Maryland Community Newspapers Online
Oops! Does the Town of Kensington realize it has legislated removal of an historic artifact in the historic district?
If memory serves me, that sign identifying Mizell Lumber ("Businesses frustrated by changes to sign law," Aug. 19) hangs in place of a former Texaco sign. It appears to employ a Texaco "banjo" signpost and frame, standing in its original location in view of Metropolitan Avenue traffic.
The green commercial structure at the left of the sign in The Gazette photo is the former filling station structure. It is nicely decked out in colors of an old Texaco sign. Judging by the architecture, it may represent an even earlier gasoline retail facility than the Shell station at Howard and Armory avenues.
Texaco, one may infer from a Wikipedia entry, apparently introduced these "banjo" signs in the 1930s. At 70 or so years of age, still standing in its original context, the signpost and frame surely meet accepted historic preservation guidelines.
The Mizell complex of well-maintained wooden commercial structures fronting St. Paul Street remains the only reminder of the street's early commercial and automotive history. Hopefully, Kensington officials will see fit to amend their sign ordinance to remove conflict with full-context historic district preservation.
Richard H. Pratt, Garrett Park
Kensington revitalization
must be done carefully
I think the Town of Kensington should do all it can to support the hardworking businesses on Connecticut Avenue and Capitol View Avenue. These companies need to be able to let people who drive by see clearly that they are there and what services they offer. When you are driving by, or stopped briefly at a light, you need a large sign to know what shops and services are there at a glance. Adequate signs, easily visible from the road, are important for this. In fact, I think that the Mizell hardware store could use a sign a little closer to the road. Someone who lives very close to it recently told me they didn't know it was there.
Clearly, there has been some really nice work done in old town. Maybe someone could volunteer to send out ideas and pictures for feature stories on the old town to attract visitors, in publications like Bethesda Magazine and Washingtonian Magazine. Another idea would be to make up a brochure with pictures and a map and place it in other antique and tourist areas.
The revitalization of Kensington is a great thing, but should not include the destruction of reputable businesses on the outlying roads.
M.E. Simmons, Kensington