I have been reading the newspapers and have been somewhat shocked at those who have argued that allowing food trucks at Fountain Park (formerly Market Square) is somehow incompatible with the historic nature of downtown Chestertown.
I have attached a photograph of a page of the 1860 Maryland Code–Maryland’s first true codification of the code going back through even Colonial statutes. Because of time constraints, I am not going to park myself at the Maryland Archives, but I thought going back to 1860 might suffice…
According to one history of the town I read, “Arabers” selling food from horse-drawn wagons were a presence in Fountain Park/Market Square up through the 1960s…the horse fountain there is one reminder–
May I suggest that if food trucks are being given “new special advantages,” we encourage horse-drawn food sales instead? Obviously, horses were the only horse-power in 1860…(although not in 1960).
Yes, I know I am being a bit tongue-in-cheek, but I suspect that arguments about the peculiarities of downtown Chestertown’s historic nature and the virtues of the mix of goods and services offered would have more force if substantiated by the historic record…
When I look through pictures of all the opportunities and amenities this town used to possess (and many of the pictures predate my birth by several decades), I am saddened by attempts today, often in the name of historic preservation, to restrain entrepreneurship in quite an ahistorical manner.
From a lover of Chestertown’s history.
Al Townshend says
Agree completely that food trucks should be allowed in the park during the farmers market at least
Gren Whitman says
Looking forward to more food trucks in C’town!
Papa Smurf has great BBQ and I want more variety, more to choose from.
Why do I have to drive to Newark Delaware for a real variety of restaurants? Vegan, vegetarian, locavorian, several Asian, Greek, Lebanese and Middle East, burgers, steak house, noodle house, frozen yogurt, bagel shoppe, local brewery, Italian, deli, seafood, tapas…high end, low end, and in-between…you get the picture.
Joe Diamond says
Gren…………this may help.
BUSINESS 101 Students will learn to assess business sites. They will gain field experience assessing population density, needs and interests with special emphasis on traffic patterns and parking for retail customers. . . .
That is about it. Ya need business sites with people around. Here we have great parking; hell, most of the time folks just wander around in the streets. What will increase restaurant variety and density is more peeps. Since there are not too many folks around here ya gotta figure a way to attract them as visitors…….visitors who will dine here.
Figure how to do that or say hi to Philly, Annapolis or Baltimore.
Joe