Carroll’s Yesteryears

12 May 1991

Historical society awarded

by Joe Getty

The celebration of this year’s historic preservation week in Carroll County will feature the awards presentation of a 1991 Historic Preservation Project Award from the Maryland Historical Trust to the Historical Society of Carroll County for the restoration of the Sherman-Fisher-Shellman House.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation sponsors historic preservation week annually. This year’s theme, “Celebrate YOUR Heritage,” concentrates on your own local historic sites.

During the week of May 12-18, the National Trust is encouraging people to relish the heritage of their own communities: “Every town and city across America has its own heritage. Each of us can identify a landmark or special place that evokes powerful images of our past, contributes to our sense of continuity and marks our progress and development over the years – a picturesque Main Street, a weathered rural barn, or a favorite historic house museum.”

The Historical Society of Carroll County is sponsoring historic preservation events throughout the month of May. In honor of the statewide restoration award, an open house will be held at the Sherman-Fisher-Shellman house on May 18 from noon to 4 p.m.

The Sherman-Fisher-Shellman House was saved from demolition by the historical society in 1939. It is architecturally one of the outstanding Federal style houses of Piedmont Maryland.

In 1983, the historical society initiated the planning and fundraising campaign for the restoration project. The architectural objective included returning the floor plan to its 1807 configuration, restoring selected architectural details, installing modern mechanical systems and repainting interior and exterior woodwork with historic colors.

Broad community support was received in the capital campaign and other fundraising activities. As part of the project, considerable research was completed by the staff of the historical society that has provided new insights on women’s history and African-American history in Piedmont Maryland as well as the Pennsylvania German cultural influences.

An illustrated “Visitor’s Guide” is available to the public. It provides the historical documentation and interpretation of the house museum.

In addition to the awards ceremony and open house, the historic preservation month calendar includes a lecture series:

May 14 – “Researching Your Old Carroll County House” by Joe Getty, Historic Preservation Month Lecture Series, Shriver-Weybright Auditorium, 210 E. Main St., Westminster, 7:30 p.m.

May 16 – Presentation of 1991 Historic Preservation Project Award to the Historical Society of Carroll County for the restoration of the Sherman-Fisher-Shellman House by the Maryland historical Trust, Governor’s Reception Room, State House; 12:30 p.m.

May 18 – Historic Preservation Week Open House at the Sherman-Fisher-Shellman House 206 E. Main St., Westminster, 12 noon to 4 p.m.

May 27 – Memorial Day Open House – Sherman-Fisher-Shellman House 206 E. Main St., Westminster, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

May 29 – “Furnishing Your Old Carroll County House” by Jay Graybeal, Historic Preservation Month Lecture Series, Shriver-Weybright Auditorium, 210 E. Main St., Westminster, 7:30 p.m.

June 4 – “Creative Development in Carroll County” by Christopher Batten, Historic Preservation Month Lecture Series, Shriver-Weybright Auditorium, 210 E. Main St., Westminster, 7:30 p.m.

June 8 – The Quilt Event, Carroll County Agricultural Center, 700 Agriculture Lane, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Photo credit:  Courtesy of the Historical Society of Carroll County

Photo caption:  The restoration of the Sherman-Fisher-Shellman House by the historical society was awarded a 1991 Historic Preservation Project Award from the Maryland Historical Trust.