CRISFIELD — The City of Crisfield is seeking letters of support to continue the rehabilitation of the former Gen. Maurice D. Tawes Armory on East Main Street.

Built in 1927, the National Guard armory emulates a medieval fortification and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985, which recognized the building’s “role as a social center for its community, a function it has served continuously since its construction date [until damaged by Hurricane Sandy in 2012].”

The city is now seeking $250,000 from the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development’s Community Legacy Fund to assist with the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) and mold remediation phase of the armory’s restoration and letters of support are requested to accompany the application.

Letters may be sent to the attention of Secretary Jacob Day, DHCD, Community Legacy, 7800 Harkins Road, Lanham, MD 20706 and delivered to Crisfield Grant Administrator Jennifer Merritt either by email to jmerritt@crisfieldcityhall.com or at City Hall, 319 W. Main Street by 4 p.m. on June 28 to be included with grant submittal.

Letters received after this time are welcome and will be provided to the granting agency after grant submittal.

The Somerset County Commissioners recently approved a letter of support for the city for this project.

The armory is in both the National Historic District and the Crisfield Arts & Entertainment (A&E) District. The A&E District was designated in 2018 and intentionally is bookended by the armory and City Dock. Among the A&E District’s goals is to pursue Community Legacy funding “and any other grants” to convert the armory “into an Arts and Entertainment/community venue.”

“Restoring the Crisfield Armory will provide an entertainment venue, including theater and concert events, and a community gathering space, hosting, as it has in the past, events ranging from weddings to basketball games,” according to Ms. Merritt.

“Restoring the Armory will serve to honor Crisfield’s veterans and will include a memorial for war veterans.”

The armory was named in 1989 for Brigadier Gen. Maurice D. “Dana” Tawes (1914-2013) who had a 38-year career in the Army and National Guard, including being a part of the D-Day Invasion on Omaha Beach during World War II.

After the war he rejoined the Maryland National Guard and served in several leadership positions until retiring in 1969.

The most recent rehabilitation of the armory began with funds received from DHCD in 2020. Much progress that has already been made towards rehabilitation of this historic building, including over $724,000 in work completed or contracted with DHCD funds and $64,250 with Rural Maryland Council funds.

This work includes the replacement of the two smaller roofs and repair of the large barrel roof. The asbestos has been removed and the extensive process of masonry repointing has been completed, resulting in a building that is not only much more sound, but also greatly improved in appearance.

The next phase of HVAC replacement and mold remediation must be addressed at the same time and is estimated to cost over $650,000 for which DHCD has provided $250,000 in funding. Once that is completed the final phase will be addressing the electrical and plumbing systems.

The city continues to pursue multiple sources of funding for rehabilitation of this historic building. This is a costly project, estimated in the 2019 Condition Assessment and Feasibility Study Crisfield at $4.25 million, but because of both the past and future importance of this building Crisfield is committed to moving this project forward.