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Arts & Entertainment

Kensington Cabin: A Piece of History with Hopes for a Future

Kensington's Historic District has resources worth preserving, but individual entities that are located outside of the Historic District aren't included in preservation, including Kensington Cabin.

Founded in 1894, Kensington, Md., is a town bustling with late Victorian style and history. From its humble beginnings with the construction of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad dividing old Rockville-to- Bladensburg Road in 1873, the Town of Kensington has become a large community of DC commuters. The Kensington Historic District, located just south of the railroad tracks, was even listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1980, a distinction that labels Kensington as a town with resources worth preserving.

This distinction, though, does not include individual entities such as the Kensington Cabin, property owned for over 80 years by the Maryland Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC). The property, though, falls just outside of the Historic District.

The Kensington Historical Society, Montgomery County Historic Preservation Commission, and many Kensington residents believe that the cabin should be designated as a historic site.  They want the cabin to be a part of the Montgomery County Master Plan for Historic Preservation, regardless of its location.

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"Kensington Cabin is one of the earliest park structures built by or for M-NCPPC," said Clare Lise Kelly, research and designation coordinator for the Historic Preservation Commission.  "The log structure is an outstanding example of a rustic park building exemplifying 'parkitecture,' a concept of rustic architecture promoted by the National Park Service in the 1930s."

The one-story log cabin has one large rectangular room and a small storage room attached to the south end. There are also 2 bathrooms attached to the west end. Leading directly to the cabin, is a small wooden bridge. The cabin is surrounded by open land and a playground that includes basketball courts, swing sets, a jungle gym and a baseball field. The logs came from a resident who dismantled a log cabin that was on his Cedar Lane property. He then donated the logs to Kensington for the cabin's construction, according to the Maryland Historical Trust Inventory form.

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In July 2010, the Kensington Historical Society nominated the cabin for the Montgomery County Master Plan for Historic Preservation, in light of the 2009 research conducted by the Montgomery County Department of Parks for the cabin's 75th anniversary. The research revealed a rich history that dated back to 1919 when residents of Kensington first conceptualized the idea for a town park.

There are important benefits to being a part of the master plan, including preservation of the cabin itself.

"Legally, this will prevent inappropriate changes to the building or possible demolition of the structure," said Julie O'Malley, president of the Kensington Historical Society. "It guarantees that changes to the structure will be reviewed by the Montgomery County Historic Preservation Commission to be sure they are compatible and do not remove principle features."

According to the inventory form, the cabin, located at 10000 Kensington Parkway, was originally built in 1924 when Blanche C. Armstrong, chairman of the civic committee of the Woman's Club of Kensington started working toward creating a playground and park that would be named Kensington Meadows. It was declared a town park in 1927. Then the M-NCPPC purchased the deed and submitted an application to the Civil Works Administration to complete the development, which would include a log cabin. The project was approved in 1933 and built in 1934 by the M-NCPPC in collaboration with the Town of Kensington, after President Franklin Roosevelt dismantled the Civil Works Administration just five months after its inception, according to O'Malley.

The cabin and the surrounding park was built with the intention of creating an outdoor recreation area for residents and to establish a stream valley park to protect the water supply in the small town, according to a memorandum submitted by Kelly to the commission. From its opening in 1934 to its closing in 1991, the cabin served that purpose. The park is still used for soccer and baseball games. It is the only stream valley park in Montgomery County that is still standing.

"As a youth [I] enjoyed the park and cabin during the summer month over several years," said Jocelyn De Costa, a former resident of Kensington who submitted a letter to Kelly in agreement with keeping the cabin standing. "Places and relevant things are destroyed with minor consciousness too easily in today's times."

After its closing, the cabin was scheduled for demolition. One major issue with the cabin was the lack of handicap accessibility. The historical society and Town of Kensington hope to designate funding for this as part of the preservation plan.

As of August 11, 2010, following a public hearing and work session, the Historic Preservation Commission voted unanimously to recommend Kensington Cabin for both the Master Plan for Historic Preservation as well as for the Locational Atlas and Index of Historic Sites. The commission forwarded these recommendations to the Montgomery County Planning Board. 

The Locational Atlas and Index of Historic Sites would give the cabin temporary protection from demolition or significant alteration until the Montgomery County Council reviews the cabin for historic designation on the master plan.

On Oct. 14, 2010, the planning board will hold a hearing where they will review the property. They also have the power to add or remove resources, including the cabin, from the Atlas.

The commission hopes to gain this protection for the cabin while waiting on the council's final decision.

The commission, historical society and residents hope to gain funds to preserve the cabin so that it can then be used for its original recreational purpose.

"Currently the building is being well maintained by the parks department, probably due to the attention it's getting, O'Malley said. "Funding will be the next step."

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