In scenic Shawan Valley, just west of Hunt Valley, stands an historic structure that has served the valley as various food venues and services since the 1930s. The original John Brown’s Store was a mercantile and the residence of the business owner. Today, John Brown General and Butchery serves a diverse selection of fresh meats, in-house prepared foods, baked and dried goods, and a seasonally curated selection of wine, beer and liquors. The Butchery is operated by master butchers Robert … [Read More...]
Restoring The Past 
Building The Future
Building The Future
Restored Log Cabin
Gustav Stickley, noted furniture manufacturer, design leader and chief promoter of the American Craftsman style, believed "there are elements of intrinsic beauty in the simplification of a house built on the log cabin idea.” Stickley would be proud of a new home built in Sparks, MD that “envelops” a log cabin - preserved and restored to its original grandeur. As the photos show, the preservation of the salvageable sections of this historic two-story 680 square foot log cabin, dated 1820, are … [Read More...]
If I Was A Carpenter…
Over 40 years ago, I lived in a small stone house on a beautiful farm in Long Green Valley. It had two rooms on each level that was built by the owner as a tenant house. The stone came from the fields and it sat a half-mile off the road. I was fascinated that one man, with a helper, could build such a great house. At age 21, I decided I wanted to learn how to build. Today, you could just go to YouTube to watch a “how-to video” - but the 70s were a bit different. Fortunate for me, my … [Read More...]