Stone 1940s Building Up for Demolition in Upper Marlboro

A one-story stone building on Church Street in the Town of Upper Marlboro stands to be demolished, according to a Gazette report.

It was built as a switch station for telephone services in the 1940s, and later served as a command center for the Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department, the report stated. Some town officials now think it would be more useful leveled and turned into a green space.

The town's plan is to let the county demolish the building, which sits on about one-tenth of an acre of county-owned land near Old Crain Highway, and give its deed to the town, according to the report.

If the building is demolished, the town can use the land as an attractive open space, said Steve Sonnett, president of the town's board of commissioners, according to the report.

Town commissioner Joseph Hourcle said he would like the building to stay because of its history, but doubted it could be salvaged, the Gazette report stated.

It was struck by a car a number of years ago and a hurricane did further damage,  according to Jack Sloan, an associate director for the county’s central services office, according to the report.

Sloan said he's received a letter stating the town would accept the property if the building were demolished, the report stated.

Sonnett said the demolition will be scheduled for 2014, and Sloan said the county executive's office will make the decision on whether to give the land to the town, according to the Gazette.

Helen Ford of Upper Marlboro, who recalled when the building was built, said she could see turning the plot into a flower garden, the Gazette reported.