DocuSign Envelope ID: CBD2D366-BD1D-4D3D-A136-78FF73C06D02 Frederick County, Maryland Staff Report Concurrence Form To: Office of the County Executive Date: 04/13/2021____________________ Division Director: Steve__________________ Horn __ Approved: __________________________ From: Kimberly________________ Golden Brandt _____________ Division: ___Planning______________ & Permitting __________ Phone #: ______________301-600-1144 ______ Staff Report Topic: Proposed Listing on County Register of Historic Places – Rocky Springs Chapel and School House (CR # 21-01) Time Sensitive? Yes □ (if yes, deadline for approval: ____________________) No □X Action Requested by Executive’s Office: Signature Requested □X OR Information Only □ Staff Report Review: This staff report has been thoroughly reviewed first by the appropriate divisions/agencies noted on Page 2 followed by those outlined below: Name Signature Date Budget Office Kelly Weaver 4/19/2021 Finance Division Erin White 4/19/2021 County Attorney’s Office Kathy L Mitchell 4/19/2021 Refer to County Council? Yes □X No □ (County Attorney’s Office to complete) Chief Administrative Rick Harcum 4/21/2021 Officer County Executive Jan Gardner 4/22/2021 Forward to Council? Yes □X No □ (County Executive to complete) Page 1 of 2 May 2020 DocuSign Envelope ID: CBD2D366-BD1D-4D3D-A136-78FF73C06D02 Frederick County, Maryland Staff Report Concurrence Form Other Reviewers: Title Name Signature Date 3. Director, Livable Frederick Kimberly Golden Brandt 4/13/2021 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Comments: From Date Comment Page 2 of 2 May 2020 DocuSign Envelope ID: CBD2D366-BD1D-4D3D-A136-78FF73C06D02 Jan H. Gardner FREDERICK COUNTY GOVERNMENT County Executive DIVISION OF PLANNING & PERMITTING Steven C. Horn, Division Director Livable Frederick Planning & Design Office Kimberly Golden Brandt, Director TO: Frederick County Council THROUGH: Jan Gardner, County Executive THROUGH: Steve Horn, Director, Planning & Permitting Division FROM: Kimberly Golden Brandt, Director, Livable Frederick Planning & Design Office DATE: April 13, 2021 SUBJECT: Proposed Listing on County Register of Historic Places – Rocky Springs Chapel and School House (CR # 21-01) ISSUE: Should the County Council add the property known as “Rocky Springs Chapel and School House,” located at 7817 Rocky Springs Road, to the Frederick County Register of Historic Places? BACKGROUND: The owner of the subject property has made application to list the property known as Rocky Springs Chapel and School House on the Frederick County Register of Historic Places (Attachment 1). The chapel and school house are located on approximately two acres at 7817 Rocky Springs Road, in proximity to the City of Frederick (Attachment 2). The school house was constructed in 1839 and served as a religious meeting house and as Public School House Number 26. The chapel was built in 1882 and utilized continuously for religious and social gatherings until 1982. Both buildings have association with the Church of the United Brethren in Christ (U.B.), the first Protestant denomination founded in the United States. According to U.B. history, the U.B. was organized in 1800 in the Rocky Springs area of Frederick County at the home of Frederick Kemp (one mile east of Rocky Springs School House). Frederick Kemp’s farm was routinely used as a gathering place by the founders and early leaders of the U.B., and as soon as the Rocky Springs School House was built, the U.B. congregation moved its religious services and Sunday School there. The schoolhouse was used for both religious and educational purposes for approximately 42 years until the Rocky Springs Chapel was built next door in 1882. After 1882, the school house was used exclusively as a public school until 1930 when it was decommissioned and sold to Rocky Springs Chapel for use as additional meeting space. The chapel served the U.B. congregation until 1909 and continued to serve as a house of worship until 1982 as a Union Church, a congregation consisting of several denominations. Rocky Springs School House is also significant for its association with a cavalry skirmish on July 8, 1864, just prior to the Battle of Monocacy. According to E.Y. Goldsborough’s book Early's Great Raid, He Advances Through Maryland, Battle of Monocacy, written in 1898, two maps are depicted with Rocky Springs School House. Goldsborough recounts that: Frederick County: Rich History, Bright Future 30 North Market Street, Frederick, MD 21701 ● 301-600-1138 ● Fax 301-600-1645 www.FrederickCountyMD.gov DocuSign Envelope ID: CBD2D366-BD1D-4D3D-A136-78FF73C06D02 Re: Proposed Listing on County Register of Historic Places – Rocky Springs Chapel & School Page | 2 April 13, 2021 Our cavalry skirmished with the rebel cavalry during the day (Friday, July 8th), along Catoctin Mountain, near Rocky Springs School House, and the artillery stationed near the city limits on the north side of the road had a spirited fight with a rebel battery on Hagan's Hill, about a mile west of the city… The property’s associations with the group of people responsible for the organization of the first Protestant denomination to be created in the United States, which spread and expanded across the nation, illustrates how this property is significant for its interest and value in the development of the community and also the development and expansion of religion in the County, State, and Nation. Additionally, the site’s evolution from school-worship house to schoolhouse and adjoining chapel exemplifies the development pattern between public schools and places of worship that existed in the 19th century. Finally, the property’s association with the Civil War and the Battle of Monocacy is a significant event both locally and nationally. In addition to the historical significance, these two buildings are also good examples of rural 19th century institutional architecture in Frederick County. They both contain few changes to their exteriors, as well as their form and plan. The Rocky Springs School House is a rectangular-shaped, one-story building constructed of stone under what used to be a gable roof. The north gable end is covered with German siding. Six over six wooden window sashes are located in the east and west elevations and one is located in the south elevation. A concrete block addition was added to the rear elevation after 1930. The Rocky Springs Chapel is also a rectangular-shaped, one-story building but is wood framed and covered in German siding. A standing-seam metal gable roof covers the building with gable returns at the gable ends. A foyer projects from the center bay of the south elevation and is flanked on either side by four-over-four segmental-arched windows. Four bays are located on each of the east and west elevations also containing four-over-four segmental-arched windows. A frame shed addition is located on the north elevation and is also covered in German siding. The applicant has been working to stabilize the school house and was successful in obtaining a Maryland Heritage Area Authority grant. Work for the first phase of this project was completed in 2020. The applicant was recently awarded a 2021 Maryland Historical Trust Preservation Award for excellence in historic preservation for this work. The applicant is also pursuing a Frederick County Rural Historic Preservation grant in addition to other grants to help stabilize this important structure. Historic Preservation Commission Review & Recommendation The Historic Preservation Commission (HPC), in February 2021, (Attachments 3 and 4) voted to recommend that the historic site known as Rocky Springs Chapel and School House be listed on the County Register of Historic Places. In acting upon the application, the HPC determined, pursuant to Section 1-23-6 of the Historic Preservation Ordinance, that the property was eligible for listing on the County Register noting that the property should be designated based upon the following criteria listed in the Ordinance: The property has significant character, interest, or value as part of the development, heritage, or cultural characteristics of the County, State, or Nation. DocuSign Envelope ID: CBD2D366-BD1D-4D3D-A136-78FF73C06D02 Re: Proposed Listing on County Register of Historic Places – Rocky Springs Chapel & School Page | 3 April 13, 2021 The property is the site of an historic event. The property is identified with a person, or group of persons, who influenced society. The property exemplifies the cultural, economic, social, political, or historic heritage of the County and its communities. The property embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction or architecture. The HPC included the entirety of the property within the proposed County Register designation. Contributing structures include the chapel and the school house. Once listed on the Register, proposed changes to the exterior of any structure or the site (including any visible site improvements such as driveways, signage, or significant alteration of the landscape) must receive a Certificate of Appropriateness issued by the HPC. Frederick County Register of Historic Places As of this date, there are fifteen (15) properties listed on the County Register (CR). Listing on the CR is a voluntary action initiated by a property owner or other party with an interest in the property. Special tax credits and county grant funding for preservation, restoration, and rehabilitation expenditures may be available to owners of CR properties. All exterior work undertaken to a CR-listed