Paternal Gift Farm, Maryland facts for kids

Paternal Gift Farm is a special place in Howard County, Maryland, USA. It used to be a big farm. Now, it's a neighborhood where people live. It's located in the Highland area. All the people who own homes here are part of the Paternal Gift Farm, Inc. This group helps manage the community.

History of Paternal Gift Farm

Early Beginnings

The story of Paternal Gift Farm began a long time ago. In 1803, a doctor named Charles Alexander Warfield owned a large piece of land. He gave 510 acres of this land to his son, Gustavus. He called this gift "Paternal Gift."

Around 1860, a farmhouse was built on this land. The Harding family owned the farm for many years. In 1937, Warwick Keegan bought about 200 acres of the land. He also bought the old farmhouse. Mr. Keegan updated the house.

The Scheidt Family Era

In 1946, Melvin and Prue Scheidt bought the land. The Scheidt family used the farm for many years. They raised different animals like cattle, horses, sheep, and chickens. They also grew crops. The farm was active until 1995.

Developing the Community

In 1995, the land was developed into the Paternal Gift Farm neighborhood. Susan Scheidt, the daughter-in-law of Melvin and Prue Scheidt, led this project. She wanted to keep the farm's original feel. So, she set aside 75% of the land for farming. This preserved land is now a horse boarding facility. It has seven barns. The money from this facility helps take care of the community's shared areas.

The Paternal Gift Farm community has 30 single-family homes. This includes 28 new homes, the farm manager's home, and the original developer's home. The community covers about 123 acres. It is located near Maryland Route 216, Maryland Route 108, and Hall Shop Road.

Awards and Recognition

Paternal Gift Farm has received several awards. These awards are from both the state and national levels.

State Awards

In 1997, the Home Builders Association of Maryland gave Paternal Gift Farm two awards:

• 1997 LDC Award of Excellence: This award was for excellent design, planning, and building of a small neighborhood.
• 1997 Overall Project of the Year: This recognized the entire project as the best of the year.

National Recognition

Also in 1997, the National Association of Conservation Districts gave Paternal Gift Farm an award. They received the "Outstanding Cooperator Award." This was for how they divided the land. They did it in a way that was good for the environment. It also recognized their responsible land management.

Featured on TV

The community was even shown on a TV show! It appeared on an episode of "Dream Builders." The segment was called "Farms of Tomorrow."