpowder River to the
Susquehanna at Havre de Grace. The First Main
Road, established in 1670, closely hugged the
coastal areas; whereas, Post Road (1687) was
located slightly more inland. Because the Havre de
Grace area provided the shortest overland route
from the eastern to western Maryland shores, the
road became a heavily traveled route for the early
middle American colonies.
The Post Road route proved to be a major
thoroughfare throughout the Revolutionary War
Period. George Washington crossed the
Susquehanna at what is now Havre de Grace no
fewer than 30 times, according to his diaries.
LaFayette first crossed the river in July 1777 on his
way to Philadelphia to render his services to the
young American republic. This was a notable
occasion for the budding town, as LaFayette
remarked of the beautiful "havre de grace". Other
historic figures, such as John Adams, John Quincy
Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and
James Monroe, also crossed the River at Havre de
Grace during this time period. Denoting its
relative significance to the young nation, today's
Old Post Road, or Maryland Route 7, is often
referred to as Constitution Highway.
Founded in 1782, Havre de Grace was a small,
established town by the end of the 1700's.
Planning for organized expansion, the town was
laid out in 1795, in a traditional grid pattern much
like Philadelphia, with 850 acres of land divided
into 4,500 building lots.
During the War of 1812, a fleet of the Royal Navy,
under the command of Admiral George Cockburn,
sailed to the northern reaches of the Chesapeake,
burning and ransacking towns. A small group of
Americans in Havre de Grace gave the British
some resistance that led to one of the finest and
most repeated stories in Havre de Grace' history.
John O'Neill, who led the stand against the British,
was later imprisoned on one of the British ships.
O'Neill's daughter, Matilda, rowed out to the ship
and begged for the return of her father. For his
heroism against the British, John O'Neill was later
honored with the charge of being the lighthouse
keeper for the Concord Point Light which was built
in 1823.
Since much of the growing town that was Havre
de Grace was burned to the ground by the British
during the War of 1812, little is known about the
appearance of the original town prior to the early
nineteenth century. One of the few buildings to
survive the 1813 raid was the brick home known
today as the Elizabeth Rodgers House.
After the War of 1812, Havre de Grace rebuilt
along the established grid pattern plan. As the
century progressed, the town quickly rebounded.
Still a major transportation corridor, the town set
its sights on other commercial avenues provided by
its waterways. In 1840, the Susquehanna and
Tidewater Canal was completed, opening a
dependable, northern water route and tremendous
economic opportunities as coal and lumber were
shipped from the interior of Pennsylvania and into
Maryland. As the first tidal water point and having
a small but significant harbor, Havre de Grace was
the final canal destination for goods to then be
transported via ship for points beyond. The
lockhouse and a segment of the canal remain in
Havre de Grace, open to the public by the
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Susquehanna Museum: attesting to the canal era
as a significant period in Havre de Grace history.
Throughout the nineteenth century, Havre de
Grace grew as a transportation corridor, with two
railroads laying track through town. The first, the
Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore line,
reached the Susquehanna in the summer of 1837.
Ferry service was provided for the rail cars to cross
the river up to the time of the Civil War, when the
first bridge was constructed across the mouth of
the Susquehanna. The piers of this first wooden
bridge are still visible to the south of the later
Pennsylvania Railroad bridge. The second rail line
to cross the Lower Susquehanna was the B & 0 in
1885. Both lines remain heavily used: the former
for passengers (as part of the Amtrack system) and
freight (as part of Conrail); the latter for freight as
part of CSX.
The construction of the railroads and the canal in
Havre de Grace sealed the town as the hub of
commercial activity for Harford County and as a
primary commercial center for this north central
corner of Maryland. Industries based on the
wealth of the water and land also greatly
contributed to the nineteenth century economic
boom for Havre de Grace. Shad and herring
fishing on the Susquehanna became a major
industry that built several family fortunes. In
addition, several canning houses for processing the
products of surrounding farms were located in
town. Granite from a major vein north of town
was transported to Havre de Grace via a narrow
gauge track through the town center. These
numerous economic facets all converged in Havre
de Grace to build a wealthy, vibrant nineteenth
century community.
The prosperity of the town throughout the
nineteenth century is evidenced by the wealth of
grand houses and commercial downtown
structures located in the historic, central areas of
Havre de Grace. Major architectural building
forms and influences are interwoven within the
City's 400-acre National Register Historic District,
creating a rich town fabric which illustrates the
development of Havre de Grace through time.
Early nineteenth century French colonial and
Federal era homes are interspersed with the later
Queen Anne, Victorian, Carpenter Gothic, and
Stick building forms. Greek Revival and Italianate
influences are not uncommon. With over 800
historically significant commercial and residential
structures, boulevards, tree-lined streets and
waterfront, Havre de Grace is a warm, welcoming,
and walkable city with plenty to see and
experience.
"The Susquehanna's broad delta once
attracted legendary flocks of migratory
waterfowl, lured by the lush grasses that
thrived in the sediment carried downstream
each year by the river. The wild celery alone
sustained huge populations of canvasback
ducks. John James Audubon came here to
study and paint the birds. "
Susquehanna River of Dreams
-- Susan Q. Stranahan
The water and waterfront have meant a great deal
to the City historically as a source of
transportation, economic prosperity, valuable food
resources and, of course, recreation. In Havre de
Grace's 1884 Almanac, the City was described as
"a great resort for visitors, who come here to enjoy
the grand boating, the fine fishing and the exciting
duck shooting for which the season is famous." As
part of the Atlantic Flyway, the area around Havre
de Grace and die Susquehanna Flats was a primary
feeding ground for migratory ducks and geese.
Havre de Grace became world renowned as a
major waterfowl hunting destination, with local
guides providing the necessary equipment of
decoys and special waterfowling boats, such as the
sinkbox and the sneakboat. Although duck hunting
in the area has declined, the well-established Havre
de Grace Decoy Museum displays the importance
of what waterfowling and the craft of decoy
carving meant to the region to the thousands of
visitors each year.
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Today, the waterfront is probably the most highly
recognized tourist resource for Havre de Grace.
As part of the Lower Susquehanna Heritage
Greenway Area, which will traverse both the
eastern and western sides of the Susquehanna,
Havre de Grace will be a major historical and
cultural attraction in this Heritage Area.
C. Fish, Wildlife and Other Living
Resources
The Susquehanna State Park, on the north side of
the Corridor, and Aberdeen Proving Ground, to the
south, contain the highest concentrations of
contiguous forests in the region. These forests
provide critical habitat for declining populations of
forest-dwelling and migratory birds. The region is
part of the Atlantic Flyway and serves as primary
breeding habitat and feeding grounds for migratory
birds.
Years ago, sportsmen traveled from across the
country for the world-renowned waterfowling. In
the Upper Bay region, reports of flocks of
canvasbacks blocking out the sun were common in
the 1800's. Canvasbacks once sold in markets by
the thousands were considered quite a delicacy in
Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York into the
early 1900's. The Susquehanna Flats and its rich
beds of Bay grasses brought the canvasback to the
region.
Bay grasses play an important ecological role by
providing habitat for small forage fish, shellfish
and bottom-dwelling organisms; supplying food
for waterfowl; absorbing excess nutrients; and
producing dissolved oxygen. Recent
environmental pressures, such as high levels of
sediment and nutrient pollution, have severely
depleted these grasses and the living resources that
depend on them.
There are, however, trends that indicate that the
environment for fish and wildlife in the
Susquehanna Flats is improving. The Flats
continue to be home to more Bay grasses than any
other area of the Chesapeake Bay. And although
certain species of waterfowl are decreasing, the
Canada goose, canvasback and wood duck are
thriving in this region.
"In the ]820's and J830's the Susquehanna and
Northeast Rivers attracted large crowds of visitors
each yearfor the first spring run of herring. In those
days the region processed thousands of barrels of
salted and pickled fish and German families from
Lancaster County Pennsylvania, traveled through the
backwoods on treacherous country roads in
Conestoga wagons to fish in the river. "
Maryland's Eastern Shore: A Joumev in Time and
Place
- John Wennersten
In addition to the waterfowl, fish have been an
important natural and economic resource. During
the 1800's, for example, the Susquehanna River's
herring fishery was the most significant fishery in
the Upper Bay, employing much of the community
and supplying food to countless communities
throughout Maryland and Pennsylvania. However,
in the early 1900's, dams were built to supply
electricity to the region. Migratory fish were
blocked from making the trip upstream to historic
spawning habitats. This dramatically reduced the
populations of herring and other migratory fish,
such as the striped bass and shad.
It was not until recently that a fish passage was
installed at Conowingo Dam. Fish passages enable
migratory fish to move beyond the dams and
continue their upstream migration to historic
spawning habitats. Fish passages are also
scheduled to be constructed by the year 2000 at the
Holtwood and Safe Harbor Dams. These fish
passages (along with other efforts made by
watershed organizations and government agencies,
such as habitat restoration, fish stocking, and
management) have helped to bring back shad,
herring and striped bass to the region.
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D. Scenery
One of the unique qualities of the Havre de Grace
Heritage Corridor is its scenery. Visitors and
residents entering the Corridor along the major
entry routes enjoy views of the Chesapeake Bay,
Lower Susquehanna and Susquehanna River
Bridge. Due to the forests, historic buildings,
working farms, waterfront and tree-lined streets
some describe the area as a world class scene.
The Corridor is accessible from Interstate 95
which, from the north, provides motorists with a
spectacular view of the Lower Susquehanna River.
Farther north, the Corridor can be reached from
U.S. Route 1, which crosses the Conowingo Dam
and offers views of the Susquehanna River. Both
routes lead to Maryland Route 155, which treats
motorists to unusual views of the Bay and the
rising landforms of Elk Neck and Aberdeen
Proving Ground in the distance.
Route 155 quickly descends down the fall-line, the
area where the Coastal Plain and the Piedmont
meet, before winding into the business and
residential sections of Havre de Grace. Diverse
views of the waterfront, the Susquehanna, parks,
historic buildings and the Amtrak Railroad Bridge
make arrival to the center of the Heritage Corridor
one of discovery and enjoyment.
U.S. Route 40, which offers access from the east
and west, was one of the first divided highways in
Maryland and the Nation. The National Road,
which is itself the focus of a Heritage Corridor
project in Pennsylvania, was an important artery to
the early growth and development of the country's
resources.
From the east, Route U.S. 40's Thomas J. Hatem
Bridge, provides travelers with views of Havre de
Grace, Perryville, the Susquehanna River, the
Chesapeake Bay, and the other bridges of the
corridor.
E. Aberdeen Proving Ground
Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG), a U.S.
Department of Army installation, is southwest of
Havre de Grace. This area possesses significant
historical, natural and cultural resources and has
important linkages to the Corridor. Since much of
the Proving Ground is off limits to the general
public, APG essentially serves as a wildlife refuge.
APG provides nesting habitat to more pairs of bald
eagles than any other location on the east coast In
addition, heron rookeries, herds of deer, flocks of
wild turkeys, and nesting wood ducks are just a
few of the multitude of wildlife species located on
APG
The Proving Ground does, however, offer access
to scenic vistas overlooking the Chesapeake Bay.
APG provides public access to natural resource
areas including Woodpecker Point, Maryland
Boulevard Park, and the Mitchell House Trails.
APG is also home to much of the Army's
environmental military research and is recognized
as a world leader in this important field.
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VI. Corridor Plan
The purpose of the Heritage Corridor Plan is to
establish a framework for collaborative action to
create a state and federally recognized Heritage
Area and to support existing and proposed
community-based heritage projects, programs and
activities. This Plan illustrates the mechanisms for
implementing the strategies and recommendations
proposed for the Corridor.
The Corridor Plan is divided into three sections.
The first section, describes the Major Elements of
the Plan. The Major Elements represent the "core"
projects or activities which are critical to the initial
success of the Havre de Grace Heritage Corridor
Plan. These projects and activities form the
foundation of the "Heritage Corridor". The second
section, describes the proposed Management
Council which will oversee the implementation of
this, while the third section outlines Specific
Recommendations. These recommendations are
for those initial projects that the Steering
Committee and the community feel must be
accomplished to begin to implement the Major
Elements of the Plan and realize Havre de Grace's
vision.
The Steering Committee encourages public and
private groups as well as individual citizens to
continue developing ideas for projects that will
contribute to the protection and enhancement of
Havre de Grace's heritage.
A. Major Elements
1. Lower Susquehanna Heritage Greenway
(Figure 2, Lower Susquehanna Heritage Greenway
- Harford and Cecil Co., p 8)
The Lower Susquehanna Heritage Greenway is
located on the banks of the Susquehanna River in
Cecil and Harford Counties. Established to
coordinate activities among the region's citizens,
organizations, businesses and governments, its
features are connected by a series of looping paths.
The Greenway is designed to link, promote and
protect the outstanding natural, historical and
recreational resources of the Lower Susquehanna
River Valley. It will also provide opportunities for
increased tourism and economic development to
the towns along its path, including Havre de Grace.
Geography and urban design graduate students at
Towson State University identified a preliminary
greenway alignment and completed an extensive
report in 1994 on the resources of the area and
potential alignment of the Greenway. The Lower
Susquehanna Heritage Greenway Resource Report,
prepared by the Lower Susquehanna Heritage
Greenway Committee with the technical assistance
of Towson State University, has provided and will
continue to provide valuable information relative
to the resource rich area of the Lower
Susquehanna - Upper Chesapeake Bay region.
The Lower Susquehanna Heritage Greenway will
also be the starting point for pursuing a Maryland
Heritage Area designation as provided for in
House Bill 1 (Maryland General Assembly, 1996
session) This designation will include portions of
Harford and Cecil Counties from Conowingo Dam
to Havre de Grace and Penyville. The Havre de
Grace Heritage Corridor Plan will be incorporated
into the overall Heritage Area Management Plan,
and will serve to guide and support activities
within the Havre de Grace Heritage Corridor.
Lower Susquehanna Heritage Greenway Goals:
The Lower Susquehanna Heritage Greenway
Committee has met with the Havre de Grace
Heritage Corridor Steering Committee to review
the following Greenway goals and potential routes
through the City. Both routes will connect with
the vital historical and cultural sites in the City.
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The Lower Susquehanna Heritage Greenway will
work with the Havre de Grace Heritage Corridor
to:
Identify a defined route from where the
Lower Susquehanna Heritage Greenway
arrives in the City at North Park and
extends through the City to South Park.
This route should provide opportunities
for both pedestrian and bicycle traffic and
should connect with the City's business
and historic districts.
Provide a point of departure for crossing
the Susquehanna River to Cecil County.
As a result of the meetings, the Lower
Susquehanna Heritage Greenway will follow two
planned routes in Havre de Grace (Figure 3:
Lower Susquehanna Heritage Greenway - Havre
de Grace Segment, p 10).
The Lower Susquehanna Heritage
Greenway will designate a bicycle route
primarily along Juniata St., Union Ave.,
Commerce St., Market St. and St. John St.
This alignment provides for a continuous
loop through the City with ample access to
the Historic District, Business District and
the waterfront.
A second similar Greenway alignment will
provide a pedestrian path, primarily along
Union Ave., Commerce St., Market St.
and St. John St., ensuring a connection to
the City's historic and business districts
and the waterfront.
The continued development of the Greenway in
Havre de Grace is a priority of the Havre de Grace
Heritage Corridor Management Council and the
Lower Susquehanna Heritage Greenway
Committee.
2. Museums of the Region
The museums of the City and the region are major
cultural resources within, and will serve as the
center-piece of, the Heritage Corridor. The five
museums that are participating in the Heritage
Corridor effort are described below. A list of other
museums in Harford and Cecil Counties that offer
cultural resources and visitor attractions is
provided at the end of this section.
Susquehanna Museum
The Susquehanna Museum, located at the
Lockhouse in Havre de Grace, and operated by a
private, nonprofit organization, has been open to
the public since 1980. It is chartered to collect,
maintain and interpret local history. Tours are
provided to the public on weekends from May
through October. Group tours can be scheduled at
other times.
The Museum is actively involved in educational
outreach to local public schools both in the
classroom and at the Museum's historic facilities.
Since 1972, the Museum has hosted the Havre de
Grace Annual Candlelight Tour in December. This
major fund-raising event attracts hundreds of
visitors from around the region who tour local
homes and shops.
The Museum recently completed a plan to identify
and prioritize the goals envisioned for the next ten
years. This plan also includes capital, interpretive
and administrative programs for maintenance and
expansion of facilities and historical structures,
improved signage throughout the area, more
effective interpretation of the local history and
operational skills, and funding strategies to carry
out the plan.
Susquehanna Museum Goals:
Acquire adjacent properties to enable the
Museum to implement their current master
plan which includes: a 5,000 square foot
facility for visitor reception, handicap
accessibility, public restrooms, expanded
displays, media and conference rooms;
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administrative and gift shop
facilities; open-air pavilion;
improved walkways; improved
signage; expanded parking for
Museum guests as well as for
visitors entering Havre de Grace
via the "Greenway" at North Park.
Complete the lock restoration by installing
new working gates and interconnect the
lock with the historic basin.
Sponsor the construction of an authentic,
full-scale canal boat in cooperation with
the Havre de Grace Maritime Museum.
Construct a model to explain how lift locks
work.
Restore the canal and towpath from Havre
de Grace to Deer Creek.
Expand and enhance outreach to schools
and the public.
Acquire a Museum Director and other
paid supporting staff.
Expand the operating season and hours to
provide for better public access.
Decov Museum
The Havre de Grace
Decoy Museum is a
private, nonprofit
organization situated on
two acres of land
overlooking the
headwaters of the
Chesapeake Bay. The Museum opens its doors to
the public seven days a week, 360 days a year.
There are three main galleries in the Museum
called "What is a Decoy?," "Decoy Makers, A
Tribute" and "Gunning the Flats." Staff includes
a full-time director, curator and six part-time
employees. The Board of Directors and staff
conduct five major fund raising events a year. The
Decoy Museum exists to serve as a constant
reminder of our history and to support a greater
awareness of the environment and wildlife of the
Chesapeake Bay.
Decoy Museum Goals:
Future plans for the Museum include expansion of
the building and exhibits, education programs, and
staff positions. The expansions of the physical
building include:
Development of an Ecology Center with a
living exhibit entitled "Susquehanna Flats -
A Changing Environment".
Installation of an elevator for handicap
accessibility.
Development of a 125-seat auditorium for
school groups and special programs.
Addition to house the R.M. Mitchell
Decoy Shop.
Establishment of a visitor reception area
and an enlarged gift shop to enhance
Museum revenues.
Expansion or creation of educational
programs in the following areas for both
children and adults;
Formalized learning in
cooperation with Harford and
Cecil County Schools and with
Harford Community College.
Hands-on learning about
waterfowl and wildlife
conservation.
Parent and child ecology
workshops.
Internships.
Seminars on the environment,
conservation and preservation.
After-school decoy carving classes
for ages twelve to eighteen.
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Maritime Museum
Historically, Havre de Grace has been the hub of
water-related commerce and recreation on the
Upper Chesapeake Bay. The Havre de Grace
Maritime Museum was incorporated in 1988 to
preserve this rich maritime heritage. The primary
purposes of the Museum as delineated in its
charter are:
To provide to the general public education
and cultural appreciation of the maritime
heritage of the Upper Chesapeake Bay
area.
To provide a venue to display artifacts and
photographs related to the maritime trades
and history of the Upper Chesapeake Bay.
To operate a boat shop for the
construction and restoration of vessels in
the style of the bygone water craft used in
the region.
To provide historical education for the
younger generation and the general public
as to how the water craft of long ago were
To provide
information
on the usage
of the artifacts
in the
Museum and
the general
purposes for
which the
vessels were
used.
The Maritime Museum is in the process of
completing the construction of its permanent
building in the proposed South Park. Phase one of
the plan, the construction of the pilings and deck,
has been completed. The proposed opening date
for the Museum's new building is spring of 1998.
The final stage of the construction of the building
will be the development and construction of the
exhibit area; this is planned to begin soon after the
building's structure is completed
The Maritime Museum is not waiting for the
completion of its main building to begin realizing
its vision. To date the Museum has sponsored or
supervised the following projects and events:
Vintage Boat Displays - Two vintage
skipjacks, including the Martha Lewis,
which was recently restored and is
currently an active oyster vessel,
educational vessel, a vessel for tours and
cruises. The other skipjack, the Mary
Somers, serves as a display.
Wooden Boat Expo - This annual June
event is co-organized and co-sponsored
with the Chesapeake Wooden Boat
Builders Association.
Maritime Heritage Days - This annual
event involves students of the local middle
schools in cooperation with the Boat
Building School and other waterfront
Museums.
Maritime Festival - A June event for the
public that offers antique, classic and
traditional boats, maritime demonstrations,
exhibits, crafts and environmental
information.
Lecture Series - The Museum sponsors a
lecture series on the historical traditions of
Maritime life.
Premier Authentic Boat Visits - The
Maritime Museum co-sponsors this event
in cooperation with the Havre de Grace
Chamber of Commerce and Tourism
Commission.
constructed and used.
Havre de Grace
Maritime Museum
Maritime Museum Goals:
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Cooperative Ventures and Exhibit
Exchanges - The Museum will participate
in programs with other area museums and
organizations.
Restoration of a Working Skipjack - The
Museum took an active role in the
restoration and maintenance of the
skipjack, the Martha Lev/is.
Concord Point Liehthouse and the O'Neill
House
The Concord Point Lighthouse is one of the oldest
structures standing along the shoreline of Havre de
Grace. Erected in 1827, its beacon shone to guide
the maritime traffic around the treacherous shoals
at the mouth of the Susquehanna River. Although
decommissioned in 1975, the light has been
maintained and burns brightly each night.
Because it is so distinctive, the image of the
Lighthouse has been incorporated into the logo of
the City of Havre de Grace as well as the logos of
many df the local businesses and organizations. It
has, in fact, become the visual symbol of the area.
In 1977, the Friends of the Concord Point
Lighthouse was organized and later incorporated
as a nonprofit organization dedicated to the
restoration of the Lighthouse as a historical site to
be used for the education and pleasure of the
public. Much work has gone into the restoration
of the Lighthouse and the surrounding grounds,
with emphasis placed on authenticity and quality.
Thousands of people have visited the lighthouse
and learned from the volunteer lighthouse keepers
the rich history and culture of the tower and its
keepers. Classes of school children as well as civic
and professional groups enjoy tours conducted by
dedicated members of the "Friends."
With completion of the work on the Lighthouse,
the Friends turned their attention to the restoration
of the original Lighthouse keeper's house,
commonly called the O'Neill House after the first
keeper.
Concord Point Lighthouse and O'Neill House
Goals:
Restoration of the O'Neill House has started.
Archaeological investigation and examination of
the area has been completed as has the removal of
the two added wings of the building. Work is
being conducted under the guidance of a qualified
historical architect. Continuation of the program
includes:
Completion of the restoration and
furnishing of the O'Neill House to its form
in the 1880's.
Reconstruction of the keeper's garden and
outbuildings surrounding the House.
Construction of a gift shop to replace the
small facility now on the ground floor level
of the Lighthouse. Increased income from
the giftshop will help to continue the
upkeep of the facility and grounds.
Continuation and expansion of the
educational programs now offered to the
community.
Steminestone Museum
The Steppingstone Museum is a private, not-for-
profit museum, which primarily preserves and
demonstrates the rural arts and crafts of the 1880-
1920 period in Harford County. It's location is in
the Susquehanna State Park, just north of the City.
The Steppingstone collection is comprised of
domestic arts, skilled trades, and husbandry. The
artifacts in each category were used by skilled
specialists whose talents are scarce in today's
urban and industrial society.
23
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The Museum's theme is " The Vis, Industries and
Crafts of America's Last Rural Generation " This
theme provides focus for the exhibits and live
demonstrations at the Museum and also a basic
guideline for the acquisition of artifacts. The
purpose of the interpretive program at
Steppingstone is the acquisition, preservation, and
study of the material culture of America's last rural
generation, as well as the exhibition and
demonstrated use of the artifacts. The Museum
was established for the education of the younger
generation and continues to strive to achieve this
goal.
The Steppingstone Museum Association, Inc., has
an 18-member Board of Directors, a full-time
Executive Director, three part-time assistants and
extensive volunteer network which administers and
organizes all Museum functions and programs By
special agreement, the Museum is jointly
sponsored on i non-funding basis with the State of
Maryland.
Museum Programs include special events such as:
a Civil War Encampment, Old Tyme Arts and
Crafts Day, Scottish Festival, the Susquehanna
Wine Festival, Children's Games Day, Fall Harvest
Festival and Craft Show and Christmas open
House. The Museum also offers a variety of pre-
arranged tours for school groups and civic
organizations. The Museum grounds and the
pavilion are available for rental for weddings,
reunions and parties.
The Museum co-sponsors, with Harford
Community College, historical craft workshops in
April and a lecture series in October. A winter
fundraiser, the Festival of Trees, is held at Harford
Mall in December Steppingstone relies on
memberships, tour programs, admissions and
special events for income to maintain operation
and to provide the above services.
Steppingstone Goals:
Development of a living history program.
Completion of a canning house
representative of this prosperous industry
at the turn of the century
Construction of a pole barn to house (arm
equipment relative to the Museum s time
period
Completion of a scenic overlook cซf the
Susquehanna liver and Cecil County.
Enhancement of displays and installation
of appropnat.* signage,
Formation or a volunteer association to
strengthen current volunteer netwoik.
Other Regional IjerUaSe Centers
The following natural and cultural museums, and
environmental education centers are located within
Cecil and Harford Counties and in close proximity
to the Heritage Corridor
Chesapeake and Delaware Canal Museimi
Fair Hill Nature & Environmental Center
Havre de Grace Ecological Center
(proposed)
Ladew Topiary Gardens
Paw-Paw Building
lock Run Mill
Pooles Island Lighthouse
Rodgers Tavern
Turkey Point Lighthouse
Upper Bay Museum
U.S. Army Ordnance Museum
Harford Glen
24
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3, Economic Development
"Hit" (its ui I i;n re t!f ( uact* ha .1 diu,i>,e economy
cofiSi,'-;liii|" of industrial commeiual and retail
hti.sitie'Jsc-, Umiiit; 1 100; ;t downturn in the
eionotm jr.Mtlk'd !ii a Mendicant lo>s of well
paying full-time |t*b. which created ซin
unemployment i.tte ofinei 11%, the highest in
Harford County
Thel'itv yox eminent and the \;utous segments of
the Countv and Cny business communitv are
becoming increasini'lv aware of ilk* importance of
the attraction,-: Has re tie c irate has to offer the
tourist market and the critical role ckn clnpriient of
tounsm as an industrv s*. ill (ปla> for the Cit>
Havre tit- (irate Fact:
Over yu.oou cars per day drive along the major
highway corridors of Interstate 95, Route 40
and Route 155, These drivers ire all potential j
tourists to lie Havre dc Grace Heritage
Corridor- the first window 011 the Bay, ;
-State of Maryland, Office of Tourism,
Baltimore, MB,
hi
H
'
de Grace already has a
industry'. The State of Maryland,
lounsm ueveiopmeni ? oaitiinore, mu, estimates
that cacti 'day-tripper spends S39 per person, cash
(iiound Oidnaucu Museum and the Dean
Museum hi In each of the past fnt* years
attendance at the Decov Museum has increased
A lecreattoti tndustiy already exists in the Corridor;
however, there is potential lo enhance and expand
these economic opportunities. In addition to six
City parks, there are over 6t>(> boat slips, five boat
launching ramps, a sailing school and limited
watercraf't rentals Within a ten-mile radius there
are six golf public/private courses, including a 36-
hole facility currently under construction
Commercial recreation opportunities, which
tematn to be addressed or expanded, include
movie theaters, bowling lanes, activity centers,
skating rinks and watercraft rentals
By enhancing the cultural, historical, recreational
and ecological resources in Havre de Grace, the
opportunity exists to improve the local tourism
industry dramatically. The City of Havre de Grace
will, through a stale grant, commission a study to
overnight visitor spends SI 10 per day. Attendance
-at festivals and other City events total ii tie
^ ^^1. year. In 1995. the attendance at
the Havre de Grace Arts and Crifts Festival Havre
de Grace Seafood .Festival and Beach Boys'
Conceit exceeded. 45 000 peoote it was'estimated' ฆ
fill the concert alone generated $360,000,86% of
which' came from outside Havre de Chfece. -As .1
- .ฆ'% 4 ^ r: - _ i"' _ ' $%, r
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The Mayor and City Council in the 1996-97
Budget established Economic Development as a
priority by allocating $85,000 to various projects
most of which directly relate to heritage tourism.
The projects funded by the City include.
Securing grants to study the feasibility of a
first class waterfront hotel, restaurant,
conference center and marina.
The City's investment of time, staff and funds
clearly demonstrates this fact.
A list of "Economic Development Priorities",
which were developed at a March 1996 Priorities
Summit held in Havre de Grace, are included as
Appendix B. Most, if not all, of the projects
identified are important to the goals and objectives
of this Plan.
Conducting retail market analysis focusing
on heritage related tourism.
Developing marketing tools that present
a walking tour of Havre de Grace
emphasizing the current and planned
enhancements to tourist attractions.
Other activities which enhance the City's
tourism market share.
The City's Comprehensive Plan and a recent
community summit, which called together a
diverse group of 70-80 City residents, cited as the
most important capital projects for the City:
Further improvement and development of
the waterfront.
Completing the building and program
delivery of major attractions such as, the
Decoy, Lockhouse and Maritime
Museums, the Lighthouse, and the
Skipjack Martha Lewis.
Improving the adjacent infrastructure.
Building public restrooms, transient piers,
deep water harbor, breakwater, gateways
to the City, public parking facilities.
Attracting specialty retail shops.
Attracting middle- to high-end restaurants.
Adding a water taxi and/tour boat.
Developing land transportation such as a
bus-trolley system.
Heritage Tourism is Growing:
Maryland Office of Tourism, Baltimore, MD,
suggests that the market for heritage tourism
destinations extends to a 200 mile radius of
nearby Baltimore. In total, the State estimates
that approximately 16.7 million households are
within a half day's drive of heritage tourism
destinations such as Havre de Grace.
The Decoy Museum is an example of a
heritage tourism destination which is
experiencing steady increases in visitation to
its museum.
1993 - 19,000 visitors
1994 - 24,380 visitors
1995 - 29,190 visitors
The sum of these parts can help to significantly
improve the City's position in the tourism market.
The City of Havre de Grace is committed to
heritage tourism as an integral part of its economy.
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4. Education Opportunities
Much of the educational program for the Heritage
Corridor will be developed by Harford Community
College. The Community College is building an
excellent reputation with its innovative
programming efforts and its state-of-the-art
distance learning Higher Education and Applied
Technology (HEAT) Center. These capabilities
will be used to meet the educational priorities of
the Heritage Corridor. In fact, the proposed
Maritime Educational Distance Learning Program
would utilize the services of the HEAT Center's
environmental program, Harford County
Knowledge Network and the Internet through a
state-of-the-art multi-media classroom. Drop-in
visitors and students in specially designed classes
will be able to access the information highway to
learn about ecology, the environment and maritime
history.
Through teleconferencing, students at the Maritime
Education Center will be able to create dialogues
wilh colleagues across the country and around the
world. Joining the college in this effort will be the
Harford County Library, Harford County Public
Schools and Bell Atlantic.
The educational program, specifically linked to the
distance learning activities, will be provided to the
North Park and to the Aberdeen Proving Ground.
In this way, the educational program will be
electronically linked to all the educational
opportunities available throughout the Heritage
Corridor.
In addition, members of the Steering Committee
have met with the Smithsonian Institution's Center
for Museum Studies and are developing a proposal
for a collaborative statewide demonstration project
to use the museums, and other heritage resources,
of Havre de Grace to train museum staff about
ecological and cultural museums.
5. Ecological Conservation
The Lower Susquehanna is one of the most
ecologically productive and fertile areas of the
Chesapeake Bay watershed. State and local
governments have joined together to develop
Tributary Strategies, as recommended by the Joint
Tributary Strategy Statement that was developed
by the Chesapeake Executive Council in 1993
(Chesapeake Bay Program Office, Annapolis,
MD). Tributary Strategies are designed to reduce
nutrient loadings to the Bay and its tributaries.
Located in the Upper Western Shore Tributary,
Havre de Grace has a unique opportunity to
participate in the Tributary Strategies Program.
The Heritage Corridor effort will provide
numerous opportunities to showcase innovative
approaches to nutrient management, and can
educate many visitors about efforts to protect and
restore the Chesapeake Bay.
Another example of conservation techniques used
in this region is the extensive Lower Susquehanna
Heritage Greenway (see Figure 2, Lower
Susquehanna Heritage GreenwayHarford and
Cecil Co.; p 8), which has a proposed alignment
through the City of Havre de Grace. The
Greenway offers recreational opportunities and
will also preserve natural corridors along the
Susquehanna, providing multiple opportunities for
environmental education.
Due to the uniqueness of the fish and wildlife
resources the region possesses, a number of
individuals; community, civic and watershed
organizations and associations; and governmental
agencies are working to restore and protect the
Lower Susquehanna - Upper Chesapeake Bay. For
example, Harford County government is heavily
involved in Maryland's Program Open Space,
which is designed to preserve and protect natural
lands while providing public access to them. Some
residents are actively involved in local community
planning councils, while others participate in a
local citizens' water quality and Bay grasses
monitoring program.
29
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B. Management Council
The Havre de Grace Heritage Corridor
Management Council will implement the Havre de
Grace Heritage Corridor Plan The Management
Council, which is currently represented by the
Steering Committee (see p. 15 for membership
organizations), will be formally established through
the creation of a private nonprofit (or other) entity
or a Memorandum of Understanding among
vanous partners. The Council is not intended to be
a new unit of government or duplicate the activities
or responsibilities of existing governments or
private groups. It is intended to support
cooperation, collaboration, local autonomy and
voluntary private sector efforts within the City,
county and region.
The Council will form a Board of Directors
comprising equal representation from the primary
partners. Primary representation on the
Management Council will including the following:
The Greater Havre de Grace Museum
Alliance, representing the museums.
City of Havre de Grace - Department of
Planning or Economic Development.
Harford County Government - Department
of Planning and Zoning or Economic
Development.
The Lower Susquehanna Community
Development Corporation (LS CDC),
representing the economic development
interests of the Heritage Corridor.
The Havre de Grace Chamber of
Commerce, representing the Business
District.
Aberdeen Proving Ground - Office of
Plans, Training, and Mobilization.
The Lower Susquehanna Heritage
Greenways Committee, representing the
Greenway in the Heritage Corridor.
The Discover Harford County Tourism
Council, Inc., representing Harford
County's tourism industry.
Havre de Grace Tourism Commission.
Two Havre de Grace citizens at large.
In addition to the core support of the Management
Council, others have pledged their support to the
concept. These include, Cecil Community
College, Bell Atlantic, Harford County Public
Schools, Cecil County Public Schools, University
of Maryland, University of Delaware, C&D Canal
Museum, Susquehannock Environmental Center,
US Army Ordnance Museum, Maryland Office of
Planning and Maryland Department of Natural
Resources.
The Management Council's role in guiding the
development of the Heritage Corridor will be to:
Serve as the vehicle for coordinating with
other heritage efforts in the region such as
the Lower Susquehanna Heritage Area.
Serve as a regional liaison for
communication with public agencies and
private groups on heritage area issues and
opportunities.
Set priorities for the implementation of the
action plan recommendations.
Apply for State and Federal heritage
recognition, certification and/or
designation, in coordination with the
Lower Susquehanna Heritage Area effort.
Develop detailed heritage management
plans as requested by the State and the
National Park Service.
30
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Help local governments, private
organizations and community groups to
seek and secure funding for projects that
will help to implement the Havre de Grace
Heritage Corridor Plan.
Convene forums and workshops, as
needed, to coordinate efforts in the
Heritage Corridor.
Serve as the mechanism to facilitate
funding and distribution of grants and
loans to implement the goal and objectives
of the Heritage Corridor Plan.
Prepare and distribute periodic activities
reports, at least annually, to all
organizations represented on the
Management Council and make these
reports available to the public.
Relationship between the Lower Susquehanna
Heritage Greenway and Heritage Area
In 1992, the Maryland Greenways Commission
(Maryland Department of Natural Resources,
Annapolis, MD) and the Maryland Office of
Planning formed a Coordinating Committee to
gauge the feasibility of and commitment for
development of a "Heritage Greenway". The
Lower Susquehanna Heritage Greenway
Committee has been working since that time to
link, access, protect, and manage the valuable
resources of the Lower Susquehanna area. Work
includes identifying an open space and trail
network to link communities and resources on both
sides of the River. The Havre de Grace Heritage
Corridor Steering Committee has designated a
representative to sit on the Lower Susquehanna
Heritage Greenway Committee to ensure
coordination between the two groups, and likewise
the Greenway Committee has also designated a
representative to sit on the Steering Committee for
the; same reasons.
The proposed Lower Susquehanna Heritage
Greenway Area, which extends from the
Conowingo Dam to the head of the Bay, along
both sides of the river, will form a nonprofit
organization. This organization will have a board
of directors primarily comprised of representatives
from the Lower Susquehanna Heritage Greenway
Committe, the Havre de Grace Heritage Corridor
Management Council and other appropriate
organizations.
Besides these member organizations, each
municipality, the Counties and appropriate State
and Federal Agencies will also designate ex-officio
representatives to sit on the Board of the proposed
Heritage Area. Organization of the proposed
Lower Susquehanna Heritage Greenway Area is
currently being orchestrated through the Lower
Susquehanna Heritage Greenway Committee.
Coordination between the proposed Lower
Susquehanna Heritage Greenway Area and the
Heritage Corridor Management Council are
essential to the implementation of this Plan.
31
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C. Specific Recommendations
The following is a summary of the recommended
actions to achieve the goals of the Havre de Grace
Heritage Corridor Plan. These recommendations
were identified at numerous Havre de Grace
Heritage Corridor Steering Committee meetings, at
a public Workshop held in April 1995 and at a
special Steering Committee work session in June
1996.
1. Promote ecological awareness, conservation
and preservation of the Lower Susquehanna and
the Upper Chesapeake Bay to maintain and
enhance Havre de Grace's economic vitality and
quality of life.
The Lower Susquehanna River and the Upper
Chesapeake Bay are intricate components of a
unique ecological system that spans 64,000 square
miles - the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The
relationship between the River and Bay is most
evident at its confluence, just below Havre de
Grace where the River meets the Bay. The
Chesapeake Bay, a national treasure, and the
Susquehanna River, a Maryland Scenic River of
regional significance, have helped to define the
region's history and will most certainly play a
pivotal role in its future.
HOW:
Promote ecological awareness through
participation at annual environmental,
community, economic and heritage events
such as Earth Day, the Annual Havre de
Grace Waterfowl Festival and the Annual
Maritime Festival.
Use a botanical garden of indigenous
plants to create a showcase stormwater
management facility within the intensely
developed areas of Havre de Grace's
Chesapeake Bay State Critical Area.
Hold an all-day event with the community
and service providers to present the
Heritage Corridor Plan to increase public
awareness and foster involvement and
assistance.
Actively participate in the Delmarva
Advisory Council's "Atlantic Flyway
Byway Project" to help create a regional
ecological tourism driving, biking and
hiking route. The Byway will link
migratory bird-related parks, refuges,
museums, businesses, services and
attractions within the Upper Bay and the
Delmarva Peninsula-from Havre de Grace
to Cape Charles, Virginia.
Build an awareness of the natural
resources of the region by completing an
inventory, assessment and map of the
ecological resources, functions and values
of the Lower Susquehanna - Upper
Chesapeake Bay region.
Collaborate on the design and function of
an ecology center in the Heritage Corridor.
Establish a system of "Bay Watch"
environmental indicators to measure
progress and set management priorities for
the Heritage Corridor.
32
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2. Support cultural heritage revitalization efforts
by individual organizations that manage historic
and cultural resources.
Supporting existing efforts, as well as initiating
multi-objective heritage activities, is vital to
achieving the shared goals of the Heritage
Corridor. Havre de Grace, as well as other areas
such as the Aberdeen Proving Ground, offer an
array of historical and cultural buildings,
structures, sites and museums that capture and
preserve the past.
HOW:
Support an inventory, assessment and
map of the historical and cultural
resources that are significant in the Lower
Susquehanna - Upper Chesapeake Bay
region.
Support the physical linkage of historical
and cultural resources in Havre de Grace
by continuing the signature sidewalk
theme of the promenade along with
distinctive street marking.
Promote the initiatives of the museum
partners and the Martha Lev/is.
Provide staffing to coordinate the Havre de
Grace Heritage Corridor Plan. Staff duties
may include coordinating museums, grant
writing and Corridor plan implementation.
Further develop the North Charles D.
Montgomery Park (Figure 7; p 42) and
South Heritage Park (Figure 8; p 44)
areas.
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3. Support and enhance Lower Susquehanna
Heritage Green way Development -
The establishment of the Lower Susquehanna
Heritage Greenway as a Maryland Heritage Area
will play a major role in helping to implement the
Heritage Corridor Plan Within the Corridor, the
Lower Susquehanna Heritage Greenway provides
an opportunity to establish a physical link between
Havre de Grace's resources and others in the
region. It will also provide additional recreational
opportunities. Its development through the City of
Havre de Grace and its linkages with other
localities will enhance economic opportunities and
further promote the appreciation of natural
resource areas.
HOW:
Continue to develop the Heritage
Greenway alignment through Havre de
Grace and establish the connection
between the existing Susquehanna State
Park Greenway to Havre de Grace's North
Park.
Work with the Lower Susquehanna
Heritage Greenway Committee to acquire
a Maryland Heritage Area designation for
the Lower Susquehanna Heritage
Greenway Area.
Work to ensure the establishment of
vehicular, pedestrian, bicycle, wildlife and
habitat linkages between Havre de Grace
and other. sections of the Lower
Susquehanna Heritage Greenway Area.
Identify opportunities to work with public
and private land owners to identify
potential greenway alignments in order to
establish a greenway connection, in the
broadest sense of the term, between the
proposed Havre de Grace Heritage
Corridor and the Aberdeen Proving
Ground. Alternatives involving land,
highway, information and water-related
linkages will be explored.
Identify any archeological, faunal or other
environmental challenges when connecting
the Lower Susquehanna Heritage
Greenway with North Park in Havre de
Grace. Appropriate State agencies should
be requested to provide technical
assistance with identifying and surveying
the proposed trail alignment to ensure
critical habitat and endangered species are
identified and protected.
4. Support educational opportunities by
providing state-of-the-art educational
programming which will include cultural
resource conservation (e.g. boat building classes)
and environmental protection education classes
to students from across the region.
Educational opportunities in the Heritage Corridor,
if realized, could revolutionize educational
programming as we know it. Opportunities to
promote living classrooms in the museums,
proposed ecology center, and on the Martha Lewis
will further promote the Lower Susquehanna-
Upper Chesapeake region as an educational center.
By working with the County's educational
department, and in partnership with the educational
consortium of colleges and universities, these goals
can be realized.
HOW:
Support the development of formal and
informal educational programs that
promote the cultural, historical and
ecological functions and values of the
Lower Susquehanna-,Upper Chesapeake
region.
36
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Ensure that the Heritage Area educational
program is incorporated into the City and
County's formal educational
programming.
Invite the Center for Environmental and
Estuarine Studies (CEES), University of
Maryland, to participate as a partner in
educational programming in the Heritage
Corridor.
5. Support a public awareness program to
ensure continued promotion and coordination of
Heritage Corridor efforts.
Public interest, involvement and participation
served as the catalyst behind the development of
this Plan. The Heritage Corridor Management
Council should continue to seek more public input
through additional public forums and broad
outreach.
Display data collected by the CEES
monitoring buoys at CEES buildings and
other buildings in the Heritage Corridor.
Ensure the development of a Maritime
Educational Program that emphasizes
distance learning and other technological
opportunities to enhance the educational
programs.
Develop an educational program to
interpret, integrate and enhance the
ecological resources in the region. Use
existing educational institutions and the
Martha Lewis to enhance the effort.
Develop a ten-point ecology education
projgram.
Collaborate with local Museum operators,
the Smithsonian Institute's Center for
Museum Studies, the State of Maryland,
the National Park Service and EPA to
develop a Heritage Museum Training
Program Demonstration Project.
Develop a program designed to interpret,
integrate and enhance educational value of
local heritage resources.
HOW:
Conduct periodic public forums to
evaluate this effort and to provide an
opportunity for citizen input and
involvement in the implementation of the
Plan.
Inform citizens of on-going initiatives by
developing a community awareness
process using regular newspaper articles
and presentations before the City Council,
business groups, and citizen organizations.
Provide and promote opportunities for
citizen involvement in various project
initiatives.
Develop, and make available to the public,
a project management chart which details
the progress of various projects that are
underway.
Develop a mailing list of publications and
newsletters where regular articles and
notices can be published.
Increase the number of participants in the
Susqyehanna Flats citizen monitoring
program.
Establish and prioritize capital and
operational fund raising plans involving
strong public and private partnerships.
37
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6. Enhance heritage tourism opportunities
through collaboration with tourism agencies and
groups
Heritage tourism is a growing economic resource
for communities across the nation and clearly there
are opportunities in the Havre de Grace region to
benefit from such a movement. By working with
City and County tourism departments, Heritage
Corridor partners will promote the concept and
identify opportunities to enhance heritage tourism
throughout the Corridor.
HOW:
Develop a tourism marketing plan for all
heritage resources in the Corridor in
coordination with the City and County
Tourism Bureaus.
Pursue promotion of the Havre de Grace
Heritage Corridor through the Atlantic
Flyway Byway ecological tourism route.
The Delmarva Advisory Council's
"Atlantic Flyway Byway" tour begins in
Havre de Grace and makes an oval-shaped
loop connecting wildfowl habitat and
migratory bird routes and habitat adjacent
to the Chesapeake Bay, Atlantic Ocean
and the Delaware Bay.
Develop a marketing and promotion
strategy to promote the Heritage Corridor.
Create a brochure and logo announcing the
development of a Havre de Grace Heritage
Corridor in coordination with the Lower
Susquehanna Heritage Greenway effort.
Develop informational kiosks in
appropriate areas throughout the Heritage
Corridor to promote and educate the
public regarding the cultural, historical and
natural resources of the region. Use the
Promenade as a potential first
informational kiosk site.
Identify retail tourism markets and market
the City according to the demographics
identified.
7. Promote regional cooperation to enhance
resource protection and economic vitality
To ensure that a coordinated and well planned
effort is made to promote the Heritage Corridor,
citizens, private and public interests should work
together to develop a comprehensive
implementation strategy. The strategy will
incorporate heritage tourism goals and provide
opportunities for individual partners in the
Corridor to promote their events.
HOW:
Encourage Aberdeen Proving Ground to
become a full partner in the Heritage
Corridor effort and an essential component
of the Lower Susquehanna Heritage Area
APG will take the lead on several key
projects proposed in the implementation of
the Heritage Corridor plan.
Coordinate the development of the Havre
de Grace Heritage Corridor Plan with
representatives from Penyville, Port
Deposit, Lower Susquehanna Greenway
Committee and Aberdeen Proving Ground
to ensure consistency in developing a plan
for the Lower Susquehanna Heritage Area.
38
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Build partnerships with service providers
that can contribute to the achievement of
Havre de Grace Corridor Plan objectives,
including:
- Harford Community College
- University of Maryland CEES
- Towns of Perryville and Port
Deposit
- Otter Creek component of the
National Estuarine Research
Center
- U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- Atlantic Flyway Byway
Consortium
Work with the City and business
community to promote the Heritage
Corridor resources as well as their
businesses.
Share the Heritage Corridor Plan and
actions with federal, state and local
governments to garner their support for
the implementation of plan actions.
Join with jurisdictions in finding funding
sources and in facilitating accompanying
construction.
& Recognize the natural and cultural heritage of
Havre de Grace through State and National
Heritage recognition, certification and
designation
The Lower Susquehanna Heritage Greenway
Committee and the Havre de Grace Management
Council should work together to have the entire
region recognized as a State and/or National
Heritage Area. These efforts are also essential to
realizing the goals of the Heritage Corridor. State
or National Heritage designation can be an
effective tool for local leaders to recognize the
unique qualities of the Corridor, stimulate heritage
tourism and make the community more
competitive for public and private funding to
accomplish environmental, community and
economic objectives.
HOW:
Apply, with the approval of local
governments and through the Lower
Susquehanna Heritage Greenway Area
Board, to the Maryland Heritage Areas
Authority to ensure that the Havre de
Grace Heritage Corridor is included in
requests for designation as a "State
Recognized Heritage Area."
Develop a comprehensive map that shows
the important components of the Heritage
Corridor, including the North and South
Parks, the Lower Susquehanna Heritage
Greenway, the proposed Heritage Area
and possible connections with the
resources at Aberdeen Proving Ground.
The Management Council, with the
approval of local governments and in
cooperation with the State of Maryland
and the Lower Susquehanna Heritage
Greenway Area, should work with
Congress and the National Park Service to
seek designation as a National Heritage
Area for all or parts of the Havre de Grace
Heritage Corridor.
Meet with the National Park Service to
identify possible heritage projects.
Congress intends to provide the National
Park Service with $200,000 for its
Chesapeake Bay Initiative, $100,000 of
which is to be used to work with federal,
state, local, and private entities throughout
the watershed. (1997, Cooperative
Agreement between the United States
Department of the Interior National Park
Service and the Lower Susqehanna
Heritage Greenway, Inc., CA4000-7-
9008.)
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9. Support community and economic goals and
priorities consistent with heritage goals and
objectives.
Create and support economic revitalization and
enhancement of the quality of life for the City of
Havre de Grace by facilitating the design,
development, and construction or acquisition of
heritage tourism- related attractions and
businesses.
HOW:
Acquire financing for and build Heritage
Corridor and related infrastructure.
Study the feasibility for a hotel, conference
center, restaurant and marina on the
waterfront.
Design and develop marketing materials to
attract Heritage Corridor related
businesses and for profit attractions.
Facilitate, through informational seminars
and other means, the acceptance by local
community of tourism's importance to the
City.
Replace stormwater grates to ensure
bicycle safety.
Enhance community facilities and
infrastructure, including parking, public
restrooms, informational kiosks, signature
sidewalk, visitor centers and stormwater
management services.
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VII. Next Steps
The following initial actions should be taken to
begin to implement the recommendations of the
Plan.
ฆ Form the Havre de Grace Heritage
Corridor Management Council:
The Steering Committee should take swift action
to formally create the Havre de Grace Heritage
Management Council, through a private nonprofit
(or other) entity or a Memorandum of
Understanding between various partners.
A member of the Management Council will be
appointed as a representative to the Lower
Susquehanna Heritage Greenway Area Board of
Directors.
ฆ Publicize and Distribute the Plan:
The Management Council should hold a public
meeting, or meetings, to present and distribute
copies of the Heritage Corridor Plan to the
community. Copies should be broadly distributed
throughout the region and to service providers.
ฆ County and City Adoption:
The Havre de Grace Heritage Corridor
Management Council, formerly the Steering
Committee, should request that the Mayor and City
Council of Havre de Grace formally adopt the
"Havre de Grace Heritage Corridor Plan" as a way
to help citizens and local governments protect,
preserve, conserve, interpret, promote, and restore
Havre de Grace's historical, cultural, and natural
resources. The Management Council should also
seek the support of the Harford County Executive
and the County Council for this Plan.
Recognition of this commitment by the City,
County and State by providing support and
designating the Heritage Corridor, will ratify
actions already underway and provide a perfect
partnership to make Havre de Grace the center of
heritage tourism for the Lower Susquehanna
region.
ฆ Plan a Heritage Corridor Visit:
The Management Council should arrange for a
guided tour of another heritage area to gain
insights and information to help create the Havre
de Grace Heritage Corridor.
ฆ Prepare an Annual Work Plan:
The Management Council, with government and
private assistance, should develop and agree on an
Annual Work Plan to identify and prioritize tasks,
responsibilities, resource needs, sources of
assistance, target dates, and products for the
Heritage Corridor.
ฆ Seek Assistance through the Maryland
Heritage Preservation and Tourism
Act:
The Management Council, with the approval of all
local governments, and in cooperation with the
Lower Susquehanna Heritage Greenway Area,
should apply to the Maryland Historical Trust to
have the Havre de Grace Heritage Corridor as part
of the Lower Susquehanna Heritage Greenway
Area, become a State Recognized Heritage Area
and to request financial assistance to develop
management plans for certain priority heritage
areas.
ฆ Intitiate Several Short-Term Action
Projects:
In April 1996 the Steering Committee identified a
number of short-term projects which they felt
should be undertaken to begin moving the Heritage
Corridor project from planning to action. The
Management Council should seek community
support and public and private assistance to begin
one or more of these efforts.
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Develop a Chesapeake Bay and
Susquehanna River ecological information
kiosk for use along the Promenade.
Develop a kiosk logo for use throughout
Havre de Grace Heritage Corridor
Arrange for public restroom facilities
throughout Corridor.
Develop "You are here" signage for use
along promenade.
ฆ Develop a Heritage Museum Training
Project:
The Management Council should continue
discussions with the Smithsonian Institution's
Center for Museum Studies, the State of Maryland,
various museum partners and the National Park
Service for possible assistance in a collaborative
project to develop a Heritage Museum Training
Program Demonstration Project.
ฆ Seek Chesapeake Bay Partners
Community Status:
The Management Council should meet with
representatives from the Chesapeake Bay's Local
Government Advisory Council to investigate the
ments of applying for status as a "Chesapeake Bay
Partner Community". Recognition under this new
program will make Havre de Grace and Harford
County eligible for grants to protect and restore the
resources of the Chesapeake Bay.
ฆ Investigate National Heritage Area
Designation:
The Management Council, with the approval of
local governments and in cooperation with the
State of Maryland and the Lower Susquehanna
Heritage Greenway Area, should work with the
Maryland Congressional delegation and the
National Park Service to seek federal designation
of all or parts of Havre de Grace as a National
Heritage Corridor.
ฆ Seek Federal Assistance:
The Management Council should meet with the
National Park Service to determine what types of
heritage project assistance which might be
available to help implement the Heritage Corridor
Plan. Congress has appropriated $200,000 for the
National Park Service for its Chesapeake Bay
Initiative; $100,000 of which is to be used to
"work with federal, state, local, and private entities
throughout the watershed to implement their
heritage protection watershed plans". (1997,
Cooperative Agreement between the United States
Department of the Interior National Park Service
and the Lower Susqehanna Heritage Greenway,
Inc., CA4000-7-9008.)
ฆ Explore State, Federal and Private
Assistance:
The Management Council, with assistance from
the State, EPA, Aberdeen Proving Ground and the
National Park Service, should organize a day-long
work session with government agencies and
private groups to discuss possible sources of
technical, financial and informational assistance to
help the community carry out the Plan's
recommendations.
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VIIL For Further Information
For further information on the Havre de Grace
Heritage Corridor please contact:
City of Havre de Grace, Department of Planning
711 Pennington Ave.
Havre de Grace, MD 21078
(410)939-1800 ext. 307
Havre de Grace Chamber of Commerce
224 N. Washington St.
P O. Box 339
Havre de Grace, MD 21078
(410) 939-3303
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Appendix A: Havre de Grace Corridor
Resource Guide
The following list of resource guides have either
supported the development of the Heritage
Corridor Plan or will assist in the implementation
of actions to achieve Plan objectives.
Peter A. Jay . 1994. Havre de Grace - An Informal
History.
1995. The Educational Program Plan for the
Maritime Museum at Heritage Park. Harford
Community College. Harford County Community
College. Havre de Grace, Maryland.
1994 Lower Susquehanna Heritage Greenway
Resource Report. Maryland Department of Natural
Resources. Annapolis, MD.
1995. Maryland's Gateway - A World Class Scene.
Harford County Department of Planning. Bel Air,
MD
1996. Concepts for the Havre de Grace Greenway.
Havre de Grace City Planning Department. Havre
de Grace, MD.
1996. Susquehanna Museum Strategic Plan.
Susquehanna Museum. Havre de Grace, MD.
1995. Maritime Museum Exhibit Plan. Havre de
Grace Maritime Museum. Havre de Grace, MD.
1995. Havre de Grace - Chesapeake Bay Regional
Heritage Area and Gallery Concept. Havre de
Grace, MD.
City of Havre de Grace. 1996. Comprehensive
Plan Havre de Grace. City of Havre de Grace.
Havre de Grace, MD
Maryland Office of Tourism. 1993. Maryland's
Heritage Tourism Report and Marketing
Recommendations; 1992-93. Maryland Office of
Tourism. Baltimore, MD.
CBP (Chesapeake Bay Program). 1995. Havre de
Grace Heritage Park and Ecology Center
Workshop Results. Chesapeake Bay Program,
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Annapolis,
MD.
MDNR (Maiyland Department of Natural
Resources). 1995 Upper Western Shore Tributary
Partnership Agreement. Maryland Department of
Natural Resources Annapolis, MD.
1995 and 1996 Design Plans for the Heritage Park
- South Park. Havre de Grace Maritime Museum
and Havre de Grace Decoy Museum. Havre de
Grace, MD.
1996. Design Plans for the Susquehanna Museum -
North Park. Susquehann Museum. Havre de
Grace, MD.
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Appendix B: Economic Development Priorities
Goal:
Create and support economic revitalization and enhancement of the quality of life of the City of
Havre de Grace.
Economic Development Plan for the Citv includes:
1. Outline for Action Plan to Reestablish the Waterfront in Havre de Grace as a Recreation
Destination as a Part of the Overall Revitalization of the City's Economy
A. Creation of Water Gateway
(1) Creation of Deep Water Harbor
(a) Silt barriers
(b) Breakwaters
(c) Dredging of shallows
(d) Ice/debris breaks
(2) Construct/repair of Deteriorating Bulkheads, Rip Rap, etc.
B. Continuation of Public accessible Waterfront Greenway/Promenade
(1) Creation of wildlife habitat for waterfowl
(2) Transient tier
C. Tourist Venue Retention, Expansion, Creation, and Attraction
(1) Establish an umbrella (not-for-profit) museum authority with the power to
borrow money
(2) Facilities restored to operational condition
(e.g. Canal and Tow path of the Susquehanna and Tidewater Canal)
(3) Facilities made accessible for disabled persons (all Museums)
(4) Public restrooms (all museums)
(5) Facilities expanded(Susquehanna Lockhouse and Decoy Museum)
(6) Facilities to be built (Maritime Museum, O'Neill House, Ecology Center,
Heritage Green)
(7) Heritage Park, David R. Craig Park, Tourist Information Center, to be completed
(8) 180 room hotel, conference center, and large-capacity restaurant built on
waterfront
(9) Bed and Breakfasts created
(10) Water-taxi
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(11) Tour boat
D. Marinas and Undeveloped Land
(1) Bulkhead repair/construction
(2) Wetland creation
(3) Environmental assessment
(4) Outstanding zoning Issues
(5) Navigational impediments
(6) Highest and best use of undeveloped land on waterfront
(7) Creation of public-private partnerships and joint ventures in connection with the
City Marina and other related business opportunities
E. Related Infrastructure Improvement
(1) Transportation (Trolley Buses in/out, internal)
(2) Streets
(3) Sewer and water
(4) Parking
(5) Winter boat storage
(6) Boat trailer parking
F. Coalescence of Federal, State, County and City Resources
2. Outline for Action Plan to Revitalize and Market the City of Havre de Grace and Downtown
Goal Performance Measures
percentage increase/decrease in gross retail sales
number of new/terminated employees within City limits
number of new/closed businesses (retail, commercial, industrial)
number of businesses which make/don't make capital investments of $25,000 or more, or,
$50,000 or more pursuant to the Enterprise Zone number of grants/loans applied for compared
to grants/loans received,
number of new developers contacted and pursuing/not pursuing development
number of single and multi-family renovated/not renovated compared to current number of
existing substandard dwelling,,
results of a year end customer/resident survey
This report was developed as a result of a Priority Summit held in the Havre de Grace City Hall in March
30, 1996. Participants in this Summit included a diverse group of individuals from throughout the City.
A full report including detailed objects may be obtained by calling Barry Anderson, Office of the Mayor
of Havre de Grace (410) 939-1800.
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Appendix C: House Bill 1. Synopsis
Maryland General Assembly, 1996 Session
House Bill 1 intends to build upon the idea of "heritage tourism" which promotes historic
preservation and areas of natural beauty to generate jobs, stimulates the creation of new businesses,
and generates sales, income, and property tax revenues for the State and local jurisdictions. The bill
seeks to stimulate economic development through the development of tourist destinations
throughout the State as well as encourage historical and cultural preservation by focusing resources
and incentives on a limited number of areas approved as State Certified Heritage Areas.
House Bill 1 utilizes many of the concepts contained in the establishment of the Canal Place
Preservation and Development Authority, and Canal Place is in fact specified in the bill as the initial
State Certified Heritage Area. This Authority, created by the General Assembly in the 1993 Session,
has the responsibility to create and develop an historic Chesapeake and Ohio Canal preservation
district in the City of Cumberland. Also, the bill is modeled on the New York System of Heritage
Areas which was established in 1982.
The bill establishes the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority as an independent government unit
within the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development. The powers of the
Authority include the recognition and certification of heritage areas, the acceptance or rejection of
management plans for heritage areas, the acquisition of real property to support a certified heritage
area, the provision of financial assistance for any project that serves to preserve, develop, maintain,
or protect a State designated heritage area, and the issuance of bonds (although the outstanding
principal of these bonds may not be more than $15 million at any one time).
The bill also establishes the Maryland System of Recognized and Certified Heritage
Areas, areas that reflect the cultural themes of the State's development. In order to become a State
Recognized Heritage Area, an area must be approved and submitted to the Authority by all the
local jurisdictions located within the boundaries proposed for recognition; the. boundaries must be
specified; an entity must be identified as responsible for the development of a management plan; the
cultural, historic and natural resources which contribute to the special character of the heritage area
must be described; goals and objectives for the area must be specified; the economic costs and
benefits of the development of the area must be provided; and, the local jurisdictions must describe
how they intend to preserve and protect the cultural, historic, and natural resources within the
heritage area.
Once recognized by the Authority as a State Recognized Heritage Area, that area must develop a
management plan in order to achieve designation from the Authority as a State Certified Heritage
Area. Matching grant funds are available from the Authority for the development of management
plans. The bill also establishes procedures to be followed in the implementation of management
plans and also what is required in a management plan.
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House Bill 1 also provides that approval by the Authority of a management plan for a State
Recognized Heritage Area results in that area becoming a State Certified Heritage Area
and establishes eligibility for State assistance for programming, acquisition and development and,
for qualifying properties, certain tax incentives The Authority may approve up to two State
Certified Heritage Areas in each fiscal year State assistance for acquisition and development
projects may not exceed 50% of the total project cost. A State Certified Heritage Area is eligible for
acquisition and development grants for 5 years after certification. After 5 years, the Authority may
make these grants to a State Certified Heritage Area only if the grant is considered essential to the
success of the area. In order to continue in the program, the management plan may require certain
local action to protect and safeguard the defined significant resources in the heritage area. Matching
grants (without any time limit on their approval) are also available for the development of resources
to further the educational and recreational objectives of the area and to encourage revitalization of,
and reinvestment in, State Certified Heritage Area resources.
House Bill 1 also establishes the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority Financing Fund, a non-
lapsing, revolving fund dedicated to the carrying out the provisions of the bill. The bill specifies what
monies may be credited to the Fund and what expenses may be met by the Fund. The primary
revenue source is $1 million from the State Transfer Tax before it is allocated to Program Open
Space. The $1 million that may be allocated to the Maryland Heritage Areas Financing Fund can be
used by the Authority to carry out any purpose of the subtitle except that after September 30, 1998,
such funds may not be used for the operating expenditures of the Authority or for bond debt service.
Prior to that time, up to 10% of transferred funds may be used for operating expenses and 50% may
be used for bond debt service. As is the case for all other similar funds, the expenditures from the
Fund would be subject to the budgetary process.
House Bill 1 also establishes a credit against State income tax in an amount up to 10% of
qualified rehabilitation expenditures made to certain heritage structures by an individual or
business entity. This credit replaces the existing subtraction from income tax allowed for qualified
rehabilitation expenditures and expands it to include a structure in a State Certified Heritage Area
that is certified by the Authority as contributing to the significance of that area. For the taxable year
in which the qualified rehabilitation has been completed, a credit is allowed up to an amount equal to
the taxpayer's State income tax liability for that year. Any excess credit may be applied to up to 10
succeeding taxable years. Credits may also be transferred if a structure is sold or transferred.
House Bill 1 also provides the option of claiming the rehabilitation tax credit against the
Financial Institution Franchise Tax, the Public Service Company Franchise Tax, and the
insurance premium tax, with the amount of the tax credit determined in the same manner as the
rehabilitation tax credit. However, the credit can only be claimed against one of these taxes or the
income tax. Property tax credits may also be granted for properties in a State Certified Heritage
Area by a local jurisdiction.
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Appendix D
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
GOVERNING
THE HAVRE DE GRACE HERITAGE CORRIDOR MANAGEMENT COUNCIL
ARTICLE I.
NAME
Section 1.
The name of this group shall be, The Havre de Grace Heritage Corridor Management Council, hereinafter referred to as the
"Council."
ARTICLE H.
Section 1. General.
The Council will implement the Havre de Grace Heritage Corridor Plan. It is intended to support cooperation,
collaboration, local autonomy and voluntaiy private sector efforts within the City, County and Region as it pertains to the
Havre de Grace Heritage Corridor and to act as a focal point to the Lower Susquehanna Heritage effort.
Section 2. Objectives.
The objectives of the Council will be to:
Provide a periodic report of activities, at least annually, to the organizations represented within the
Council.
Serve as the vehicle for coordinating with other Heritage efforts in the region such as the Lower
Susquehanna Heritage Area.
Serve as a regional liaison for communication with public agencies and private groups on heritage area
issues and opportunities.
Set priorities for the implementation of the action plan recommendations.
Apply for State and Federal heritage recognition, certification and/or designation, in conjunction with the
Lower Susquehanna Heritage effort. Develop detailed heritage management plans as requested by the
State and the National Park Service.
Help local governments, private organizations and community groups to seek and secure funding for
projects which will help to implement the Havre de Grace Heritage Corridor Plan.
Convene forums and workshops, as needed, to coordinate efforts in the Heritage Corridor.
Serve as the mechanism to facilitate the distribution of grants and loans from the Lower Susquehanna
Greenways organization, to implement the goal and objectives of the Heritage Corridor Plan.
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ARTICLE HI.
MANAGEMENT COUNCIL
Section 1. General Powers.
Upon the appointment of the initial Management Council by the Havre de Grace Heritage Corridor Steering Committee, the
Council will be governed by the Council.
Section 2. Number and Term of Officers.
The number of Management Council members shall be eleven (11). The members shall serve for a period of two (2) years
or until the next annual meeting (of the second year). At each annual meeting, the successor members shall be elected to
hold office for a term of two (2) years. Council Members shall be eligible for re-election.
Section 3. Composition of the Management Council Members.
The Management Council shall be comprised of individuals representing the following:
The Greater Havre de Grace Museum Alliance, representing the museums.
The Department of Planning or the Office of Economic Development, City of Havre de Grace.
The Department of Planning and Zoning or the Office Economic Development, Harford County
Government.
The Lower Susquehanna Community Development Corporation (LS CDC), representing the economic
development interests of the Heritage Corridor.
The Greater Havre de Grace Chamber of Commerce, representing the Business Community.
Aberdeen Proving Ground Office of Plans, Training & Mobilization
The Lower Susquehanna Heritage Greenways Committee, representing the Greenway in the Heritage
Corridor (non-voting member).
City of Havre de Grace Tourism Commission
The Discover Harford County Tourism Council, Inc., representing Harford County's tourism industry.
At least two (2) Havre de Grace citizens at large.
Initially, fifty percent (50%) of the organization members and the citizens at large will serve a one year term to provide
continuity in the Management Council.
Section 4. Annual Meeting of the Management Council.
An annual meeting of the Council shall be held in the month of April in each year, on a day, and at a time and place to be
determined by the Chairman. The purpose of the annual meeting will be; to review the status of the Havre de Grace
Heritage Corridor efforts to prepare for a presentation to the organizations represented in Article III, Section 3; to elect/re-
elect members and officers to the Council as appropriate.
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Section 5. Nomination and Election of Management Council Members.
At least (30) days prior to the annual meeting of the Management Council the Chairman shall appoint a Nominating
Committee of (3) three Council Members to serve from the close of such annual meeting until the close of the next annual
meeting. In the case of the 'Members at Large' Council Members, the Nominating Committee shall make as many
nominations for election to the Council as it shall in its discretion determine, but not less than the number of "Members at
Large" vacancies that are to be filled. For all other impending vacancies, the represented organizations shall provide the
Nominating Committee with their nominee(s) for any impending vacancies. The Nominating Committee shall provide, in
writing, its slate of nominations to the Council Members at least (10) days prior to the annual meeting.
Election to the Management Council shall be by secret ballot. The person(s) receiving the largest number of votes for each
represented organization (or "Members at Large" as the case may be) shall be elected.
Section 6. Vacancies.
A vacancy shall be filled in the same manner as normal election of Council Members Article III, Section 5, and the new
member shall fill the term of the vacated slot. A vacancy shall be filled at the next regularly scheduled Management Council
meeting.
Section 7. Attendance.
Absence at three (3) consecutively regularly scheduled meetings shall be reason for removal from the Council.
Section 8. Voting.
Each member of the Management Council, except for the most recently appointed "Member at Large" shall have one (1)
vote; the most recently appointed "Member at Large" shall only vote in the case of a tie.
ARTICLE IV
OFFICERS AND THEIR DUTIES
Section 1. Enumeration of Officers.
The officers of the Council shall be Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Treasurer, Recording Secretary, and Corresponding
Secretary.
Section 2. Election of Officers.
The election of officers shall take place at the first meeting of the Management Council and at the annual meeting thereafter,
officers are eligible for re-election.
Section 3. Term.
The officers of the Council shall be elected annually and each shall hold office for one (1) year or until the next annual
meeting unless he or she shall sooner resign or be removed from office.
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Section 4. Vacancies. A vacancy in any office shall be filled at the next regularly scheduled meeting subsequent to
such vacancy occurring.
Section 5. Duties
The duties of the officers are as follows:
Chairman
(a) The Chairman shall preside at all meetings of the Council; shall appoint Committee Chairpersons as appropriate to
further the business of the Council; shall represent the Council to all external organizations including but not limited to the
Lower Susquehanna Heritage Greenways Inc. ; shall, in March of each year, present an annual report of Heritage Corridor
progress to the represented organizations; shall in March of each year, audit the Council books.
Vice-Chairman
(b) The Vice-Chairman shall act in the place and stead of the Chairman in the event of his or her absence, and shall exercise
and discharge such other duties as may be required of him or her by the Council.
Treasurer
(c) The Treasurer shall have custody of all the fund of the Council, and shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and
disbursements of the Council; a balance sheet of disbursement shall be provided at each Council meeting. The Treasurer
will maintain the Council checkbook and the Chairman or Treasurer shall be the only individuals authorized to sign checks.
Recording Secretary
(d)The Recording Secretary shall record the votes and keep the minutes of all meetings and proceedings of the Council;
serve notice of meetings of the Council; provide minutes of the prior months meeting ten (10) days prior to the next
scheduled meeting. Council files will be maintained by the Recording Secretary.
Corresponding Secretary
(e) The Corresponding Secretary shall be responsible for reviewing all correspondence related to the Council and
forwarding such to the appropriate members of the Council or the Council as a whole at the regularly scheduled meeting.
He or she shall also be responsible for preparing all external correspondence for the signature of the Chairman and shall
provide a copy of such correspondence to the Recording Secretary for the Council's permanent files.
ARTICLE V
COMMITTEES
' The Council shall appoint committees as deemed appropriate to cany out its purpose, and each committee member shall
serve at the pleasure of the Council.
ARTICLE VI.
AMENDMENTS
This Memorandum of Understanding may be amended, at a regular or special meeting of the Council, by a majority of a
quorum of members present. Proposed amendments must be provided to all Council Members at least thirty (30) days prior
to the meeting at which a vote will be solicited.
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ARTICLE VII
RULES OF ORDER
All question of order should be governed by Roberts Rules of Order, Revised.
ARTICLE VIII.
MEETINGS
Section 1. Annual Meetings.
The annual meeting of the Council shall be held on the first Tuesday of April, each calendar year.
Section 2. Regularly Scheduled Meetings.
The Council shall decide on what frequency regularly scheduled meetings will occur, based on the business to be conducted,
but at least quarterly. All meetings will occur on the second Tuesday of the month unless a special meeting is called or this
date falls on a Holiday in which case the meeting will be held on the second (2nd) Monday of the month.
Section 3. Special Meetings.
Special meetings of the Council may be called at any time by the Chairman or by any member of the Council; whenever
possible at least five (5) working days notice should be provided. All members of the Council must be notified and the
purpose of the meeting must be provided with the notification.
Section 4. Quorum.
At least seven (7) members of the Council must be present to constitute a quorum.
Section 5. Audience.
All Council meetings shall be open to any interested party. However, unless input from non-Council members is solicited,
the audience shall be silent.
ARTICLE IX.
SUNDRY PROVISIONS
Section 1. Consent of Council Members Adopting Bv-Laws
We the undersigned, are all of the persons named as the initial Members of the Havre de Grace Heritage Corridor
Management Council, and do adopt the provisions of this Memorandum of Understanding, consisting of five (5) pages as
- the rules governing the Council.
Date:
Typed name of Council Member Signature of Council Member
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Appendix E: Related Resolutions
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1
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5
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7
8
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RESOLUTION NO. 9-97
COUNTY COUNCIL
OF
HARFORD COUNTY, MARYLAND
Resolution No. 9-9 7
Legislative Session Day 97-8 (March 11. 1997)
Introduced by Council President Parrott at
the request of the County Executive, Council President Parrott and
Council Members Heselton, Chenowith, Decker, Glassman, Wagner and Shank
A JOINT RESOLUTION of the County Executive and the County Council of Harford
County, Maryland, to adopt the "Havre de Grace Heritage Corridor Plan" to identify and market
the historical, natural, recreational and cultural resources of the Havre de Grace region.
RESOLUTION NO. 9"97
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RESOLUTION NO. 9-97
WHEREAS, the County Executive, and County Council of Harford County, Maryland,
have reviewed the recently completed "Havre de Grace Heritage Corridor Plan" prepared by the
Havre de Grace Heritage Corridor Steering Committee; and
WHEREAS, the County Executive and County Council acknowledge the presence of
significant natural, cultural, historical, recreational, and tourism resources in Havre de Grace as
being important to the area, the County, the State of Maryland, and the Chesapeake Bay
Watershed; and
WHEREAS, the County Executive and County Council have determined that these
resources are worthy of conservation; and
WHEREAS, the County Executive and County Council realize that by undertaking a
unified program, economic development within the region will be enhanced; and
WHEREAS, the County Executive and County Council have decided that the goals of this
plan are compatible with other County plans and policies;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that, the County Executive and County Council
of Harford County, Maryland, do hereby endorse "The Havre de Grace Heritage Corridor Plan,"
and further encourage the establishment of the Havre de Grace Heritage Corridor Management
Council to continue the work of the plan and to ensure the continuation of a cooperative effort
among the many local, state, and federal government agencies, private organizations and
foundations involved in this effort.
ATTEST:
/
Joa
President or tne council
56 RESOLUTION NO. 9-97
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RESOLUTION NO.
ADOPTED: March 11, 1997
CONCURRENCE: March 18, 19 9 7
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EILEEN M. REHRMANN, COUNTY EXECUTIVE
RESOLUTION NO. 9-97
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RESOLUTION NO. 07.9
RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF HAVRE DE GRACE,
MARYLAND, ENDORSING THE HAVRE DE GRACE CORRIDOR PLAN AND
ENCOURAGING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A HAVRE DE GRACE HERITAGE
CORRIDOR MANAGEMENT COUNCIL
WHEREAS, the Mayor and City Council of Havre de Grace, Maryland, have reviewed the
recently completed "Havre de Grace Corridor Plan" prepared by the Havre de Grace, Maryland,
Heritage Corridor Steering Committee, and agree that the natural, cultural, historical,
recreational and tourism resources of Havre de Grace are significant to our community, the State
of Maryland, the Chesapeake Bay Watershed and the Nation; and,
WHEREAS, the Mayor and City Council have found thai the Heritage Corridor Plan addresses
many important natural, historical, cultural, recreational and heritage tourism matters; and,
WHEREAS, the Mayor and City Council find that the core strategies and recommendations in the
Plan are compatible with other City of Havre de Grace plans and policies; and,
WHEREAS, the Mayor and City Council further believe that the features and values of the Havre
de Grace Heritage Corridor are worthy of conservation and that they can help to enhance the
economic development within this region.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF HAVRE
DE GRACE, MARYLAND, THAT:
1. The Mayor and City Council of Havre de Grace, Maryland, endorse the Heritage Corridor
2. The Mayor and City Council also commend the Havre de Grace Heritage Corridor Steering
Committee for the work accomplished on the development of the Plan; and,
3. The Mayor and City Council further encourage the Heritage Corridor Steering Committee to
establish the Havre de Grace Heritage Corridor Management Council to further continue the
work of the document and to secure appropriate financial and technical assistance from
State and Federal government agencies, private organizations and foundations, with the
support of State Legislative and Federal Congressional leaders.
Plan;
ATTEST:
/ Dr. Gunther D. Hirsch, Mayor
DATE: 3/3/97
58
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Waterfront Walk/Promenade
i
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
Environmental Science Center
701 Mapes Road
Ft. Meade, MD 20755-5350
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