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Historical Society of Harford County seeks continued $5,000 support; highlights Bel Air museum work
Summary
Historical Society director Chris Potts described restoration work at the Hays House and the society’s new Bel Air museum exhibits and travel exhibit; commissioners expressed support for continuing $5,000 in annual funding.
The Historical Society of Harford County told the Town Commission April 24 it is completing restoration work at several county sites and asked the town to continue annual support at $5,000.
Chris Potts, introduced by town staff as director of the Historical Society of Harford County, said the society is in the final stages of restoring the north wall of the Hays House on Kenmore Avenue, the last remaining exterior feature dating to the original 1788 structure. He also described work to restore the headquarters lobby, which houses the Harford County History Museum, and said the museum is intended both to tell county history and to act as a tourism hub for other county sites.
Potts shared visitor metrics from the society’s recent Bush Declaration celebration: across three Bel Air sites over the weekend, the society recorded about 241 visitors at the armory, 397 at Hays House and 458 at headquarters, totaling roughly 1,000 site visits. Potts said those visits likely boosted local businesses and tourism and that the museum and traveling exhibits aim to bring more visitors to Bel Air.
Commissioner Taylor thanked the society and said she was “more than happy to support continuing funding you at that level,” referring to the $5,000 request. Commissioners and other attendees praised the society’s volunteers and exhibits; staff noted the society had asked for continued funding and discussed a possible $1,000 additional reimbursement for winter snow removal if submitted and documented.
Why it matters: The society’s museum and events are presented as cultural and tourism assets that draw visitors to downtown Bel Air; the society emphasized volunteer labor and artifact stewardship.
Next steps: Commissioners indicated support for continuing the $5,000 town contribution; staff will confirm whether to include an additional $1,000 snow-removal reimbursement on the outstanding budget list based on submitted documentation.
