Historic House

A fresh round of developments has reopened a favorite subject of speculation, chatter and argument in Annapolis: the future of Market House, all fixed up with a new roof but still a blank, boarded-up space on the bustling City Dock this summer. City officials confirmed last week that Dean & DeLuca, the New York gourmet grocer that was signed up with much fanfare to run the 146-year-old landmark, had backed out of a deal to set up shop there. Annapolis Seafood reached an independent agreement with Dean & DeLuca to become the main Market House operator.

A preliminary sketch plan to convert almost 18 acres on the old Hogg estate in Ellicott City into a 22-unit, high-end subdivision would preserve the historic Hogg home, built in 1912, and the long, tree-lined road that approaches the house on the east side of College Avenue, developers say. The project would be on a 17.98-acre property on the east side of College Avenue. Sheppard Pratt at Ellicott City is on adjoining land to the south. Almost 12 acres would be devoted to open space, 9 acres of which would be dedicated to the county.

Driving the gridlike streets of Riverdale Park, I pass by well-kept Victorians and tidy bungalows. Residents work in their gardens or mow their lawns. It seems like your average suburban community. But then I spot a cream-colored mansion that looks as if it belongs in the European countryside, not here in Prince George's County. This remnant of the early 19th century comes as a surprise. I take it as a sign that this Maryland county east of Washington has more stories to tell than I'd originally thought.

THE HIPPODROME Theatre, which has its grand opening Tuesday night, is not nearly as big -- nor expensive -- as Oriole Park at Camden Yards or M&T Bank Stadium. And it may not be featured on the cover of Time magazine, the way Harborplace was, or become a beacon in aerial pictures of Baltimore, like the National Aquarium. But among major public buildings in the city that have opened during the past quarter-century, the Hippodrome stands out for the way it blends historic preservation, civic and cultural attraction, and hoped-for community revitalization.

Robert Thomas and his wife, Donna Marie Seyfried, bought Pleasant Fields near Gaithersburg because they wanted a house with character. What they got -- besides a stately granite home, 10.7 acres of land and some major renovation headaches -- was history. The heart of the house, the stone kitchen and a room above it, was constructed in 1745 by Henry Chew Gaither, patriarch of one of the most famous families in Montgomery County. His initials and the date can be found engraved on a cornerstone, and several Gaithers are buried in a small family graveyard on the property.

Just off Edmondson Avenue in Catonsville, one of Baltimore County's oldest and most unusual homes is for sale. The immense stone mansion known as Overlea boasts a 150-year history. The house was built in 1847 by a German immigrant and clergyman, George Eberling, as a boarding school for boys, 10 at a time. At that time, it was called Overlea College, according to the current residents, Martha and Terry Melnick, who have lived there for 19 years. "The reverend and his family occupied the first two floors," Martha Melnick said, "while the boys who attended the school lived on the third floor.

Nearly two months after the Little Stone House near Creswell in Harford County was razed, efforts to resurrect the structure continue. The Stepping Stone Museum, a private, nonprofit museum in Havre de Grace, will vote this week on whether to purchase the stones. "We are interested in pursuing this project, but questions still need to be addressed," said Linda Noll, executive director for the Stepping Stone Museum in Susquehanna State Park. An agreement between the museum and the owner needs to be completed, Noll said.

Surrounded by the pricey restaurants and bars of the state capital, Annapolis' historic Market House has found a modern niche among downtown workers and tourists by serving fried chicken, crab cakes, pizza and deli sandwiches. "We've become a working man's lunch place," said Joseph Martin, 61, whose family has run Mann's Sandwiches in the nearly 150-year-old building on City Dock for 30 years. "It's a place where a guy can come eat for $3 or $4 at lunch time." But as Annapolis gears up for a major renovation of the city-owned Market House after three decades of poor maintenance, it is re-evaluating how the market works and what it sells.

For Bill and Christine Elliott, readying their 18th-century farmhouse for the Sykesville Christmas Historic House Tour was mostly a matter of putting away the tools, spackle and paint. The Elliotts' home - which is called the Moses Brown House by history buffs and "the haunted house" by neighborhood kids - is a work in progress after four years of renovations. While some rooms resemble construction zones, that hasn't stopped the Elliotts from decorating the house with the trappings of a country Christmas for Sunday's tour.

Tired of the same old silver garland? Not to mention those colored glass balls and twinkling white lights. We at LIVE! know just how you feel. Trying to head off the holiday-decorating doldrums, we looked to some local historic properties for inspiration. We were curious how the folks who run these sites keep the holiday spirit fresh in homes where the season has been celebrated, literally, for centuries. Some take their lead from the lives of the notable Marylanders who once lived at these well-preserved manors.