Lifetime Citizen Portal Access — AI Briefings, Alerts & Unlimited Follows
Havre de Grace council approves MOU to open Moore Family Homestead; foundation plans May 2 celebration
Loading...
Summary
Council unanimously approved a memorandum of understanding authorizing the Historic Havre de Grace Foundation to use the Moore Family Homestead (710 Market St.). Foundation members said the homestead would open to the public for a May 2 spring celebration if the city approves the MOU and addresses a door lock concern.
The Havre de Grace mayor and city council voted unanimously on April 6 to authorize a memorandum of understanding allowing the Historic Havre de Grace Foundation to use the Moore Family Homestead at 710 Market Street.
Kathy Keane, a board member of the Historic Havre de Grace Foundation, addressed the council during the citizen comment period to outline the foundation's plans and asked council to approve both the MOU and a spring celebration event scheduled for May 2. "The spring celebration event that we're planning will be the first public event held at the Moore Family Homestead," Keane said, describing donated furniture, a Victory Garden and plans for music and food trucks.
Diane Pearson, the foundation's secretary and treasurer, said the foundation has been preparing the house for visitors and cautioned that the second floor is not yet open because of lead paint concerns; she invited council members to the May 2 event and described docent and volunteer plans. A foundation representative also asked the city to repair the front-door lock to allow guest flow through the main entrance rather than routing visitors through back doors; the mayor said staff would "look into it."
Council introduced and adopted calendar resolution 2026-05, authorizing the mayor to enter the MOU with the Historic Havre de Grace Foundation. Council made clerical amendments to the draft document and approved the resolution on a roll-call vote of 6-0. The council also approved the Moore Family Homestead spring celebration as part of three special events placed on the consent calendar.
The MOU will allow the foundation to coordinate docent staffing and public access to the homestead once safety and any required lead-abatement or clearance work is completed. The foundation's event plan and the MOU establish a framework for public use while leaving final operational details and any necessary building work to staff and the foundation to coordinate.
