Rackliffe House: A Resurrected Manor and a Story of Collaboration

1. Rackliffe House • Collaboration between Federal, State, and Local Agencies • Built in 1756, the Rackliffe Plantation House was the home of a prominent family on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Part of a typical southern plantation until the 1830's, the house was the scene of intrigue and mystery surrounding the War of 1812 when it is rumored that sons of the family were conscripted into the British Navy. • Although local lore and legend surround the house, it is most remarkable lately due to its resurrection from a crumbling rubble into the magnificent manor house that it once was. This is the result of a unique collaboration between the heir, the local leaders and the state historical society, as well as the National Trust for Historic Preservation. • This poster presentation describes the rebirth of this plantation house, and the continuing efforts of the local community as they endeavor to tell the story of the Native Americans, African Americans, and European Americans who lived on and worked the land.

2. The Restoration Begins • The restoration was initiated within the program of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Resident Curatorship Program, which since 1982 has partnered decrepit, publicly owned historical homes with residents willing and able to restore, maintain and share them occasionally with the public. • The program — the oldest of its kind in the nation — got its start thanks to a couple who fell in love with a decaying 18th-century farmhouse in Gunpowder Falls State Park, near Baltimore. With a little research they discovered the house was owned by the state. Since the state didn’t want to sell, they approached Peter Morrill, who directs the program with an offer to repair the home if allowed to live there. • Since then, the program has been formalized and expanded to include 47 other homes, most on Maryland state parkland.

3. Rackliffe House Trust is Born In the case of the Rackliffe House, the candidate that initiated the restoration had ancestors who had owned the house and the surrounding property. Mr. Tom Patton, shown on the right, was the catalyst who assembled a board of trustees, and wrote grants to the Maryland Historical Association, as well as the National Board for Historic Preservation. Additionally, he hired a contractor, Mr. Larry Widgeon, who was well versed in 18th century building techniques and materials.

4. Collaboration: Federal, State and Local • What makes the resurrection of the Rackliffe House so unique, is that it sits adjacent to the Assateague State Park, and the Assateague National Seashore. The State Park is the closest neighbor, and state administrators have extended their assistance in the form of brush removal, driveway maintenance, the installation of walking trails, and general problem solving. The Director of the State Park sits on the board as an ex-officio member. • The Assateague National Seashore Visitor Center has assisted with advertising and word of mouth promotions. A large sign for Rackliffe House was installed under the Visitor Center sign, promotional materials are displayed inside, and the Superintendent of the National Park sits on the board as an ex-officio member. • Local politicians have been very generous in providing funding for the project. The Executive Director, hired on a part time basis, was able to enlist 25-35 volunteer docents from the nearby community.

5. Rackliffe House Activities • Operations: At present, the Rackliffe House is staffed completely by volunteers from the nearby communities of Ocean Pines and Berlin. It is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1-4pm during the summer season until Oct. 31st. Docents attend an afternoon training session early in the season. • Fundraising: The Rackliffe House Board has a Fundraising Committee that organizes yearly appeals for donations, along with fundraising events that featured dinners with presenters speaking on a historical topic.

6. Rackliffe House and the Community • Since the completion of restoration, Rackliffe House has initiated several community activities on an annual basis. • Children’s Colonial Games Day is a day dedicated to demonstrating the games played by children in colonial America. • Colonial Garden Dedication was held this year to recognize the volunteers who planned and developed a colonial kitchen garden. • A recent fundraising event was a Chamber Music Festival in the nearby town of Berlin that featured world class performers in several small venues.