Baltimore Sun; January 3, 2003; ELKTON, CECIL CO. MARYLAND; ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' JEFFERSON LETTER FOUND IN MARYLAND MIGHT BE AUCTIONED IN APRIL: """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" But Elk Landing officials may opt to hold onto item.......... """""""" Assoc. Press """"""" """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" ELKTON - A letter written by THOMAS JEFFERSON and found in a 200 year old house being converted into a museum might be sold at auction this year if prices for historic documents remain strong. Christies Auction House in New York will evaluate market conditions in coming months and determine what price the letter could fetch at an auction scheduled for April, said MIKE DIXON, director of Histroic Elk Landing. An expert estimated last year that the letter has a value of about $700.000. DIXON and board members at Historic Elk Landing are also considering keeping the letter for the archives of a planned living history center in Elk- ton. "Both opinions are very much on the table," DIXON said. " It could be kept here as an exhibit to interpret the history of this site, or we may wait a couple of years to see what price it could bring at auction." The letter, dated July 2, 1801, was found in April by a volunteer sorting through cardboard boxes of documents while cleaning out the attic of the Colonial-era HOLLINGSWORTH House. In the letter, JEFFERSON thanked the Delaware Baptist Association for congratulating him on becoming president and praying for him and the country. JEFFERSON also discusses his beliefs, including equal rights, and consequences of the American Revolution. "As JEFFERSON letters go, this is one of the finest I've ever read", CHRIS COOVER, an appraiser with Christies, said after authenticating it last June. If the letter is sold, the money would go a long way toward helping devel- ope the living history center planned on Landing Lane on the bank of Elk Creek, a site where Brittish Troops camped during the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. The letter which is being kept in a safe-deposit box, has attracted wide attention to the Elk Landing Foundation, DIXON said. "It's been absolutely amazing", he said. "Several national magazines, radio and TV stations have done stories on it. Scholars and Historians have come to Elkton to see it; it's brought a lot of attention to Elk Landing that it wouldn't have had otherwise". ************************************* - PUBLIC HEARING - POS PROJECT - ELK LANDING PROPERTY - MARCH 7 & 10, 2000 A public hearing was held on a Program Open Space application for acquisition of the Elk Landing property, approximately 40 acres of land and improvements at 590 Landing Lane, Elkton, Maryland. Mr. Slicer advised that this property is of historic and scenic importance to the Town of Elkton and will possibly become a great tourist attraction. This will be phased acquisition. The total cost of the project is $409,095.00. The first phase will cost $68,000. Ms. Jeanne Minner, Director of Planning for Elkton, stated this phase concerns 42 acres at the South end of Landing Lane. The property contains historic structures and farm buildings and will be used for a greenways trail. The Town hopes to purchase additional adjacent property to increase the acreage to 82. Ms. Minner stated the Town will contribute $68,000. Motion was made by Commissioner Kilby, seconded by Commissioner Hepbron, and unanimously carried to approve the project. Timothy L. Robinson Catonsville, Balto. Md. HomePage: > http://timrobinson.scriptingoff.com < County Co-Ordinator / Baltimore County > U.S.GenExchange > > http://www.genexchange.org/county.cfm?state=md&county=baltimore <