Odenton Heritage Society honored for preservation work

PreservationMaryland presentedmembers of the OdentonHeritage Society with a Best of Maryland award for their well-established commitment to preserving and promoting the town’s history and historic buildings. The Society’s impactful work is highly visible to manyMarylanders and travelers as they approach Odenton Station on the MARC and Amtrak line in AnneArundelCounty. Intheearly1990s, the all-volunteer organizationwas instrumental in saving the ca. 1917 rusticated block Citizens Bank Building and received federal transportation funds for the restoration. In 2001the OdentonHeritage Society changed tracksandstartedworkonthe restoration of the former Odenton Masonic Lodge 209, nowknownastheOldMasonicHall. Built in 1912 theHall served as the meeting place for the Masons of Odenton, including many members of the military from nearby Camp Meade.

The restored Old Masonic Hall now serves as a local history museum, public archives, the Heritage Society’s administrative office and a community-meeting place. The museum houses exhibits that educate visitors on how railroads have influenced the growth and development of Odenton since the1860s.

TheHeritage Society is led by a group of dedicated volunteers, including long-time Odenton residents who have been friends andneighbors for the majority of their lives – several members of the group are married, served as firefighters or were girl scout leaders together. Roger White, a Smithsonian employee is the Museum Director and curator. Current President of the group, Wylie Donaldson, was born and raised in what has become the Odenton Historic District.

“The group’s ‘ Get The Job Done’ approach is only possible because of the contributionsmadeby eachmemberof the Heritage Society and the support of our generous members. We all believe that there is a special bond between the people and the place in our Odenton community,” first Vice President Greg Mazzella, wrote in nominating the group.

The public is invited to explore the resources on their professional website: odentonheritage.org.