Endangered Maryland

“They aren't making 18th-century buildings anymore, and this one is particularly elegant, with fine woodwork, arched stone lintels on the first floor, a stone water-table, handsome proportions, and a date stone in the gable,” says Schooley. “A lot of the original fabric remains.”

About a decade ago, David's Friendship was stabilized, painted, and re-roofed by then owner Allegheny Power. Then Brad Fulton and his father, Adna, bought the property when the power company relocated to Pennsylvania. Because of the downturn in real estate, it sat.

Schooley and members of the trust contacted the Fultons and were pleasantly surprised by their response. “No one noticed the vines growing up the stones or the brush enveloping it. No one checked and saw that it had been broken into,” says Schooley. “Once contacted, the Fultons met with us. They saw the deterioration, then had the grounds mowed, vines removed, and hired a preservation specialist to replace sills that had rotted. Doors were locked, windows closed.”

Schooley hopes that a business needs David's Friendship and can see ways to “take advantage of the generous Maryland tax credits to put the building back to work, preserving our history and promoting our future.”

Not every historical structure can remain an historic house or become a museum. Some properties’ survival depends upon finding a long-term, commercial adaptive-reuse plan.

The Fultons intend to “maintain this treasure until a new use is found,” says Schooley. “Now, if only the perfect buyer sees the article…”