Poole's General Store
About the Property
Calendar & Meeting Notes
Contact
Project Update: Farm and Home Services, Inc., a Southern States store, is presently providing feed service at the Poole’s Store. To reach Farm and Home Services, Inc. call (410) 795-1234. M-NCPPC Montgomery Parks recently renewed the lease agreement with Southern States. This agreement is good through December 31, 2011, at which time the Poole’s Store will close for renovations. The building is expected to be closed from January 1 through Fall 2012.
A tenant moved into the residential house June 1, 2011. The next step is issuing a request for proposals (RFP) to identify a long-term tenant for the store. The anticipated release date for the RFP is summer 2012. M-NCPPC has also identified and received some funding for this project through its capital improvements program, grants and a bond bill.
For more than 40 years, Poole’s General Store in Poolesville, Maryland has provided a convenient supply of feed and specialized goods and services to local equestrian, hunting and farming communities. The Poole’s Store and adjacent residential house were acquired by M-NCPPC, Montgomery Parks in November 1976. At the end of December 2010, the Poole’s closed the store. As a result, the Department of Parks is looking for a new tenant.
About the Property
Farm and Home Services, Inc., a Southern States store, is presently providing feed service at the Poole’s Store. To reach Farm and Home Services, Inc. call (410) 795-1234.
History
Seneca was a small farming center established in 1732 that thrived because of its access to the Potomac River and the C&O Canal, the latter being one of the greatest transportation feats of the pre-railroad era. Seneca contained schools, churches, large homes, stores, hotels, and mills. The Seneca Store, now known as Poole’s Store, is at the heart of that rural community history. Read more (pdf, 377 KB)
Current Condition
In January 2011, the Department of Parks contracted with an architect to conduct a preliminary analysis of the store's condition to determine necessary repairs for a new Use and Occupancy Permit--the first step in securing a new tenant. Read a summary of these findings. (pdf, 101 KB)
To date, Parks staff has completed the following work on the property:
Poole’s Store
- All gutters and downspouts repaired (Complete 2/25)
- Chain Link fence removed from storage area (Complete 3/1)
- General clean up of debris (Complete 3/1)
- Basement secured (Complete 3/2)
Poole’s House
- Floor repairs to back porch (Complete 2/28)
- All gutters and downspouts repaired/replaced (Complete 2/25)
- General clean up of debris (Complete 3/1)
- New counter tops and cabinets in kitchen installed (Complete 3/1)
- Glass repair (Complete 3/1)
- Repair of plaster and drywall
- Painting of interior of house
- Carpet installation
- Electric repairs & smoke alarm
- Exterior painting touch up
Outbuilding with house
- General Site cleanup (Complete 3/2)
- Gutter and downspout repair (Complete 2/25)
- All animals relocated (Complete 3/2)
- Removal of non-historic chicken coop
Feed Store
- Glass repair (Complete 2/25)
- Gutters and downspouts repaired (Complete 2/25)
- Cleanup of site (Complete 3/2)
- Minor grading to site
Security
The property is already alarmed and some security system upgrades are pending. Park Police are reviewing additional security measures for the property. Any recommendations from the Park Police regarding enhanced security measures will be coordinated internally to determine their appropriateness given the site's historical designation and provided that funding is available.
To report any suspicious activity contact Park Police at 301-949-3010.
Funding
M-NCPPC Montgomery Parks has identified and received some funding for this project in July/August 2011 to make necessary repairs to the store's condition.
Parks Capital Improvements Program (CIP)
Some funds in the Parks CIP have been identified for:
- Planning
- Design
- Construction
Maryland Heritage Areas Authority Grant
In July 2011, M-NCPPC, Montgomery Parks received a $47,000 capital grant from the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority to provide heritage-related amenities at the store. Specifically, these funds will be used to improve:
- The porch
- Façade
- Store interior
- Install benches
- Interpretive signage
- Wayfinding signage from the C&O Canal and Seneca State Park
State of Maryland Bond Bill
M-NCPPC, Montgomery Parks also received a $50,000 bond bill. These funds may be used toward restoration of the property to get the store up and functional.
Calendar & Meeting Notes
This calendar will be updated as more community meetings and events are planned for this project.
Date | Time |
Discussion Topic & Meeting Notes | Location |
|---|---|---|
2011 |
||
January 29 |
Open House & Community Meeting
|
Open House: Poole's General Store, 16315 Old River Road, Seneca, MD 20837 |
April 30 |
Architect’s Comprehensive Assessment of Property Condition | |
April 30 |
Upton Darby House Rented Ad for Rental of Poole’s House(pdf, 231KB) |
16401 Old River Road, Poolesville, Maryland 20837 |
TBD |
Solicitation Released | |
June 30 |
Farm and Home Services, Inc. Agreement Ends | Poole's General Store |
TBD |
New Tenant in Place | |
2012 |
||
Spring/Summer 2012 |
Contractor hired. Renovation work and improvements underway | Poole's General Store |
| Summer 2012 | RFP for new tenant released | Poole's General Store |
| Fall 2012 | New Tenant in Place | |
Contact
Your ideas and feedback are welcome throughout this process. Send your ideas and suggestions to:
John Nissel, Chief, Facilities Management Division
301-670-8009
John.Nissel@MontgomeryParks.org
back to top -Last update: August 18, 2011
Montgomery County Department of Parks