A farmland parcel envisioned as a recreational facility, an outdoor local history classroom and a place for active agriculture was explored by the Calvert County Commissioners Tuesday, April 23.The board visited Biscoe Gray Heritage Farm, which is located on the south side of Grays Road near Battle Creek. In 2010, the previous board adopted a master plan for the property that was prepared by Poole Design, LLC of Baltimore.

“We haven’t made any major changes,” said Calvert Division of Natural Resources Chief Karyn Molines of the master plan. Molines said the property’s horse trails and parking facilities for equestrians have been improved. She added that to date only about four people have permits to use the trails but believes that with a better entrance for trailers the numbers will start to increase.

Enhancements to the property are being done with grant funding. While the master plan was being drafted archeological investigations were conducted at four locations on the property. The structures the tour group inspected included the Biscoe Gray Barn, which is believed to have been built on the site during the 1930s; the Plumer-Cranford Barn, which was moved to the property from its previous location on Broomes Island Road; and the George Rice House, which has in its proximity three out-buildings.

 

According to historic planner Kirsti Uunila of the Department of Community Planning and Building, the Plumer-Cranford Barn was likely built during the 1830s. Molines said the renovated structure will be “an education focal point” for the farm.”

 

Of the Rice House, Molines indicated that while it could eventually become a farm caretaker’s house, it is clearly structurally unsound and in need of rehabilitation. The dwelling has no plumbing and has never had electricity. “We think the current grant is going to take us pretty far,” said Molines, when asked if the rehabilitation was likely to happen during the first phase of the master plan.

 

The Biscoe Gray Heritage Farm Master Plan, a nearly 100-page document, is available on the Calvert County Government web site
<!–

–>