Since 1979, Peerless Rockville has recognized outstanding achievement in preservation, restoration, adaptive use, quality new design, and community heritage through its annual awards program.  Previous award recipients -- 112 in all -- include individuals, businesses, and community groups whose activities have enhanced Rockville’s architectural environment and promoted public appreciation of the city’s cultural heritage.  

Awards are presented each year in May, during Historic Preservation Week.  Recipients include both well-known and unusual sites, exterior and interior preservation projects, architecture from all eras, maintenance of long-time businesses, in addition to gardens, parks, and public and private spaces.  In 2002, Peerless instituted the Arthur M. Wagman Award for Historic Preservation Communication.   

SAINT MARY’S CHAPEL

Saint Mary’s Chapel, the oldest religious structure in continuous use in Rockville, has been the recipient of 2 Peerless awards.  The Chapel was constructed in 1817 at a cost of $4,000.  As the Roman Catholic population increased during the 19^th century, the Chapel was enlarged to seat about 150 worshippers.  In 1967, following a decision to retain the historic Chapel, a modern central plan Church was dedicated adjacent to it.   In 1981, Peerless Rockville recognized the congregation for maintenance of the Chapel, particularly for rehabilitating the tower.  Twenty years later, Father John Myslinski and his parishioners were commended by Peerless for restoration of the Chapel pews, lights, Stations of the Cross, walls, and doors.  The 2000 award coincided with Saint Mary’s designation by the archdiocese as a Millennium Church. 

        

Saint Mary's Chapel, Photo by Richard Andrews

RESTORATION PROJECTS

A number of quality restoration projects have been undertaken in Rockville over the past quarter century.  Notable are the Wilkins house at Parklawn Cemetery, 1874 Dawson farmhouse, 207 Baltimore Road, the log house at 14615 Avery Road, the interior of the Beall-Dawson House, the Daisy Magruder house, and the Rockville B&O Railroad Station.  The station was in poor condition in 1981, when WMATA moved it out of the way of Metro.  Three local businessmen restored the station and freight building while adapting the buildings for their uses.  In 1984, Peerless Rockville thanked them for their efforts.  Today, the station is owned by an appreciative law firm. 

NEW CONSTRUCTION has also been recognized.  Homes on Forest Avenue and Harrison Street, offices on Hungerford Drive and Rockville Pike, and unique buildings such as National Resources Building, Twinbrook Community Center, and Tower Oaks Lodge, add to the quality of Rockville’s built environment. 

 

         Woodmont Place, 1451 Rockville Pike

         Photo by Dean Evangelista

 

Awards have also gone to GARDENS and PARKS: private gardens in Lincoln Park, New Mark Commons, and Woodley Gardens, Christ Church garden and columbarium, and public spaces at Veterans’ Park and Courthouse Square and fountain.  To LONG-TIME BUSINESSES such as Hebron Press, Wire Hardware & Lumber Co., Burbank’s Restaurant, Snowden Funeral Home, and Rockville Art & Frame, and to UNUSUAL PROJECTS such as adapting Woodley Gardens School for the Senior Center, public improvements on West Montgomery Avenue, artists Houston Hancock and Connie Woolard, and to the Lincoln Park Partnership Project for education.