Maryland Families Conserve Historic Homes in Resident Curatorship Program

DICKERSON, Md. - Buying and maintaining a home is not easy, especially in our area. But some Maryland families have found a way to do it, without a mortgage and tax free.

Home Sweet Home for the Horst family of eight is a farmhouse dating back to 1850 and they didn't pay a cent to buy it.

"We could have never afforded a place like this," said Myron Horst.

Horst lives in this house with his family rent free for life and does not pay property taxes. It is because he is taking part in Maryland's Resident Curatorship Program.

"At different times, we'll just pinch ourselves. Is this really real that we get to live here?” said Horst.

The catch is he does have to pay to restore it and it all remains the property of the state.

Horst spent $90,000 in the first three months and has lots more work planned.

"Given a lifetime lease, you can justify fixing up a house and spending all the time and effort and money in fixing it up because you get to enjoy it the rest of your life,” said Horst.

His family also rents farm land from the state. For them, it is a dream come true.

"We could never have afforded anything like this. We would have had to be multi-millionaires and if we were, we'd be working at some office job and still not be able to enjoy it,” said Horst.

The state of Maryland is thrilled too.

“There are homes everywhere that states can’t afford to maintain and this program solves that problem for us,” said Bruce Alexander of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. “We get a historic house restored at no cost to taxpayers.”

Since 1982, 43 historic buildings have been restored through Maryland's program, which is similar to ones currently in several other states and under consideration in many more.

That is because curators have to spend a minimum of about $150,000 to restore a house. But most spend much more.

Bob Albiol decided to take on one of Martha Washington's granddaughters’' country homes.

“It had been abandoned in 1922. So by the time I took over, the vegetation completely covered the house,” said Albiol. “You couldn't see the house from five feet away."

It took awhile before Albiol could live in the house.

"It took three years before we could move in and it took another five years before I'd say it's pretty much finished, but I'm always working on it."

Curators say while they do appreciate the financial benefits, most of all, it is an honor to become a little parts of history themselves by preserving America's oldest buildings for future generations.

"We don't have the aspect of being able to pass this on to our children. However, what really is more valuable to children is the memories of their childhood growing up,” said Horst.

LINK:

www.dnr.maryland.gov/land/rcs/index.asp