Chestertown's Brick Walk of Honor

Chestertown's Brick Walk of Honor is located at 207 Calvert Street, Chestertown, behind the Kent County Public Library.  The building's official name is The Chestertown Library, Inc. Building but it is often referred to as the "Yellow Building" or "Hearse House".  It was formerly the Kenneth Walley Funeral Home.

In June, 2004, the Board of The Chestertown Library, Inc., (formed in 1943 by the Woman's Literary Club of Chestertown) donated $2650.00 to the Kent County Commissioners for the construction of a brick walk from the front of the Chestertown Library, Inc. Building around to the side entrance.  Note:  The Woman’s Literary Club of Chestertown was formed in 1902 when eleven young Chestertown women got together for their ‘literary improvement’. The Club opened the Chestertown Library in 1907 and it continued to operate as a private small library one hundred years until 2002.  After the closing of the Library, the Woman’s Literary Club established a partnership with the Kent County Public Library and the Kent County Commissioners to renovate 207 Calvert Street in exchange for meeting rights twice a month.  

More than 100 bricks have been placed in the brick walk of honor. The Woman’s Literary Club manages the sale of the bricks and any profit is donated to the Kent County Public Library. The Woman’s Literary Club installed thirty eight bricks honoring all of the librarians of the Chestertown Library, Inc. along with the special people who nurtured the library for many years including Rafael J. Guastavino, who was the library’s financial advisor. Among other the names one will find along the walk are George Rudolph Brown, former Acting Chief of Police of Chestertown; Sheriff Allan Blizzard;  Judge Elroy G. Boyer; Jeanne K. Geibel, Loyal Librarian, 30 years; Elmer E. Horsey, Mayor; Celebrating pure sea glass – R. LaMotte; Joe Massey – In gratitude – the Friends; Sarah Meredith, Faithful Volunteer; in memory of ‘Hound Dog’ Brown; The Questers, Lambert Wickes Chapter; in memory of William “Shadow” Warren, Jr.; Carol Wilson, Historian; For Love of Books and Kids by Grandbarrows; Judith Reveal, Writer; Adele France, Founder, WLC, 1902; Hazel O. Walsh, Devoted Reader – Loving Mother; The McDonalds – Pat Reads Books – Paul Does Banjo; Good Books, Good Friend – Virginia Croker; Friend Teacher, Gail Jandy Livingstone; Movies Are Magic – Patricia Molloy; in memory of Governor W. Donald Schaefer; Husband – Father – Bruce A. Somers 1950-2011; Chris Roseberry – Queen Bee 1980-2010; in memory of Frank Perdue.

 

Hotel Imperial (a/k/a Imperial Hotel) and Chestertown's Historic District Commission Saga

The Facts:

1992, April 27 – Carla Massoni filed an application with the Chestertown Historic District Commission seeking approval to paint the front of the first story of the Hotel Imperial.  At the time of the Application, the paint had already been applied.

1992, May 6 – From the Minutes of the Chestertown Historic District Commission Meeting -  Application #42-92 submitted by Hotel Imperial, Inc., 208 High Street, Chestertown, for painting the brick on the front of the first floor of the building – work that had in fact already been executed.  Carla Massoni represented the Hotel Imperial and after discussion by Commission members, “Mrs. Massoni said they would withdraw the application and agree to remove the paint”.

1992, October 13 – A letter was sent to the Massonis by the Town Administrator to remove the paint in thirty (30) days.  Mr. Massoni responded  by representing that the paint removal was scheduled for the first two weeks of March, 1993 and asked that the Town allow them until March to remove the paint.

1992, November  4 – From the Minutes of the Chestertown Historic District Commission Meeting –“Mr. Ingersoll said he sent out two letters concerning the paint of the Imperial Hotel and the movie theatre.  He said he received a written response from the Imperial Hotel and a verbal response from Joyce Cafritz (movie theater).  The letter from the Hotel stated that their season does not end in September, but in March after the hunting season.  They pleaded that they be allowed until March to remove the paint.  They cited the Candlelight Tour in September and the Wildlife Show in October.  Mr. Ingersoll said he did not know what the Commission’s position on this request would be but action needed to be taken.  The Commission members present offered no comment.”

1993, February 3 – Application #6-93 was submitted by Joyce Cafritz for permission to complete the exterior painting of the front of the Royal Prince Theatre building at 210 High Street, Chestertown.   The Chairman stated he had been apprised of some legal activity involved with this structure following the meeting of May 1992.  He asked Mr. Ingersoll to explain this.  Mr. Ingersoll stated there are two properties that are involved which have been painted without receiving approvals.  He said both the hotel and the movie theatre were written enforcement letters by him in the fall and by the Town Attorney in December…..The Chairman said “since there are legal issues at hand, both applications (one submitted by the movie theater  (#6-93)and one submitted by the hotel (#7-93)) should be held to the next meeting”.

1993, March 10 – From the KENT COUNTY NEWS, “Imperial paint removal put on hold.” Note:  The Chestertown Historic District Commission met on March 3, 1993 and discussed  Application #7-93 submitted by Mr. and Mrs. Al Massoni regarding the painting of the Hotel Imperial.  The Massonis agreed to an extension until the next Commission meeting.

1993, April 14 – From the KENT COUNTY NEWS, “Commission places hotel owner on hold.”  Note:  The Chestertown Historic District Commission met on April 7, 1993 and discussed Application #7-93 submitted by Mr. and Mrs. Al Massoni regarding the painting of the Hotel Imperial.  Mr. Massoni agreed to another continuance.

1993, April 30 – Al Massoni requested a change in the date of the May Chestertown Historic District Commission meeting because of he would not be availalble to meet during the regular meeting date.

1993, April 30 – Chestertown Historic District Commission Chairman Robert Janson-LaPalme granted the Massoni ‘s request to hold a special meeting regarding the Hotel Imperial’s Application #7-93 on May 19, 1993.

1993, May 19 – The Chestertown Historic District Commission  held a Special Meeting and denied the Massoni’s application.

1993, May 26 – From the KENT COUNTY NEWS, “Hotel told:  remove paint.”

1993, June 9 – From the KENT COUNTY NEWS, “Cafritz waits for nomination to historic district commission”… “Until the matter of paint on the façade of the Imperial Hotel is put to rest – through removal or successful appeal – Mayor Elmer E. Horsey will not nominate her (Cafritz) for another term (on Chestertown’s Historic District Commission).  Cafritz’s term expired in January (1993).

1993, June 17 – Kent County Circuit Court Case #2491-L, Pro Se Philip W. Hoon, Esq., Hoon and Barroll in the matter of Hotel Imperial, Inc., Albert L. Massoni and Carla Massoni vs. Chestertown Historic District Commission.  Paul M. Bowman, Esq., Attorney for the Commission.  Order for Appeal from the decision of the Chestertown Historic District Commission dated May 19, 1993.

1994, September 6 – Mandate from Court of Special Appeals No. 1578, September Term, 1993 Judgment:  Judgment affirmed.

1996, January 19 – From the KENT COUNTY NEWS, “Horsey asks for Court Order against Chestertown in Imperial paint case.”

1996, February 11 – From the KENT COUNTY NEWS, “Chestertown Council files suit against owners of historic hotel.”

1996, May 7 – Editorial, KENT COUNTY NEWS – “Gone but not forgotten”…”Far from being a small thing in a small town, the Imperial Hotel case strengthened the hand of the Commission (Chestertown Historic District Commission) – and others like it across Maryland – in efforts to protect the precious material remains of our history.  It was right for Horsey (former Chestertown Mayor) to pursue this through the Courts.  He correctly saw the issue as the credibility of Chestertown’s regulatory procedures and not the paint itself.”

More Chestertown Historic District History ….

1980, January 24 – Kent County Circuit Court Case #6879:  William A. Faulkner and Janice M. Faulkner, trading as The Rendezvous Beauty Salon, 103 Cross Street, Chestertown, Maryland vs. The Town of Chstertown, et al regarding covering over of windows.

1980, May 14 – From the KENT COUNTY NEWS, “Historic Zoning Tested”.  “Second floor windows of The Rendezvous Beauty Shop on Cross Street in Chestertown were covered with aluminum siding illegally, the Historic District Zoning Commission, represented by Town attorney Paul Bowman, argued.”