Chestertown is often thought of as “a little bit of Williamsburg,” its colonial charm, a significant part of the town’s identity that reflects elements of its cultural, social, economic, political, and architectural history.
To preserve an 18th-century town takes some doing, and if you live in the historic district and want to change the exterior of your home, you will be quickly introduced to the Historic District Commission.
Professor of History at Delaware State University and 7-year member and Chair of the Commission, now retired, Alexa Silver talked to the Spy about how the Commission applies its mission: to safeguard the sites, structures, and districts that reflect the town’s history. To this end, seven members of the Commission interpret the Chestertown Code of Ordinances to any requested changes.
Silver notes that, for some, preserving a historic property can be burdensome. For instance, she says, if you want to replace the windows in a historically designated property, you can be in for a financial shock. Instead, she suggests that how owners maintain the ones they have using local craftspeople for repairs.
The Commission is not without “wiggle room,” Silver says, but any compromise hews toward the established codes that have worked to maintain respect for the town’s historical legacy.
The video is approximately six minutes in length. For more about the Historic District Commission, go here.
Carol Casey says
Great interview and very nice historic point of view. Thanks!
Michael McDowell says
Yes, lots of food for thought, Alexa. It’s all about choices. We love our historic 1759 home on N Queen and we have spent a lot of money to really bring it to full restoration, keeping its character but not having it appear “museum like” but inviting and comfortable. We also treasure its long history, which we have researched even further, following up on what one of its “saviors”, Davy McCall, a dear friend, suggested, in adding to the history of the first owner, John Bolton of Philadelphia, a leading figure in the Revolution in Kent County. There are hard choices, as you said, to be made on gentrification, preservation, diversity of ownership, locals versus out-of-towners, flexibility on materials to renew windows, etc. We don’t want to be like Williamsburg which is nice to visit but you can’t live there. And the wealth of knowledge and experience of people originally from here and those from outside, who have made their homes here, make this a fascinating community committed to the town’s present and future. Thanks for your service.