Saving Rich Hill

[L Verge]

For those of you who have followed the Booth escape route, you are aware that Rich Hill, the home of Samuel Cox at which the fugitives stopped after leaving Dr. Mudd, is in sad repair and in danger of being lost.

Over the past year, efforts have been made by the Charles County government, the Charles County Historical Society, the county's Historic Preservation Commission, and the Surratt Society to persuade the owner of the site to deed it over to the Historical Society for restoration, preservation, and historical use.

I arrived at work today to a phone message telling me that the President of the Maryland State Senate, Mike Miller, and the President of The College of Southern Maryland, Dr. Brad Gottfried, have used their influence to persuade the current owner to cooperate. Senator Miller has also pledged to work a bond bill through the Maryland legislature, if he can get support by October 31. If that requires letters of support, hang loose - I may be back begging for your help.

I should mention that Senator Miller's grandfather and father are the citizens who donated Surratt House to the Prince George's County Department of Parks and Recreation in the late-1960s and got our successful project underway.