Four buildings that once were deemed lifeless will open as one of Ellicott City's newest restaurants in June -- and its owner's efforts in restoring the historic complex will be honored next week.
"The appraiser said the buildings had no life left in it," said Peter Ruff, owner of the Milltown Tavern on Main Street in the historic district. "So we took it as a challenge to make the buildings into something."
For his efforts, Ruff will receive the annual Historic District Commission's Historic Preservation Month Award during a ceremony at the Mount Ida Mansion at 7: 30 p.m. Thursday.
The commission also will honor the Ellicott City Restoration Foundation, an umbrella group of historic Ellicott City's merchants and preservationists, for its program of mounting bronze plaques telling the history of buildings downtown. Two plaques have been installed on Tersiguel's French Country Restaurant and on the Fire Station Museum, said Ed Lilley, a member of the Ellicott City Restoration Foundation for five years. About 20 other businesses have expressed interest in the plaques, he said.
The commission -- a seven-member board that governs development and architectural standards in historic districts in Ellicott City and Elkridge -- has presented the awards for at least six years, said Stephen Bockmiller, a planner with the Department of Planning and Zoning who works with the HDC.
"We want to draw attention to the value of historic preservation," Bockmiller said of the awards program.
Pub Date: 5/09/97
