AA-891 Laurel Racetrack, ()

Architectural Survey File

This is the architectural survey file for this MIHP record. The survey file is organized reverse- chronological (that is, with the latest material on top). It contains all MIHP inventory forms, National Register nomination forms, determinations of eligibility (DOE) forms, and accompanying documentation such as photographs and maps.

Users should be aware that additional undigitized material about this property may be found in on-site architectural reports, copies of HABS/HAER or other documentation, drawings, and the “vertical files” at the MHT Library in Crownsville. The vertical files may include newspaper clippings, field notes, draft versions of forms and architectural reports, photographs, maps, and drawings. Researchers who need a thorough understanding of this property should plan to visit the MHT Library as part of their research project; look at the MHT web site (mht..gov) for details about how to make an appointment.

All material is property of the Maryland Historical Trust.

Last Updated: 05-13-2019 MARYLAND HISTORICAL TRUST NR Eligible: yes DETERMINATION OF ELIGIBILITY FORM no X

Property Name: Laurel Racetrack Inventory Number: AA-891

Address: 3600 Laurel - Ft. Meade Road. City: Laurel Zip Code: 20724

County: Anne Arundel and Howard USGS Topographic Map: Laurel

Owner: Laurel Racing Association LP Is the property being evaluated a district? X yes

Tax Parcel Number: 86 Tax Map Number: 19 Tax Account ID Number: 03593300 U.S. Army, Corps of Engineers, Project: Proposed Improvements to Laurel Racetrack Agency: District.

Site visit by MHT Staff: X no _yes Name: Date:

Is the property located within a historic district? yes no

If the property is within a district District Inventory Number: NR-listed district yes Eligible district District Name: Preparer's Recommendation: Contributing resource yes no Non-contributing but eligible in another context

If the property is not within a district (or the property is a district) Preparer's Recommendation: Eligible Yes X no

Criteria: _A B C D Considerations: A B C D E F G None )cumentation on the property/district is presented in: Maryland Historical Trust State Historic Sites Inventory Form

Description of Property and Eligibility Determination: (Use continuation sheet if necessary and attach map andphoto)

The Laurel Racetrack is a 231.8-acre parcel consisting of a grandstand, a paddock, a manager's dwelling, jockeys' quarters, a dirt racetrack, numerous horse stables, and other service buildings. The most prominent buildings are the grandstand, the paddock, and the manager's dwelling. About half of the buildings on the property are less than 50 years of age, including modern concrete block stables, metal sheds and maintenance structures, a late-twentieth century barn, 1960s era workers' kitchen, and other structures. These modern buildings are interspersed with those older than 50 years of age. An analysis of the buildings and structures at the Laurel Racetrack finds that the buildings and structures do not possess adequate integrity or significance to be eligible for the National Register of Historic Places as a historic district, as many of the major buildings within the racetrack have been greatly altered. However, two buildings: the manager's dwelling, and the paddock, are eligible for the National Register as individual resources under Criterion C for their architecture.

MARYLAND HISTORICAL TRUST REVIEW Eligibility recommended Eligibility not recommended _2 Criteria: A B C D Considerations: A B C D E F G None Comments:

Reviener, Office of Preservation Services 'Date

» Reviewer, NjQProgram Date MARYLAND HISTORICAL TRUST NR-ELIBILITY REVIEW FORM Laurel Racetrack (AA-891) AA-891 Continuation Sheet No. 1

Grandstand

The grandstand, originally constructed in 1911, was originally a Classical Revival Style building with large brick pilasters and terra-cotta capitals with horse heads, acanthus leaves, and egg-and-dart motifs. The only other prominent reminder of the building's original appearance is a doorway entrance at the west side that leads to the paddock, which features a broken pediment and surround. The grandstand was radically altered in 1953 and again in 1966, when the building was enlarged and re-styled in a Moderne style with large horizontal bays of fixed-sash windows and little ornamentation facing the track, and reinforced concrete walls for structural support. The renovations in 1966 took place after a fire within the Grandstand. Photographs from 1945 show that the Grandstand has been radically altered, and is nearly unrecognizable from its original appearance

The grandstand has been so altered as to have lost all integrity of workmanship, design, materials, association, and feeling, and cannot be considered eligible for the National Register as either an individual resource, nor as a contributing resource to a historic district.

Paddock

The paddock is located directly adjacent to the west wall of the grandstand. Constructed in the 1920s or sarly 1930s, this is one of the oldest, and best preserved structures at the Laurel Racetrack. It is a polygonal shaped building with one oversized story and clerestory, styled as a cupola. The clerestory windows are located below exposed rafters at the roofline and run in a continuous horizontal line around the building. The exterior of the first story has been clad with vinyl, but the clerestory section still displays its original wood and wood sash windows. The vinyl siding on the first story is no doubt reversible, and does not significantly diminish the historicity of the resource. The interior of the building shows the elaborate system of exposed, cantilevered ceiling trusses that support the structure and meet at the center of the building. The paddock possesses a high degree of integrity of design, materials, workmanship, association, and feeling, and is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places under Criterion C, for its unique architecture and a representative of its type.

Manager's Dwelling

The 5x4-bay, Gothic Revival Style manager's dwelling lies west of the paddock and grandstand. Pre-dating the racetrack, it was originally a farm house on the property. It is a late-nineteenth century, two-and-a-half story house consisting of three sections. The front section has a hipped roof with two front-facing cross gables, a gable-roofed ell projects from the rear of the house, and a small one-story shed roofed addition is attached to the ell. The front of the house has a full-width hip-roofed porch and central door with sidelights. The second story has a central opening consisting of paired two-over-two, double hung sashes capped with a segmental arch. The porch is supported by square posts and jig-sawn balusters. Windows are typically six- over-six, double-hung. This building has three decorative brick chimneys. It possess a high degree of integrity of materials, design, workmanship, and feeling, having few, if any alterations from its appearance at the time of the sale of the property to the Laurel Racetrack in 1909. It is eligible for the National Register under Criterion C, for its architecture as an excellent representative of its type. Jockeys' Quarters (and Secretary's Office) MARYLAND HISTORICAL TRUST NR-ELIBILITY REVIEW FORM Laurel Racetrack AA-891 Continuation Sheet No. 2

The jockeys' quarters lies just west of the paddock. It is a frame, one-story building with numerous additions and alterations. Originally, it appears to have had wood siding and wood windows, but it now has vinyl replacement windows and vinyl siding. The only remnant of the original design are the wood rafter tails that show under the soffit. The roof is hipped, and clad with asphalt. The structure, which is essentially a square, has been added to on its south side with shed roofed additions and a metal trailer for the Secretary's Office. This building does not possess adequate integrity of design, location, materials, or workmanship to be eligible for the National Register as an individual resource nor as a contributing resource to a historic district.

Racetrack

The dirt racetrack is bounded on both sides by a fence that has been replaced often during the years. The structures in the center, which display the statistics, are relatively new electronic displays probably dating to the 1990s.

Stables

There are numerous stables within the racetrack property, but basically these are of two distinct types. The first, closest to the track, are a series of 11 concrete block buildings having side gabled roofs clad with corrugated metal dating to the mid 1960s and 1970s. Seventeen (17) stables are nearly identical frame buildings. The exterior support walls stop at about three feet high, and posts support the roof, leaving the top half of the walls open. Most of these stables have T-l 11 siding and asphalt shingle roofs. They originally had side gable roofs but due to side additions, most have hip roofs or end with shed roof attachments. The side additions contain shower facilities and are constructed of concrete block. These stables date from the 1930s and 1940s.

Some of the buildings have simple plywood walls with batten boards covering their seams. Most have been re-sided with T-l 11 siding in recent years. Current alterations are under way that include the replacement of the wood siding with vertical metal siding and installation of large pane awning windows. Approximately half of these buildings have been altered beyond any hint of their original design at the time of this writing.

Three additional stables appear to date from an earlier period (ca. 1920-1930). These are at the southeast area of the property. Similar in construction, two of these buildings are much like the larger stables from the 1930s and 1940s, the main difference being that they are smaller than the newer ones. As on the other stables, the exterior support walls stop at about three feet high, and posts support the roof, leaving the top half of the walls open. These stables also have either plywood or T-l 11 siding and asphalt shingle roofs. The third stable in this area is a simple one-by-one bay, front gabled building with only one window on each side. This building is frame with asphalt shingle roof, and a combination of vertical boards and corrugated metal for siding. This building is in fair condition.

The stables do not possess adequate historical significance, nor do they retain adequate integrity of design, materials, or workmanship to be considered eligible for the National Register either individually, nor as contributing resources to a historic district. MARYLAND HISTORICAL TRUST NR-ELIBILITY REVIEW FORM Laurel Racetrack AA-891 Continuation Sheet No. 3

Workers' Quarters

Within the stable complex, there are six concrete block, ranch style multi-room buildings that serve as quarters for workers. These are all one-story, block buildings with hip roofs that appear to date from the 1940s. Each unit has a single entrance door and exterior two-over-two, double hung window. The roof overhang extends about two feet over the exterior walls. These six buildings are not historically or architecturally significant, and are not individually eligible for the National Register, nor are they eligible as contributing resources to a historic district.

Security Office and Other Support Buildings

Additional structures include a security office and several other support buildings. The security office, probably dating to about 1940, is constructed of concrete block and appears to be nearly identical in construction materials to the workers' quarters except that it is a smaller building with a flat roof. It is five bays wide and one bay deep, with a central entrance flanked on each side by two two-over-two double-hung windows. This building is not architecturally significant, and is not individually eligible for the National Register, nor is it eligible as contributing resources to a historic district

The maintenance area is located at the southeast corner of the property. Most of this area is open storage. There is one small structure that may be over 50 years of age in this area. This is a two-by-one bay storage building constructed of concrete block with fixed single pane windows and asphalt-shingled, front gabled roof. Adjacent to this building is a large, gabled metal frame building with metal siding and metal roof that is used for maintenance and storage of vehicles. This building appears to date from the 1950s or 1960s, and may not yet be 50 years or older. Neither of these maintenance buildings appears to possess the historical or architectural significance worthy for inclusion in the National Register either as individual resources nor as contributing resources to a historic district.

There are several buildings and a practice track on the east side of Brock Bridge Road. The practice track is in disrepair, and is merely a dirt oval for running the horses. South of this track is the remains of an early- twentieth century farmstead consisting of a house, a barn, a concrete-block storage shed, and two other frame sheds. The house is a two-story, frame house three bays wide and three bays deep. It is basically an I-house with a single bay ell. The front of the structure has a small enclosed one-story shed with central entrance and two boarded-up windows on each side. Original windows were two-over-two double-hung, and others are one-over-one replacements. The house has a central chimney, asphalt shingled roof, and asbestos siding over earlier German siding. This structure is in poor condition and is missing several of its windows, and appears to have been abandoned for some time. Therefore none of these buildings or practice track appears to possess the historical or architectural significance worthy for inclusion in the National Register either as individual resources nor as contributing resources to a historic district.

Outbuildings on the property include two small frame sheds, one adjacent to the dwelling and one adjacent to a barn. The barn is north of the house and is a two-story, frame barn with three sides having vertical board siding, and the fourth side open. This barn is extremely deteriorated and is missing a large portion of its metal roof as well as a few of its structural support posts. Additional structures on the property consist of a MARYLAND HISTORICAL TRUST NR-ELIBILITY REVIEW FORM Laurel Racetrack AA-891 Continuation Sheet No. 4 one-story, concrete block storage shed in great disrepair which is missing its windows and doors, and a late- twentieth century mobile home. These buildings do not appear to have been intimately associated with the activities of the Laurel Racetrack. None of the buildings on this farmstead are associated with significant historical events or persons, nor are they architecturally significant. They are in a great state of disrepair, and do not possess adequate integrity to be eligible for the National Register either as individual resources nor as contributing resources to a historic district.

The overriding concern with the Laurel Racetrack is that while there are a significant number of buildings over 50 years of old on the property, these have mostly been modified to such a degree that they no longer possess much architectural integrity. Additionally, these buildings are separated by many modern buildings constructed within the past 50 years. The Laurel Racetrack buildings do not constitute a cohesive concentration of buildings having the significance and integrity needed to convey its history in a meaningful way. Thus, each building must be evaluated on its individual merit. The only two buildings on the property that appear to possess both adequate significance and integrity are the Manager's House and the Paddock.

Boundaries Boundaries for the Laurel Racetrack district include all that property that is associated with the current and past operation of the track still having buildings and structures associated with the racetrack. The boundary to the north is the Baltimore and Ohio railroad tracks going east to their intersection with Whiskey Bottom Road, thence southeast along Whiskey Bottom Road to its intersection with Brock Bridge Road, thence south along Brock Bridge Road to its intersection with MD Route 198, thence west along MD Route 198 to its intersection with Laurel - Ft. Meade Road (AKA Laurel Racetrack Road) thence north along Laurel - Ft. Meade Road to its intersection with the Baltimore and Ohio railroad tracks.

Prepared by: David C. Berg Date Prepared: October 30, 2003 MARYLAND HISTORICAL TRUST NR-ELIBILITY REVIEW FORM Laurel Racetrack AA-891 Continuation Sheet No. 5

Location Map, Laurel Racetrack © Source:USGS, Laurel, MD Quadrangle

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Addendum to Inventory No. AA-891 Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties Form

Page 1 of 9 Name of Property: Laurel Racetrack Location: 3600 Laurel Ft Meade Rd, Laurel, MD, Anne Arundel County

This addendum provides further information regarding the significance of the grandstand bu ilding at the Laurel Racetrack (Laurel Park) . It has been twenty-two (22) years since the original MIHP form was completed, and the alterations of the grandstand bui lding that took place in 1966 now meet the fifty (SO) year threshold to be reevaluated for historic significance. In addition, this addendum includes documentation and information on the historic pedestrian tunnels (built in 1911) that were not previously included in the original MIHP form.

7. Description

Grandstand Building_

The grandstand building is still the most dominant building at the Laurel Racetrack. As both the original MIHP form and the 2003 DOE form state, the grandstand building was constructed in 1911, and significantly expanded in 1953 as part of a revitalization project of the entire park that took place under the new ownership at that time. The expansion and remodeling of the grandstand building in the 1950s reflected the Modern Style which was further improved upon in 1966 when the grandstand seating area was enclosed in order to accommodate winter racing. The 1966 enclosure resulted in the most noticeable feature of the grandstand building today which is the approximately 30,000 square foot glass curtain wall enclosure. The curtain wall is non-load bearing and is comprised of multiple plates of glass that are connected with corner patch fittings and then together are suspended from the roof. Glass fins span the height of the curtain wall on the inside for the purpose of wind bracing.

Pedestrian Tunnels

The two pedestrian tunnels are located north of the grandstand building. Constructed in 1911, the tunnels are original to the opening of Laurel Park/the Laurel Racetrack. Both provide pedestrian access to the train platforms above; one to the westbound track platform to Washington, D.C., and one to the eastbound track platform to Baltimore. The westbound track tunnel also provides through traffic to additional parking lots located north of the railroad. This tunnel is approximately 110ft. long and 9ft. 7in. wide. The date "1911" is carved into the top of one of the walls. The eastbound track tunnel is the same width; however, it is only approximately 22ft. long. Both tunnels are constructed of concrete and have a set of concrete stairs that lead up to the train platforms. A noticeable difference, however, is that the westbound track tunnel has white vertical wood paneling affixed to the interior walls.

The train platforms are relatively small, approximately 30ft. by 12 ft., and appear to have been reconstructed as modern wood is visible. In addition to the set of concrete stairs accessed from the

Prepared by: Darian Beverungen, Historic Preservation Planner, A.A.Co. Date: 9/5/2018 Addendum to Inventory No. AA-891 Ma_ryland Historical Trust Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties Form

Page 2 of 9 Name of Property: Laurel Racetrack Location: 3600 Laurel Ft Meade Rd, Laurel, MD, Anne Arundel County pedestrian tunnel, the westbound track platform also has an ADA ramp off of it that leads to one of the additional parking lots. Another original (1911} feature is a wrought iron round picket fence that runs along the top of the pedestrian tunnels (approximately 32ft.) and adjacent to an abandoned rail spur. Bishop's crook style lampposts can also be seen along the railroad tracks near the platforms.

8. Significance

Grandstand Building Significance

While slick glass curtain walls are commonly seen today in new construction, particularly in high rise and corporate office buildings, like banks, it was not so common in the 1960s during the grandstand expansion period. In fact, these glass building facades did not even become an architectural feature until the mid-20th century.1 The enclosure of the grandstand building with a sleek glass curtain wall was at the forefront of the new movement in modern, commercial architecture that used glass as a primary building material, making it an architecturally significant example of the Modern Movement.

The origin of the curtain wall is rooted in the large glass and iron framed greenhouses that were constructed in the 19 th century in England, like the Crystal Palace in Hyde Park, London, and the rest of Europe. 2 In America, the Industrial Revolution brought on advances in building technology such as steel framing which was the advent for the urban skyscraper. The first in the nation was designed by famous Chicago architect and engineer William Jenney, who designed the Home Insurance Building (1885} in Chicago. This use of glass and steel framing exploded in the 20th century. Early practitioners, who adopted these materials in their designs, included Mies van der Rohe, who designed the Seagram Building in New York City, in 1954. 3 The curtain wall system which is comprised of a repetitive grid of vertical aluminum mullions and horizontal rails, and panels that divide the large plates of glass, was the ideal cladding for high-rise structures.•

The curtain wall technology of the 1950s evolved and by the late 1960s was replaced with a curtain wall that was smoother with a seamless exterior membrane. This sleeker curtain wall design was pioneered in this country by California architects from the firm of Daniel, Mann, Johnson, and Mendenhall (DMJM),

' Patterson, Michael R., "Structural Glass Facades : A Unique Building Technology," (Master's Thesis, University of Southern California, 2008), USC Digital Library. 2 Ibid 3 Ibid • Ibid

Prepared by: Darian Beverungen, Historic Preservation Planner, A.A.Co. Date: 9/5/2018 Addendum to Inventory No. AA-891 Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties Form

Page 3 of 9 Name of Property: Laurel Racetrack Location: 3600 Laurel Ft Meade Rd, Laurel, MD, Anne Arundel County who devised a system that reversed the mullions to be on the inside rather than on the outside, thus enabling a new way of sheathing buildings in glass, creating a smooth curtain wall. 5 Though constructed four years after the grandstand enclosure, the Willis office building in Ipswich, England also utilized this sheath-like, glass curtain wall that was designed by Foster Associates and was considered to be a pioneer of energy conscious design. The installation method for the plate glass of the Willis building appears to closely resemble the grandstand's curtain wall's installation: the glass panels are connected by a corner patch fitting, then silicon jointed; the curtain wall is suspended from a clamping strip at roof level, and a discreet system of internal glass fins at each floor level provides the wind bracing. 6 At the time of the enclosure of the grandstand building in 1966, this type of architecture had not yet become ubiquitous, as is clearly evident in marketing literature for the Laurel Racetrack of the day. The glass curtain wall was being touted, locally, as an architectural marvel to be seen. According to a post card of the era, the grandstand building was promoted as having the "world's largest window" which provided comfort for all weather cond itions (see Figure No. 1 on page 7).

The popularity of glass curtain wall architecture during the Modernist Movement could not have advanced without the evolution of glass manufacturing. Earlier, in the mid-19th century, the drawn cylinder process was introduced which allowed bigger panes of glass to be made; however, this was a tedious and costly process, and the glass could be harmed or distorted.7 The plate process was developed as a solution to try to remedy the issues that came with the drawn cylinders. This was a long process, though; molten metal was cast on to a table, rolled into a plate and then ground flat and polished.8 The first half of the 20th century saw efforts to refine the flat or plate glass making process with the ultimate goal to make glass that was polished, distortion free, and inexpensive to produce. This was successfully achieved in 1959 when the development of the float glass process came about, invented by Alistair Pilkington, who was a British engineer.

During the float glass process, a continuous ribbon of glass moves out of the melting furnace and floats along the surface of an enclosed bath of molten tin. The ribbon is held in a chemically and temperature controlled space, long enough for the irregularities to melt out and for the surfaces to become flat and parallel. The ribbon is then cooled while still advancing across the molten tin until the surfaces are hard

s L.A. Conservancy, Architect Biographies, Accessed August 15, 2018. http://www.laconservance.org 6 Foster and Partners, Willis Building, Accessed July 24, 2018. https://www.fosterandpartners.com 1 L.A.B. Pilkington, "Review Lecture. The Float Glass Process." Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series A. Mathematical and Physical Sciences 314 (1969): 1-25, accessed July 17, 2018, http://www.jstor.org 8 Ibid

Prepared by: Darian Beverungen, Historic Preservation Planner, A.A.Co. Date: 9/5/2018 Addendum to Inventory No. AA-891 Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties Form

Page 4 of 9 Name of Property: Laurel Racetrack Location: 3600 Laurel Ft Meade Rd, Laurel, MD, Anne Arundel County enough for it to be taken out of the bath; a ribbon is then produced with un iform thickness and polished surfaces without the need for grinding and polishing.9

The Modernist Movement fueled the demand for glass, but the use of glass as a primary building material did not really take off until the invention of the float glass process that offered high quality flat glass at an affordable price which was the impetus for the new style in commercial development that began cropping up across the nation during the second half of the 20 th century. While the grandstand bu ilding has been significantly altered from its original 1911 appearance (see Figure No. 2 on page 8), the later alterations that were made, specifically the glass curtain wall enclosure in 1966, are significant in and of themselves. Its slick style and the innovative engineering behind the manufacturing of flat glass at that time make those alterations architecturally significant. In addition, it is the only example of a glass curtain wall of that scale to be found in Anne Arundel County.

Pedestrian Tunnels Significance

The Laurel Racetrack property is located on the old Washington Branch of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, now referred to as the , or the MARC's . While the first line of the B&O Railroad between Baltimore and Ellicott City opened in 1830, the Washington Branch would not open until five years later in 1835. It was the first major rail link to the Capital. The line runs from Halethorpe, Maryland to Washington, D.C. To this day, the railroad still serves as a portion of the western boundary between Anne Arundel County, and Howard County.

Though the Laurel Station (built 1884}, located about a mile south of the Laurel Racetrack in Prince George's County, was operating at the time of the opening of the race course, arrangements were made with the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad to add a stop on the Washington Branch to specifically accommodate vis itors and the transportation of the horses. The Laurel Racecourse station opened in 1911, timed with the grand opening of the racetrack. A newspaper article from the Baltimore Sun, written on October 1, 1911 (the day before the opening) stated that "The Baltimore and Ohio has built the longest siding for the unloading of horses ever built at a course in America. It will accommodate eight cars and an engine." 10 The Laurel Racetrack was marked as the premier horse racing facility in the South at that time; no cost was spared, including in the construction of a slower track (i.e. siding) for horse transport. Special fares and train services were even offered, with discounted prices for racegoers and

9 Ibid 10 "Laurel Racing Starts Tomorrow," Baltimore Sun, October 1, 1911.

Prepared by: Darian Beverungen, Historic Preservation Planner, A.A.Co. Date: 9/5/2018 Addendum to Inventory No. AA-891 Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties Form

Page 5 of 9 Name of Property: Laurel Racetrack Location: 3600 Laurel Ft Meade Rd, Laurel, MD, Anne Arundel County specific uninterrupted trains that ran from Baltimore and Washington to the racetrack. These special incentives were offered as advertised in newspapers since its opening. 11

Along with the grandstand, clubhouse, and other amenities for visitors, horse owners, and jockeys alike, the pedestrian tunnels were also built for the comfort and safety of race attendees. An article at the time stated, "To avoid any danger from railroad crossing accidents the management has constructed a concrete subway under the railroad tracks which leads to an inclined boardwalk, landing the visitor directly into the grandstand. No expense has been spared looking to the comfort of the visitors, the ladies being especially provided for." 12 While no traces of the boardwalk exist, the tunnels and train platform have survived with a "1911" engraving marking their construction. The pedestrian tunnels are significant not just to the original era of the Laurel Racetrack, but contribute to the racegoers' overall experience when visiting the venue to this day.

9. Major Bibliographical References

Foster and Partners, Willis Building, Accessed July 24, 2018. http://www.fosterandpartners.com

L.A. Conservancy, Architect Biographies, Accessed August 15, 2018. http://www.laconservancy.org

L.A.B Pilkington. "Review Lecture. The Float Glass Process." Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series A, Mathematical and Physical Sciences, Vol. 314, No . 1516. December 16 (1969): pp . 1- 25. Accessed July 17, 2018. http://www.jstor.org

Patterson, Michael R., "Structural Glass Facades: A Unique Building Technology." Master's thesis. University of Southern California, 2008. http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/

"Laurel Racing Starts Tomorrow." Baltimore Sun (Baltimore), October 1, 1911. Accessed August 24, 2018. https://www.newspapers.com/.

"Trains To Laurel All Well Filled." The Evening Sun (Baltimore), October 2, 1911. Accessed August 24, 2018. https:/ /www.newspapers.com/.

11 "Improved Going Helps at Laurel," The Evening Sun, October 4, 1911. 12 "Trains to Laurel All Well Filled," The Evening Sun, October 2, 1911.

Prepared by: Darian Beverungen, Historic Preservation Planner, A.A.Co. Date: 9/5/2018 Addendum to Inventory No. AA-891 Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties Form

Page 6 of 9 Name of Property: Laurel Racetrack Location: 3600 Laurel Ft Meade Rd, Laurel, MD, Anne Arundel County

"Improved Going Helps At Laurel." The Evening Sun (Baltimore), October 4, 1911. Accessed August 24, 2018. https://www.newspapers.com/.

10. Geographical Data

Verbal boundary description and justification

For the purposes of this addendum, only one building (grandstand) and three structures (pedestrian tunnels and train platform) and their immediate surroundings were surveyed; however, they all lie within the parcel boundary for the entire racetrack which is located on Tax Map 19; Parcel 86 (see attached aerial map identifying the resources on the property, Figure No. 3 on page 9).

Prepared by: Darian Beverungen, Historic Preservation Planner, A.A.Co. Date: 9/5/2018 Addendum to Inventory No. AA-891 Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties Form

Page 7 of 9 Name of Property: Laurel Racetrack Location: 3600 Laurel Ft Meade Rd, Laurel, MD, Anne Arundel County

8. Significance Continuation

IAUREl RACE COURSE louNI, Maryland PLACE The new glou-.nclo1ad laurel houeracing pkJnt, featuring the world's largelt "window", pro¥ides STAMP ccmfort under all weather condition,. Located midway betwHn Baltimore and Wa1hington, it is HERE Iha u•n• of the world•fomoua Wo1hington, D. C. lntemotionol roe., which motchei chomp.On1 from foreign lands with America'• bHI at 1 ½ miles on the grau. POST CARD .Addrt,s

....

Figure 1: Laurel Race Course Post Card, c. 1970

Prepared by: Darian Beverungen, Historic Preservation Planner, A.A.Co. Date: 9/5/2018 Addendum to Inventory No. AA-891 Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties Form

Page 8 of 9 Name of Property: Laurel Racetrack Location: 3600 Laurel Ft Meade Rd, Laurel, MD, Anne Arundel County

Figure 2: Published in The Evening Sun on October 2, 1911 (opening day). • Note the grandstand building in the bottom right photo.

Prepared by: Darian Beverungen, Historic Preservation Planner, A.A.Co. Date: 9/5/2018 Addendum to Inventory No. AA-891 Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties Form

Page 9 of 9 Name of Property: Laurel Racetrack Location: 3600 Laurel Ft Meade Rd, Laurel, MD, Anne Arundel County

AA-891 Laurel Racetrack: Contributing Resources (Addendum) Laurel, Anne Arundel County, MD

Figure 3: Aerial Map of Contributing Resources of Laurel Race Track.

Prepared by: Darian Beverungen, Historic Preservation Planner, A.A.Co. Date: 9/5/2018 AA-891 / LAUREL RACETRACK ADDENDUM PHOTO IDENTIFICATION KEY

Photographs by Kate Mahood, Mahood LLC dba Heritage Preservation Services, Annapolis, MD; and by

Darian Beverungen, Anne Arundel County Office of Planning & Zoning

Photos were taken on October 16, 2017 and August 30, 2018 at the Laurel Racetrack/Laurel Park located at 3600 Laurel Race Track Rd, Laurel, MD.

Photo Description Name/Number

AA-891 2017-10- View of Grandstand exterior, trackside, looking east 16 01.tif AA-891 2017-10- Interior of Grandstand, second floor, looking east 16 02 .tif AA-891 2018-08- View of Grandstand exterior, trackside, looking west 30 03.tif AA-891 2018-08- View of pedestrian tunnels, looking north 30 04.tif AA-891 2018-08- View of wrought iron round picket fencing above entrance to pedestrian tunnels 30 05 .tif AA-891 2018-08- View of concrete stairs to westbound track platform. View is from platform looking 30 06.tif down to pedestrian tunnel. AA-891 2018-08- View of westbound track platform, looking east 30 07 .tif AA-891 2018-08- View of" 1911 " construction date carving in westbound track pedestrian tunnel 30 08.tif AA-891 2018-08- Interior view of westbound track tunnel, looking north 30 09.tif AA-891 2018-08- Detail view of bishop's crook lamppost, located near train platforms 30 10.tif

Materials data: Prints developed by Fromex Photo and Digital, Inc. using traditional black and white chemical process and printed on archival Ilford silver gelatin paper. Digital copies recorded on Verbatim UltraLife Gold Archival Grade CD-R.

AA-891 construction began in 1909 Laurel Racetrack Laurel Private

Laurel Racetrack is Maryland's second oldest racing facility. The complex occupies 231.8 acres and is dominated by a 42,063 sq. ft. grandstand. This 1911 building was originally built in the Classical Revival idiom, but as a result of a 1953 expansion and remodeling, now principally reflects the Moderne Style.

Historically, the Laurel Racetrack is significant for its association with the development of Maryland's nationally respected thoroughbred racing industry. Throughout its history Laurel Racetrack has maintained a reputation as a state-of-the- art racing facility, featuring competition by the world's best thoroughbreds. AA-891 Laurel Racetrack Laurel

MARYLAND COMPREHENSIVE HISTORIC PRESERVATION PLAN DATA

Geographic Organization: Western Shore

Chronological/Development Period: Industrial/Urban Dominance

Prehistoric/Historic Period Themes: Architectural; Social

Resource Type: Category: Building Historic Environment: Suburban Historic Function and Use: Horse Racing Known Design Source: None Survey No. AA-891 Maryland Historical Trust Magi No. State Historic Sites Inventory Form DOE yes no

1. Name (indicate preferred name) historic Laurel Racetrack and/or common 2. Location street & number 3600 Laurel Racetrack Road not for publication city, town Laurel vicinity of congressional district state Maryland county Anne Arundel 3. Classification Category Ownership Status Present Use district public x occupied agriculture museum x building(s) x private unoccupied commercial park structure both work in progress educational private residence site Public Acquisition Accessible x entertainment religious object in process yes: restricted government scientific being considered x yes: unrestricted industrial transportation not applicable no military other:

4. Owner Of Property (9've names and mailing addresses of aN owners) name Laurel Racing Association Limited Partnership street & number P.O. Box 130 telephone no.: city, town Laurel Maryland state and zip code: Maryland 20725 5. Location of Legal Description courthouse, registry of deeds, etc. Anne Arundel County Court House liber 3826 street & number Church Circle folio 310 city, town Annapolis state Maryland 6. Representation in Existing Historical Surveys title date federal state county local

^ ository for survey records city, town state 7. Description Survey No. AA-891

Condition Check one Check one excellent deteriorated unaltered x original site x good ruins x altered moved date of move fair unexposed

Prepare both a summary paragraph and a general description of the resource and its various elements as it exists today.

Containing 231.8 acres, Laurel Racetrack is located off Laurel Racetrack Road, directly south of the boundary between Anne Arundel and Howard Counties and directly east of the border separating Anne Arundel and Prince Georges Counties.

In addition to the dirt racetrack, the complex features a number of buildings that include a grandstand, paddock, service building, manager's dwelling, as well as numerous small, ancillary storage and supply structures.

The racetrack's most dominant building is the grandstand. This very large and principally rectangular building occupying an area of 42,063 sq. ft., faces southeast and overlooks the racetrack below. Built in 1911 and significantly expanded in 1953, this imposing building is predominately constructed of stucco-covered, reinforced concrete. Brick is employed for both structural and veneering purposes. The low-pitch, hipped roof is covered with heavy-grade corrugated metal and is pierced by dozens of ventilator and heating ducts. Stylistically the building conveys a Moderne appearance. The building's horizontal emphasis is emphasized by continuous bays of fixed-sash windows and minimal decorative embellishment. The grandstand's present appearance is largely a result of the 1950s expansion, though some of the more classically-inspired, c. 1911 detailing is retained. Most notable are the full-height brick pilasters that rise up and engage the roofline. These are accented with terra cotta capitals featuring horse heads, acanthus leave, and egg-and-dart designs. Another original feature is f vest side entrance that leads from the grandstand toward the adjacent paddock. This doorway features a L. ..xen pediment and surround.

The multiple-level seating area is now enclosed behind fourteen bays of plexi-glass. Each bay contains twenty-five, fixed panes. In front and below of the enclosed seating area is a raised concrete standing area. This is unenclosed and situated directly adjacent the track.

The grandstand building contains almost all of the tract's public facilities, including clubhouse, betting counters, restaurants, gift shops, and other service facilities.

The most unique, as well as one of the oldest buildings at Laurel Racetrack, is the 1920s-era, polygonal-shaped paddock building. This one-oversized-story structure, with its low-swept roof, is visually divided into three levels. The top of the building is crowned by a round ventilator, styled as a cupola. The pinnacle of the cupola descends with a concave pitch, terminating with a flared, upward kick at the base. Clerestory windows are located directly below the exposed rafters of the roofline. These run the circumference of the building, and are arranged in bays of five windows, with each window in turn containing five lights.

A porch engages the paddock building directly beneath the clerestory windows and echoes the polygonal shape of the main body of the building. Bays are separated by wide wooden posts and spanned by a non-structural arch. Several bays are enclosed, but the majority remain open to the outside.

The open interior has a dirt floor, and features an elaborate system of exposed, cantilevered ceiling trusses. This complicated truss system is is supported by six, floor-to-ceiling posts that are centered in the middle of the building. Situated between the posts is a raised, hexagonal, dais, , a low banister, with unturned balustrade, runs along the building's perimeter, near the wall line.

(See Continuation Sheet) 8. Significance survey NO. AA-891

Period Areas of Significance—Check and justify below prehistoric archeology-prehistoric community planning landscape architecture religion 1400-1499 archeology-historic conservation law science 1500-1599 agriculture economics literature sculpture 1600-1699 x architecture education military social/ 1700-1799 art engineering music humanitarian 1800-1899 commerce exploration/settlement philosophy theater x 1900- communications industry politics/government transportation invention x other (specify) recreation

Specific dates 1909-11/1953 Builder/Architect

Check: Applicable Criteria: x A B x C D and/or Applicable Exception: A B C D E F G

Level of Significance: national state local

Prepare both a summary paragraph of significance and a general statement of history and support.

Laurel Racetrack is significant for its association with the development of Maryland's nationally respected thoroughbred racing industry. Built in 1909-11, and enlarged and renovated in 1953, Laurel raceway has maintained a reputation as a state-of-the-art racing facility, featuring competition by the world's best thoroughbreds. The prominence of this place in the horse racing world is reflected in the high quality architecture displayed in both its 1909-11 and 1953 construction.

Laurel Racetrack officially opened on October 13,1911 and was proclaimed as the pre-eminent racing facility in 'land and one of the best tracks in the nation. Its construction occurred during a boom period in Maryland thoroughbred racing; a period of growth significantly enhanced by a concurrent gambling reform movement taking place in Illinois, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Rhode Island (1).

Laurel Racetrack is Maryland's second oldest racing facility, with the oldest being Pimlico in Baltimore. In 1909 H.D. Brown, a Florida racing promoter sought to establish a second track in Baltimore, but finding opposition to his effort, Brown decided to abandon the idea of Baltimore as the location, and selected a site in rural Anne Arundel County. The site near Laurel was selected because of the low price of land, its location near a Baltimore and Ohio Railroad station, and for its proximity between Baltimore and Washington (2).

In order to realize his idea, Brown enlisted the support of the Maryland State Fair Association. As a result, when Laurel's informal thirty-day season opened in 1910, it was required to coincide with a four-county fair, also held at the site. The corporate name of Laurel Racetrack was the Maryland State Fair, Inc. (3). In addition to the one-mile turf track, the Laurel complex offered a clubhouse, grandstand and paddock. The track manager lived in the property in a previously existing farmhouse. A large building used as a fair exhibit hall is now demolished.

1911 marked the year of the first official season of racing at Laurel. During the season, six races were run ranging in distance from five furlongs to one-and-one-sixteenth miles (4). Three years later, Brown and the other original investors sold out to James Butler, a New York grocery entrepreneur. The new owner signed Matt J. Winn, a well known Kentucky Derby promoter, as general manager. While Laurel Racetrack's fame was eclipsed by Pimlico and its Preakness Race, from the outset Laurel enjoyed a prestigious reputation and featured horses from the nation's, and sometimes, the world's top stables (5).

Racing's popularity, both at Laurel and nation-wide, suffered from the economic downturn of the 1930s and •' shortages and tumult of the war years. In the succeeding post-war boom, Laurel's new management created t/Vashington D.C. International. This new type of race competed the best horses of Europe against America's top contenders and by the 1950s it was famous the world over.

(See continuation sheet.) 9. Major Bibliographical References survey NO. AA-891

(1) Jospeh B. Kelly, At the Track: Thoroughbred Racing in Maryland, 1870-1973; Maryland Historical Magazine, Volume 89, Spring 1994. p. 69. (2^ Ibid, p. 70. 'ohn Goodspeed, The Scent of Horses in the Air, But Laurel Means Homes and Schools, Baltimore Sun, February 4, 1952. (4) Ibid (6) 1984 interview by Donna Ware with Joseph Kelly, Reporter for Washington Star and Baltimore Sun (5) Kelly, p. 71 (7) Laurel Centennial, Laurel City Council, 1970 10. Geographical Data Acreage of nominated property Quadrangle name Laurel Quadrangle scale

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Verbal boundary description and justification

L'«=t all states and counties for properties overlapping state or county boundaries state code county code state code county code 11. Form Prepared by name/title Sherri M. Marsh organization Anne Arundel County Historical Sites Survey date October 1996 street & number 2664 Riva Road telephone (410)222-7441 city or town Annapolis state Maryland

The Maryland Historic Sites Inventory was officially created by an Act of the Maryland Legislature to be found in the Annotated Code of Maryland, Article 41, Section 181 KA, 1974 supplement.

The survey and inventory are being prepared for information and record purposes only and do not constitute any infringement of individual property rights.

return to: Maryland Historical Trust DHCP/DHCD 100 Community Place Crownsville, MD 21032-2023 410-514-7600 PS-2746 Continuation Sheet survey NO. AA-891

7. Prepare both a summary paragraph and a general description of the resources and its various elements as it exists today

Located west of the paddock and grandstand, and facing approximately west, is the manager's dwelling. ; late 19th century frame, German-sided, two-and-a-half story, center-hall-plan house consists of three sections, i ne front section has a hipped roof, with two, front-facing cross gables. A two-and-a-half story, gable-roofed ell projects from the rear of the building, terminating in a one-story, shed-roof addition. A full-width, hipped-roof porch spans the front facade. Supported by six, square posts, it features fancy, jig-sawn balusters. The centrally-located doorway contains sidelights and a multi-pane transom. On the second level the center bay is dominated by a pair of segmental arch windows. These are surrounded by a wide segmental casing.

Remaining fenestration is primarily six-over-six, double-hung sash openings, and are evenly spaced. The west wall of the ell deviates from this pattern by containing widows of varying length, as well as two extremely narrow window openings. Furthermore, the front block's west wall contains a cut-away bay window.

In addition to the grandstand, paddock and manager's dwelling, the racetrack complex also contains numerous, small, utilitarian structures, and are of recent construction.

°repare both a summary paragraph of significance and a general statement of history and support

The mid-1950s also saw the expansion and renovation of Laurel's physical plant. The grandstand building underwent a major expansion. This included the addition of two showplace clubhouses. Portions of the old complex were retained, including a 1920s indoor paddock, which according to the unsubstantiated report of a former track official, is the only indoor paddock in the country (6). In 1966 the grandstand was enclosed, using glass reinforcements to hold up the individual panes. This system resulted in panes of glass suspended from panes of glass, and at the time, was considered a feat of British engineering (7). LAUREL Site Number: AA-891 USGS 7.5 minute series Site Name: Laurel Racetrack Scale: 1:24,000 Location: 3600 Laurel Racetrack Road, 1965, photo revised 1979 Laurel