fbpx
Wikipedia

Harper's Choice, Columbia, Maryland

December 15, 2023

Harper's Choice is one of the ten villages that comprise Columbia, Maryland, United States. It lies in the northwest part of Columbia and consists of the neighborhoods of Longfellow, Swansfield, and Hobbit's Glen and had a December 1998 population of 8,695.

Harper's Choice
Village
Hobbit's Glen, a community within Harper's Choice.
CountryUnited States
StateMaryland
CityColumbia
Established1967[1]
Named forRobert Goodloe Harper[2]
Villages of Columbia

Etymology edit

Harper's Choice is named after Robert Goodloe Harper, a South Carolina representative who relocated to Baltimore to practice law. He was part of the Federalist mobs that stabbed, tarred and feathered British loyalists in Baltimore in June 1812.[3] Harper later served in the War of 1812, Maryland State Senate, and United States Senate. He lived on his Oakland estate in the Roland Park area, where he was buried, although his grave was later moved to Baltimore's Greenmount Cemetery.

The Longfellow community was named for the American poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and the street names are taken from his works. Hobbit's Glen was taken from the works of English author J. R. R. Tolkien, along with the street names. Swansfield's name was inspired by the etching The Swan by James McNeill Whistler, and the street names derive from the works of Winslow Homer.[2][4]

History edit

The majority of Harper's Choice is built on the original Carroll slave plantation tract Doughoregan Manor.[5] The Harper family farm "Jericho" was built on a portion of the estate, and sold by the Harper family between 1962 and 1964 to the Rouse Company before the announcement of the Columbia project. Clarence Bassler sold 63 acres of his farm in 1963, with George Bassler selling 140 the next year, retaining land for the Harper's Choice Village Center.[6]

Home sites were sold by Howard Research and Development (Rouse) to larger homebuilders. Levitt & Sons, known for building Levittown, New York, bought land for over 600 units but halted construction in 1970 at 151 homes due to code violations.[7] In August 1971, Harper's Choice Village Center opened with housing above shops.[8][9] In 1978, the village suffered from a string of arson attacks, including 26 in a two-day period from a local resident.[10] By the 1990s, the village center shops were in decline with little investment from the Rouse Company.[11] In 2004, MS-13 gang activity was reported in the neighborhood.[12]

In 2007, a study determined that the Middle Patuxent Environmental Area of the Patuxent River was "fair to poor biological conditions and only partial support of habitat conditions" from runoff related to development in the Hobbit's Glen area. The Middle Patuxent Environmental Foundation was formed to study the issue in 2015 with a $38,000 Watershed Assistance Grant Program.[13]

Services edit

The Harper's Choice Village Center has a grocery store, banks, restaurants, and other retail establishments.[14] The community center, Kahler Hall, was named in 1971 for the William C. Kahler family, who sold a portion of their farm in November 1962 followed later by the remaining 280 acres.[2] The original name for the village center was "Joseph Square", named for John Joseph, chairperson of the first Harper's Choice Village Board.[4] In 1974, Peg Zabawa opened the landmark Mrs. Z's restaurant in an abandoned Wawa Inc. facility. The restaurant closed after burning in 1979.[15]

The Florence Bain Senior Center in the Swansfield neighborhood, opened in 1983 and was renovated in 2005. It is named for Florence Bain, whose son Henry worked on Rouse's original work group. She started the local AARP chapter and was the first chairperson of Howard County's Commission on Aging.[4] Winter Growth/Ruth Keeton House, offering an assisted living program, is located next to the Senior Center. It is named for the former council member, Ruth U. Keeton.[16]

Athletic facilities edit

The Athletic Club, one of Columbia's three athletic facilities, is located in Swansfield.[17] An 18-hole par 72 golf course is located in Hobbit's Glen, which also includes tennis courts and a pool. Originally named "Jericho", the Harper family requested Rouse not to use the name of their family farm.[18][19] The Columbia SportsPark, an 18-hole miniature golf course, batting cages, and skate park is located in the Harper's Choice village center.[20][21]

An extensive walking/biking trail connects the neighborhoods.[22]

References edit

  1. ^ "Village History". 2012. from the original on March 21, 2014. Retrieved September 8, 2017.
  2. ^ a b c "About". Harper's Choice Community Association. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
  3. ^ Laura Rich. Maryland History In Prints 1743–1900. p. 41.
  4. ^ a b c Kellner, Barbara. . Archived from the original on December 17, 2014. Retrieved September 8, 2017.
  5. ^ Barbara Feaga. Howard's Roads to the Past. p. 61.
  6. ^ Missy Burke; Robin Emrich; Barbara Kellner. Oh, You must live in Columbia. p. 29.
  7. ^ Ellen Hoffman (February 26, 1970). "Levitt Construction Is Halted At Columbia Over Violations: 128 Residents". The Washington Post.
  8. ^ Ann Forsyth. Reforming Suburbia: The Planned Communities of Irvine, Columbia.
  9. ^ Joseph Rocco Mitchell; David L. Stebenne. A New City Upon a Hill. p. 103.
  10. ^ Jackson Diehl (December 31, 1978). "Man Charged in Columbia Fires". The Washington Post.
  11. ^ Joseph R. Mitchell; David Stebenne. New City Upon a Hill: A History of Columbia, Maryland. p. 146.
  12. ^ Gangs and Crime in Latin America. p. 56.
  13. ^ Amanda Yeager (30 January 2015). "Howard receives grant for stormwater runoff study in Clarksville". The Baltimore Sun.
  14. ^ "Harper's Choice Village Center Directory" 2007-04-08 at the Wayback Machine, columbiavillagecenters.com, accessed May 29, 2009
  15. ^ Joseph Rocco Mitchell; David L. Stebenne. New City Upon a Hill. p. 114.
  16. ^ "Winter Growth", wintergrowth.com, accessed May 29, 2009
  17. ^ "Athletic Club" Archived 2007-06-07 at archive.today, columbiaassociation.net, accessed May 29, 2009
  18. ^ Missy Burke; Robin Emrich; Barbara Kellner. Oh, You must live in Columbia. p. 32.
  19. ^ "Golf Club", hobbitsglengolfclub.com, accessed May 29, 2009
  20. ^ "Sports Park", columbiasportspark.org, accessed May 29, 2009
  21. ^ "Activities Guide" 2010-02-17 at the Wayback Machine, columbiaassociation.org, accessed May 29, 2009
  22. ^ "Trail Map" 2008-07-04 at the Wayback Machine, harperschoice.columbiavillages.org, accessed May 29, 2009

External links edit

  • Official site

39°13′21″N 76°53′18″W / 39.22250°N 76.88833°W / 39.22250; -76.88833

December 15, 2023
harper, choice, columbia, maryland, harper, choice, villages, that, comprise, columbia, maryland, united, states, lies, northwest, part, columbia, consists, neighborhoods, longfellow, swansfield, hobbit, glen, december, 1998, population, harper, choicevillageh. Harper s Choice is one of the ten villages that comprise Columbia Maryland United States It lies in the northwest part of Columbia and consists of the neighborhoods of Longfellow Swansfield and Hobbit s Glen and had a December 1998 population of 8 695 Harper s ChoiceVillageHobbit s Glen a community within Harper s Choice CountryUnited StatesStateMarylandCityColumbiaEstablished1967 1 Named forRobert Goodloe Harper 2 Villages of Columbia Contents 1 Etymology 2 History 3 Services 4 Athletic facilities 5 References 6 External linksEtymology editHarper s Choice is named after Robert Goodloe Harper a South Carolina representative who relocated to Baltimore to practice law He was part of the Federalist mobs that stabbed tarred and feathered British loyalists in Baltimore in June 1812 3 Harper later served in the War of 1812 Maryland State Senate and United States Senate He lived on his Oakland estate in the Roland Park area where he was buried although his grave was later moved to Baltimore s Greenmount Cemetery The Longfellow community was named for the American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and the street names are taken from his works Hobbit s Glen was taken from the works of English author J R R Tolkien along with the street names Swansfield s name was inspired by the etching The Swan by James McNeill Whistler and the street names derive from the works of Winslow Homer 2 4 History editThe majority of Harper s Choice is built on the original Carroll slave plantation tract Doughoregan Manor 5 The Harper family farm Jericho was built on a portion of the estate and sold by the Harper family between 1962 and 1964 to the Rouse Company before the announcement of the Columbia project Clarence Bassler sold 63 acres of his farm in 1963 with George Bassler selling 140 the next year retaining land for the Harper s Choice Village Center 6 Home sites were sold by Howard Research and Development Rouse to larger homebuilders Levitt amp Sons known for building Levittown New York bought land for over 600 units but halted construction in 1970 at 151 homes due to code violations 7 In August 1971 Harper s Choice Village Center opened with housing above shops 8 9 In 1978 the village suffered from a string of arson attacks including 26 in a two day period from a local resident 10 By the 1990s the village center shops were in decline with little investment from the Rouse Company 11 In 2004 MS 13 gang activity was reported in the neighborhood 12 In 2007 a study determined that the Middle Patuxent Environmental Area of the Patuxent River was fair to poor biological conditions and only partial support of habitat conditions from runoff related to development in the Hobbit s Glen area The Middle Patuxent Environmental Foundation was formed to study the issue in 2015 with a 38 000 Watershed Assistance Grant Program 13 Services editThe Harper s Choice Village Center has a grocery store banks restaurants and other retail establishments 14 The community center Kahler Hall was named in 1971 for the William C Kahler family who sold a portion of their farm in November 1962 followed later by the remaining 280 acres 2 The original name for the village center was Joseph Square named for John Joseph chairperson of the first Harper s Choice Village Board 4 In 1974 Peg Zabawa opened the landmark Mrs Z s restaurant in an abandoned Wawa Inc facility The restaurant closed after burning in 1979 15 The Florence Bain Senior Center in the Swansfield neighborhood opened in 1983 and was renovated in 2005 It is named for Florence Bain whose son Henry worked on Rouse s original work group She started the local AARP chapter and was the first chairperson of Howard County s Commission on Aging 4 Winter Growth Ruth Keeton House offering an assisted living program is located next to the Senior Center It is named for the former council member Ruth U Keeton 16 Athletic facilities editThe Athletic Club one of Columbia s three athletic facilities is located in Swansfield 17 An 18 hole par 72 golf course is located in Hobbit s Glen which also includes tennis courts and a pool Originally named Jericho the Harper family requested Rouse not to use the name of their family farm 18 19 The Columbia SportsPark an 18 hole miniature golf course batting cages and skate park is located in the Harper s Choice village center 20 21 An extensive walking biking trail connects the neighborhoods 22 References edit Village History 2012 Archived from the original on March 21 2014 Retrieved September 8 2017 a b c About Harper s Choice Community Association Retrieved December 17 2014 Laura Rich Maryland History In Prints 1743 1900 p 41 a b c Kellner Barbara How the Streets of Harper s Choice were Named Archived from the original on December 17 2014 Retrieved September 8 2017 Barbara Feaga Howard s Roads to the Past p 61 Missy Burke Robin Emrich Barbara Kellner Oh You must live in Columbia p 29 Ellen Hoffman February 26 1970 Levitt Construction Is Halted At Columbia Over Violations 128 Residents The Washington Post Ann Forsyth Reforming Suburbia The Planned Communities of Irvine Columbia Joseph Rocco Mitchell David L Stebenne A New City Upon a Hill p 103 Jackson Diehl December 31 1978 Man Charged in Columbia Fires The Washington Post Joseph R Mitchell David Stebenne New City Upon a Hill A History of Columbia Maryland p 146 Gangs and Crime in Latin America p 56 Amanda Yeager 30 January 2015 Howard receives grant for stormwater runoff study in Clarksville The Baltimore Sun Harper s Choice Village Center Directory Archived 2007 04 08 at the Wayback Machine columbiavillagecenters com accessed May 29 2009 Joseph Rocco Mitchell David L Stebenne New City Upon a Hill p 114 Winter Growth wintergrowth com accessed May 29 2009 Athletic Club Archived 2007 06 07 at archive today columbiaassociation net accessed May 29 2009 Missy Burke Robin Emrich Barbara Kellner Oh You must live in Columbia p 32 Golf Club hobbitsglengolfclub com accessed May 29 2009 Sports Park columbiasportspark org accessed May 29 2009 Activities Guide Archived 2010 02 17 at the Wayback Machine columbiaassociation org accessed May 29 2009 Trail Map Archived 2008 07 04 at the Wayback Machine harperschoice columbiavillages org accessed May 29 2009External links editOfficial site Village Center 39 13 21 N 76 53 18 W 39 22250 N 76 88833 W 39 22250 76 88833 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Harper 27s Choice Columbia Maryland amp oldid 1058159176, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.