Burch House project funded

Friday, Aug. 15, 2008

These funds have been made available to nonprofits and government-sponsored organizations that seek to promote heritage tourism and economic development in certified heritage areas across the state, according to a press release.

The Society for the Restoration of Port Tobacco will receive $43,800 for the Rehabilitation of Burch House. Charles County will collaborate with the town of Port Tobacco and the Society for Restoration on the continuing work on Burch House, installing a well and septic system and constructing restroom facilities to better enable the building to be used as headquarters for the Archaeological Society of Charles County and for public use, according to a press release from the consortium.

The parks department of Charles County will receive $100,000 to begin the development of the Indian Head Heritage Rail Trail.

This is the first segment of the 13-mile-long hiker⁄biker trail on an abandoned railroad corridor.

Also in Southern Maryland, St. Mary’s County will receive $92,500 to help fund the Piney Point Lighthouse Museum and Park enhancement project; Calvert County will receive $27,000 for the continuation of Railcar Dolores Restoration Project Phase II at the Chesapeake Beach Railway Museum; the Calvert Marine Museum Society will receive $10,000 to fund the creation and delivery of an up-to-date orientation video to be shown to visitors as they enter the museum; Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum will receive $50,000 to help create an exhibit to present the history of the War of 1812 through an archaeology lens; and the consortium will also receive $47,500 in grant funding to support its own operations for another year, including funds for another round of mini-grants which will be awarded in the fall.

Contact 301-274-4083 or e-mail SoMdHeritage@tccsmd.org with questions.

Additional information about the Southern Maryland Heritage Area is available at www.SouthernMdisFun.com.