Outstanding Individual Leadership at the Local Level
John Potvin (Anne Arundel County)
Outstanding Individual Leadership at the Local Level
Lighthouse Manager John Potvin has worked for years preserving the Thomas Shoal Point Lighthouse,
conducting public tours as a Certified Chesapeake Storyteller with the Maryland Office of Tourism,
and helping to restore the Chesapeake Bay. He has organized hundreds of volunteers to preserve this
19th-century National Historic Landmark that now has a new steel structure and fully restored interior.
His dedication ensures this iconic fixture, and the Chesapeake Bay it stands in, will continue to shine
for generations.
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Excellence in Public Programming and Exhibits
Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC) for the Historic Signage Program (Baltimore County)
Excellence in Public Programming and Exhibits
In collaboration with students and faculty, CCBC created the Historic Signage Project to amplify the
stories of the invisible people, many of them people of color, who played significant roles in shaping
the land upon which the Catonsville campus now exists. The exhibit illustrates local history from the 1600s
through the early 1900s, including tobacco and dairy farming, ironworks, and other industries supported by
enslaved, free, and indentured laborers.
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Excellence in Public Programming and Exhibits
Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area and Antietam National Battlefield for "Engaging Visitors through
Battlefield Exhibits" (Washington County)
Excellence in Public Programming and Exhibits
The Antietam National Battlefield and the Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area collaborated to produce
complementary permanent exhibits that encourage a more personal and inclusive visitor experience of the
Battle of Antietam. Exhibit themes in the battlefield visitor center explore conflict, terror, survival,
freedom, and memory, while Newcomer House – which witnessed the 1862 battle – examined the
civilian perspective. Through unified storytelling, visitors gain profound insight into the battle, its
causes, and outcomes.
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Excellence in Preservation Partnerships
Asbury United Methodist Church (Talbot County)
Excellence in Preservation Partnerships
Located in The Hill, one of the country's oldest free African American communities, Asbury
United Methodist Church collaborated with Historic Easton, Encore Sustainable Architects,
contractors Harper & Sons, and the local community to successfully rehabilitate its structure.
Notably, Frederick Douglass dedicated this church on his 1878 tour after its reconstruction
following a fire. The project restored stained glass windows, replaced the roof, repaired
chimneys, and undertook structural renovations, serving as a great example of preservation
collaboration.
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Outstanding Stewardship of a Cultural Site
Hot Sox Field at Wilson Park (Anne Arundel County)
Outstanding Stewardship of a Cultural Site
Hot Sox Field at Wilson Park celebrates the significant contribution of Henry Wilson –
a freed, formerly enslaved man – and his family. His property served as the foundation of Negro
League Baseball in the area, including serving as home field for the renowned Galesville Hot Sox
from the early to mid-20th century. The space became not only a place to play baseball but also
somewhere to gather during the segregation era. Anne Arundel County Department of Recreation and
Parks, alongside the Galesville Heritage Society, the Galesville Community Center Organization,
and the West River Improvement Association, led the effort to restore this historic space and
preserve the Wilson family's legacy.
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Outstanding Stewardship of a Maryland Historical Trust Easement Property
Catoctin Furnace Historical Society for Forgeman's House (Frederick County)
Outstanding Stewardship of a Maryland Historical Trust Easement Property
The Catoctin Furnace Historical Society's careful restoration of the Forgeman's House showcases
its commitment to exemplary stewardship. The house, built in the winter of 1820-21, was likely
constructed using enslaved labor. While removing non-historic additions and documenting the
process, the society uncovered more than 30,000 artifacts in the building. Now a living museum,
the house offers overnight stays and exhibits such as "Everyday Treasures" and "Under the
Floorboards," sharing the journey of restoration and discovery.
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Outstanding Stewardship by a Government Agency
Historic Preservation Unit, Natural and Historic Resources Division of the Maryland-National
Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), Department of Parks and Recreation, Prince
George's County (Prince George's County)
Outstanding Stewardship by a Government Agency
The M-NCPPC Historic Preservation Unit manages nearly 50 historic sites with more than 175 historic
buildings as well as numerous cultural sites, most of which are open to the public. With dozens of
projects yearly, they preserve Maryland's heritage at museums, historic houses, mills, and cultural
landscapes. Recent preservation efforts at Darnall's Chance Museum (c. 1742) and Marietta House
Museum (c. 1812) exemplify years of steadfast preservation work.
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Excellence in Rehabilitation
Crook Horner Lofts (Baltimore City)
Excellence in Rehabilitation
Developers B&B Urban and the Civic Group meticulously rehabilitated the Crook Horner Building,
constructed in 1890 for namesake Crook, Horner, & Co. plumbing supply company in downtown
Baltimore. The project preserves the building’s historic character, featuring live/work loft
units with original features like tin ceilings and refinished wood floors. With a vision to
catalyze additional redevelopment in the area, this project exemplifies the profound impact of
historic preservation in commercial contexts, setting a high standard for future projects.
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Excellence in Restoration
Ship Caulkers’ Houses (Baltimore City)
Excellence in Restoration
The Friends of the Ship Caulkers’ Houses stabilized and restored the exterior of these two
rare and fragile buildings on behalf of the Society for the Preservation of Federal Hill
and Fell's Point. The buildings – once common around the Baltimore harbor –
now appear as they did in the mid-1800s. Rescued from near collapse and condemnation, the
houses' restoration showcases original architectural features and preserves the legacy of
the free Black ship caulkers who lived there.
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