Endangered Historic Silk Mill

Mr. Richard Moe, President
National Trust for Historic Preservation
1785 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20036
January 10, 2007
Dear Mr. Moe,

It’s hard to believe that it was July 24, 2000 when you, I, Harry Belin, Henry Jordan and Tim McGrath, visited the Lonaconing silk mill to discuss ways to protect and adaptively reuse this important part of American history. I called on you then, as I do now, to ask you and others to help Lonaconing and Western Maryland leaders and the owners of the building save the silk mill.

The George's Creek Watershed Association (GCWA) with the help of
Preservation Maryland is submitting a nomination package to you. The nomination requests that the Klotz Throwing factory, also known as the Lonaconing silk mill, be included on the National Trust's 2007 list of “America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places”.

Despite the progress that has been made since your visit the owners and community leaders are still working hard to save the silk mill and find an adaptive reuse. It is our belief that listing the silk mill on “America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places” will greatly assist ongoing landowner, community, county, state, National Park Service, and non-profit efforts to secure emergency stabilization repairs, complete an adaptive reuse study, transfer the property from private ownership to a historic preservation organization, and find a new owner to use and protect the building and all of it’s history.

Although there have been years of preservation discussions and some short-term stabilization work the Lonaconing silk mill, and the surrounding community, is running out of time to save this building. Not only has the weather taken its toll on the roof but the owners are getting older and want to find a way to save the building and all its history. Recognizing the mill on the list of most endangered historic places will help community leaders secure assistance to acquire the building, make emergency repairs, complete the adaptive reuse study, and find a new steward to use and protect the mill.

I recall the thoughts you shared with me and preservation interests after we toured the mill in 2000. You said, "There is nothing like this in the country and the National Trust would love to help community leaders save the mill". You also said, "Your efforts are especially noteworthy. It's been the right thing to do". Your support of the Association’s nomination is a way for you and the National Trust to continue to help people help themselves save this nationally significant building.

Please contact me if you would like to discuss my comments or if there is anything that the National park Service can do to assist this nomination and effort.

Sincerely,

Glenn

J. Glenn Eugster
Assistant Regional Director,
Partnerships Office
National Park Service
National Capital Region
1100 Ohio Drive, SW, Room 350
Washington, DC 20242
(202)619-7492 phone
(202)619-7220 fax
E-mail: glenn_eugster@nps.gov