Historic Annapolis is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2021 Historic Annapolis Preservation Award. HA's Preservation Award honors those who have connected the history and culture of our city through historic preservation and education. Over the next few weeks, we will be highlighting this year's awardees and celebrating their dedication to historic preservation as advocates, educators, and stewards.
2021 Preservation Award – Kevin and Laura Smith for Substantial Investment and Stewardship of the Sands House
Historic Annapolis is honored to present a 2021 Preservation Award to Kevin and Laura Smith for their dedicated stewardship of the Sands House. A landmark in the Historic District, the Sands House (c. 1738) is one of the oldest surviving frame houses in Annapolis. It is a gem of colonial architecture and has a fascinating history as the home of six generations of the Sands Family. A few years ago, the house was generously gifted to Historic Annapolis by Jane Campbell-Chambliss and Pete Chambliss to ensure the future preservation of the home. After establishing interior and exterior historic easements for the building through the Maryland Historical Trust, Historic Annapolis listed the home for sale with the hope of finding a preservation-minded buyer who would steward it properly. That couple turned out to be the Smiths.
“I’ve always been captivated by the 18th century,” Laura said, when we sat down to speak with them in their cozy living room. For a long time, while they knew they wanted to live in an historic home, actually owning an 18th-century property seemed out of reach. When the Smiths decided it was time to make their dream a reality, Annapolis proved the ideal place. After viewing a few potential properties, the Smiths discovered the listing for the Sands House, took a tour and fell in love with it. Knowing this house would be a significant undertaking and unsure whether they were ready, Kevin and Laura mulled it over for a year, ultimately returning for another tour, before making the leap.
While touring the house, the couple were struck by the amount of original fabric: floors, hinges, and doors, molding and floors were original and intact. Finding an 18th-century house with so many original features remaining is rare. Though the Sands family made plenty of changes over their many decades of ownership, the integrity and character of the house remains. Now, the Smith family is committed to continuing their legacy.
The Smiths purchased the Sands House in early 2020 and have seen it through a lengthy and thorough renovation; in fact, the work went on for nearly a year before the family even moved in. When Covid-19 unexpectedly burst onto the scene, the Smiths suddenly found themselves coordinating with contractors, securing permits, and facing a barrage of challenges that can accompany restoring an historic house, all now needing to be negotiated through an unprecedented global pandemic. And as we all know, and only too well, the pandemic has made what was once the simplest and routine of matters often a complicated and tiring challenge! But the Smiths persevered and, now officially resident, can finally enjoy the results of their labor of love. The process was highly educational, and the Smiths diligently consulted experts about the most appropriate treatments to adapt the building for 21st century living.
“It really defies expectations,” Kevin said about the house; “it’s a unique property.” It’s hard not to agree; even a casual visitor would notice the house is more spacious than it appears at first glance, while historic preservation buffs also relish the feature of a rare central chimney plan. The building changed considerably in the early 1900s, but the Sands House still has plenty of ‘old’ surprises literally closeted away: for example, when opening the bathroom closet you can find a section of wood-shingled roof from a much earlier roof structure long since enclosed and concealed.
In addition to the impressive physical fabric of the house, the Smiths were also drawn to its storied history as a merchant-class home. The house was purchased in 1771 by John Sands for use as a tavern and later as a home for generations of the Sands family, until it was sold by his great-great-great-great-granddaughter, Ann, in 2015. Located on Prince George Street, the Sands House is just a short walk away from the hustle and bustle of city living. The Smiths enjoy being close to the energy and events of downtown Annapolis while situated in a relatively quiet spot. This proximity to downtown and the waterfront means the house has borne witness to centuries of development and change. “It’s cool to think about all the people who have been in this house and walked outside,” Laura mused.
With the renovation nearly complete, Laura says the next phase is delving more into the history of the house. She plans to visit the Maryland State Archives and Maryland Historic Trust in search of new insight to the house and those who have lived there. Though heavily documented, aspects of the Sands House remain enigmatic. There is always more to learn. Currently on the Smith's list are determining dates for some of the mantlepieces and possibly even narrowing down a more exact construction date. I must note that the Smiths have fully embraced their “inner preservationist:” Laura framed and has displayed a collection of archaeological artifacts found on site, and Kevin is now a newly-appointed member of the city’s historic preservation commission.
Annapolis is a unique and beautiful American city. In many ways this is a great credit to so many residents who, often quietly and unsung, maintain historic buildings as part of responsible homeownership. Such dedication safeguards both a tangible witness to our collective past; and also endows Annapolis with a charm, valued by out-of-town visitors and Annapolitans alike. Our city has a patina which can only be acquired through ongoing care of a built history exposed to the weathering of centuries. Thanks to the dedication of the Smith family, and the dedication of its past owners like Jane and Pete Chambliss, the Sands House will continue to live on as an icon of Annapolis architecture. We can’t wait to see what new stories it will pick up along the way. Thank you, Kevin and Laura, for being an inspiring example that you don’t have to be a preservation specialist to do something special for historic preservation. We are honored to recognize you for your commitment to preservation.
by Carolyn Currin and Jennifer Dodson
