Blandair Farm
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Nestled in the quickly developing Howard County, Maryland, Blandair Farm is a 300-acre private open space that has been preserved for the benefit of the growing public. Owned by the late Elizabeth C. Smith, the Blandair Farm was bought by the county after her fatal stroke on February 15, 1997, one day before she was to sign the papers preserving the land after her death.
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[edit] History
[edit] Important Buildings
Blandair Farm consists of a large house (The Manor), two smaller tenant houses - one of which was likely the original living space before the manor was built, a small house that once served as slave quarters, a large barn that was used as a stable and to store feed, and a second large barn that was used to house cows. Much of the property is taken up by woodlands and aged fields. Although the entire property fell into disrepair after the death of the owner, it is currently being restored by the county.
[edit] Elizabeth C. Smith's Vision
As Howard County began to grow and expand, Elizabeth C. Smith began to see the need for its citizens to maintain a connection with the agricultural and historic elements of America.
[edit] Elizabeth C. Smith Foundation
The Elizabeth C. Smith Foundation was originally incorporated in Maryland on December 2, 1997 as a non-profit land trust. The purpose behind the organization was to fulfill Smith's dream to preserve the open space in a quickly urbanizing area. The foundation was formed by Byron C. Hall, Jr. , an unnamed friend of Smith's, and another unnamed interested person. Hall, Smith's friend of 30 years and named trustee to the foundation she was to create, failed to negotiate with relatives who inheritted the farm. Since they showed no interested in preserving the land as an open space, Hall organized the foundation and named in honor of Smith.
[edit] Blandair Foundation
The Foundation was finally able to obtain Smith's original documents, which stated that the Blandair Foundation would hold the title of the farm. Thus, the Elizabeth C. Smith Foundation was changed to the Blandair Foundation to comply with Smith's wishes on July 30, 1999.
