Neighborhood NEWS FALL • 2015 RUXTON-RIDERWOOD-LAKE ROLAND AREA IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION Johnson Milk House Restored INSIDE Preserving the Past for the Future New Team – Same by Bliss McCord and The WRA has undertaken several proj- Beautification Barbara Guarnieri ects since its inception. A peek at the and Preservation On a colorful fall day, Fall 2009 issue of Neighborhood NEWS Mission for GRAF anyone driving south recalls the restoration by WRA of the PAGE 3 on Falls Road toward large bank barn that can be seen from H the Old Court stop the road. During that project, the WRA New General light cannot help befriended Joe Coale, local historian and Assembly but take note of the then-president of the Greater Ruxton Representatives Area Foundation. Joe took a keen inter- sweep of open fields PAGE 5 bordered by trees in est in the restoration of the barn and the historic district inquired about plans for the other two H of Rockland. It looks early 19th century outbuildings, the Our Architectural as beautiful today as spring house and milk house. Water Heritage – The it did in 1752 when Romantic Style Thomas Johnson, PAGE 9 newly married to Ann Risteau (or Riston), H Third Annual came to live in Turkey Friday Night Cock Hall, the home Before renovation Photo courtesy Jim Garrett Lights she had inherited PAGE 12 at the time of her father’s death three H years earlier. Blakehurst in the Members of the Johnson family have been sheltered Neighborhood and sustained on the property ever since. Jim Gar- PAGE 14 rett, among other heirs, lives on the property today. H “It feels most days as if we’re walking in the foot- The Mitchell steps of Jim’s ancestors, so we have an extra respon- School sibility and joy in that,” says Jim’s wife, Edie. With PAGE 15 such a deep connection to the area, they take their stewardship of the land very seriously. Others value H Rockland as well, as a County and National Historic After renovation Photo courtesy Jim Garrett RRLRAIA Landmark. Annual Meeting About 25 years ago, family members established PAGE 16 the West Rockland Association, Inc. (WRA) which continues to pour from the stone spring house which H subsequently placed more than 50 acres of the former is located on the eastern edge of Green Spring Val- RRLRAIA Johnson farm in a perpetual conservation easement ley. It remains the source of fresh water for resident Membership with the Maryland Environmental Trust. WRA now livestock, the horses boarded in the fields and barn. Directory maintains the natural features of the land as well as All parties agreed, however, that the milk house was PAGE 23 the barn, milk house and spring house. Working to- in particular need of being rescued, if possible. gether, Jim and Edie now keep the books, assessing, H resourcing and recording all necessary upkeep. Continued on p. 8 Ruxton-Riderwood- Lake Roland President’s Letter Neighborhood NEWS Dear Neighbors, In this issue you will find the next installment Fall 2015 As I write this letter, summer is coming to a of our neighborhood’s architectural heritage, close. Our Newsletter Committee, comprised this time on the Romantic style. I would like Table of Contents of a team of writers, editors and produc- to thank the property owners for graciously allowing us the pleasure of highlighting their 1 Johnson Milk House Restored ers, has been preparing for this edition of homes or structures. If you live in a Victorian 2 President’s Letter Neighborhood NEWS for many months. I must 3 New Team – Same style house, we may contact you for our next thank them, especially Jessica Paffenbarger, Beautification and Preservation installment! Mission for GRAF for their dedication towards producing such 4 Explore Nature Quest Some of the more behind-the-scenes, but 5 New General Assembly great newsletters. I hope you enjoy them as Representatives much as I do. We welcome your suggestions extremely important activities of the Associa- 7 Mrs. Harrington’s Wye River Cheese Puffs for topics and, if you’d like to write an article, tion are related to zoning, traffic and roads. 9 Our Architectural Heritage – that’s even better! Elise Butler, chair of our Zoning Committee, The Romantic Style has managed a host of issues relating to the 12 Third Annual The Association is grateful Design Review Panel, uses of Friday Night Lights to be teamed up with the 13 Last Community Clean-ups properties, code violations, follow Greater Ruxton Area Founda- 14 Blakehurst in up on decisions made by County the Neighborhood tion (GRAF). While our Board 15 The Mitchell School: officials and other neighbor-to- focuses on the nuts and bolts A Neighborhood Fine neighbor concerns. Cyndy Allen, Arts Treasure of maintaining a community’s 16 Robert E. Lee Park Hopes chair of the Traffic and Roads safety and welfare, GRAF to Attract a Lovely Bird Committee, continues to work 16 RRLRIA Annual Meeting concentrates on beautification with the County on drainage, 18 Kids Corner efforts of both land and build- 20 Safety in Darkness lines of sight and road conditions ings as you will read in the ar- 21 The Difference Between throughout our community. RRLRAIA and GRAF ticle “The Difference Between 22 Home Sales in Ruxton / Riderwood / Lake Roland RRLRAIA and GRAF.” While The Executive Committee is in 23 Door-to-Door Solicitors: our efforts are often behind- the process of reviewing the Your Privacy Takes a Setback Association’s by-laws in order to 23 RRLRAIA the-scenes and specific to a Membership Directory certain neighborhood, street keep them current. We are also or group of members, GRAF’s staying on top of BGE’s planned Board of Governors efforts are more visual and can be enjoyed by improvements in Ruxton and the flood plain President – Patrick Jarosinski 1st Vice President – Jessica Paffenbarger all. The Association appreciates your annual revisions. Enjoy the article about our elected 2nd Vice President – Laura Shmerler dues and donations; please consider also sup- officials and how they voted; this is so im- Treasurer – Linda Murphy porting GRAF with a tax deductible donation. portant to the future of our neighborhoods. Secretary – Tracy Miller Please plan to attend our Annual Meeting at Gina Adams A few of the Association’s more visible efforts the Church of the Good Shepherd on Tuesday, Cynthia Allen are our environmental and social events, Art Arthur September 29. The meet-and-greet we hosted planned by our busy Events Committee John Baer before last year’s annual meeting for our com- Shannon Brown chaired by Kelley Keener and Carlton Sexton. munity and elected officials was such a hit Thomas Brown Our Street and Stream Clean-ups in the spring that we are repeating it this year (see page Jeffrey Budnitz were very successful and will be held in the Elise Butler 16 for more information). Kelley Keener fall as well. Please join us to help keep our Susan Law roads and waterways clean. Volunteers are Stop by the Rider House while out and about; Mary Brown McKenna always welcome, needed and much appreci- Peggy Squitieri, our Executive Director, would Courtney Middelton Paddy Morton ated. We held our third annual community love to say “Hi” and show you the recent Michael Muldowney Friday Night Lights in Ruxton. We thank the improvements to the kitchen and conference Clark Parriott Ruxton Village and Ruxton Station shops for room. Shannon Putman their time and financial donations along with Anne Rouse Enjoy the fall and we hope to see you at the Carlton Sexton the Ruxtones, our own local rock group which annual meeting. Justin Wiggs entertains us every year. Bringing together the community at these events is a favorite Patrick Jarosinski Executive Director part of our jobs as Board members. Peggy Squitieri Newsletter Committee: Neighborhood NEWS is published three times a year by The Ruxton-Riderwood-Lake Roland Area Jessica Paffenbarger, Editor Bliss McCord Graphic Production: Improvement Association, Inc., P.O. Box 204, Riderwood, MD 21139, tel: 410-494-7757. Laura Shmerler, Advertising Courtney Middelton DesignConcept.com John Baer Paddy Morton Printing: Deadlines for copy, including announcements and calendar items, are February 15 for Spring issue, Barbara Guarnieri Shannon Putman MtRoyalPtg.com July 15 for Fall issue and October 15 for Winter issue. Advertisers contact: [email protected]. Nancy Horst Nettie Washburn Susan Law 2 New Team – Same Beautification and Preservation Mission for GRAF by Tom Weadock with total contributions of approximately $50,000 which enables us to maintain current projects and add new ones. The average The Greater Ruxton Area Foundation (GRAF) entered 2015 in its donation was just over $200 and we hope even more residents strongest financial position ever as a result of the fall fundraising will contribute this year. We need your help to keep the unique campaign. With a generous beauty and character of grant from the Middendorf the greater Ruxton area. If Foundation, we recently Mission Statement: The Greater you have any suggestions completed a major kitchen for improvements please and access renovation to Ruxton Area Foundation is dedicated let us know by contact- the Rider House. Serving to encouraging practices and poli- ing us through our web- as the headquarters for The cies that further enhance, restore site or speaking to any of Ruxton-Riderwood-Lake and preserve the unique qualities our Board members. Your Roland Area Improvement and character of our community generous donation is tax Association (RRLRAIA) and to include: beautification of our deductible and you can the Preservation Alliance for streetscapes, open spaces and vacant donate when you receive Baltimore County (formerly land; preservation of historic vistas, our campaign solicitation Baltimore County Historical or by going online to www.