8/9/2006

County to sell historic Purnell House in Snow Hill
By Don Klein

There is a century-old building and property for sale that will not necessarily go to the highest bidder. It is currently an excess holding of Worcester County and is up for bids next month. Price is important, but applicants must offer an acceptable design plan as well.

 "The winning bidder will have to offer a combination bid of restoration of the building and best price," explained Kelly Shannahan, assistant chief administrative officer of the county. He is talking about what is locally known as the Oscar M. Purnell House, the former location of the Commission on Aging, at 107 East Market Street in Snow Hill. The building was built, as best as anyone can detect, in the early 1900s and has been county property for the last 51 years.

It became excess property when the Commission on Aging moved to newer quarters at Stevens Road and Church Street a year and a half ago.

"Originally we planned to renovate it for use by the State's Attorney's office," Mr. Shannahan said, "but it didn't meet modern regulations."  It did not comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, for example.

Bids on the Purnell House are due on Monday, September 11, 2006 by 1 p.m. at the office of the county commissioners in Snow Hill. From the looks of the curiosity shown so far, it promises to be a busy day.

"We've had considerable interest," Mr. Shannahan reported, "There have been at least a dozen inquiries from across the country. One even from London, England." The county listed the bid request on two websites: preservationdirectory.com and historicproperties.com. For people interested in more information contact Mr. Shannahan's office at 410-632-1194.

The Purnell House is a 6,933 square-foot, three-story building in the middle of Snow Hill. The property is currently zoned B-1, downtown shopping district, and is considered an ideal location for a bed and breakfast, or a restaurant, or office space both with rental units on upper floors.

But the winning bidder will have to have rehabilitation in mind. "We are looking for someone who will restore at least the exterior view. We want the appearance to maintain the original character of the building," Mr. Shannahan explained.

The Board of Commissioners posted their standards for rehabilitation to help preserve the distinctive character of the historic building and its site. There is an allowance for "reasonable change to meet new needs" but those changes will be carefully monitored.

They must take into consideration economic and technical feasibility, as follows:
1. The property should be used for a historic purpose or be placed in a new use that requires minimal change to the characteristics of the building and its environment.
2. The historic character of the building must be retained and preserved with the avoidance of removal of historic features.
3. The property shall be recognized as a physical record of its time, place and use.
4. Most properties change over time and those aspects that are affected by the project and acquired significant historic significance in their own right shall be preserved.
5. Distinctive features and construction techniques or craftsmanship characterized as historic will be preserved.
6. Deteriorated historic features must be repaired rather than replaced and where the degeneration is so bad that it requires replacement, the new feature should match the original.
7. No cleaning treatment which could damage historic materials will be used. Instead surface cleaning should be undertaken using gentle means.
8. Archeological features shall be preserved.
9. Additions and exterior alterations should match and protect the historic integrity of the building.
10. New additions and related new construction shall be undertaken to preserve the integrity of the historic quality of the property.

Known for most of the past century as the dwelling of Oscar M. Purnell, this large colonial revival double-brick piling dwelling has a colossal Ionic-columned front portico and a Tuscan-columned wraparound porch. Other noteworthy features, as noted on the Worcester County website, include Palladium window openings with colored glass and rusticated stone dressings around the various openings and an impressive center hall. 

The historic aspect of the property is traced to the beginning of the 20th century when Oscar Purnell took possession of the house on July 29, 1905. Through the years it changed hands but to most it was still known as the Purnell House. At one time it was known as "Spence's Alley." Finally, it was sold to the county on July 19, 1955 for $100 and "other sufficient consideration."

It was a good purchase. The county used it as office space for a half century before putting it back on the market.

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