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FROSTBURG - When Frostburg city officials were approached by a local business about selling the old ambulance building on Water Street, they were enthusiastic from the start at the prospect of transferring a little-used piece of public property off the city books.

In addition to relieving city government the burden of maintaining the brick structure at 22 South Water, sale to a private entity would put the property back on the tax rolls, boosting revenue.

Frostburg businesswoman Barb Armstrong, though, had misgivings about the proposal. Located across the street at the old bus terminal she converted for use of her insurance business, she felt the ambulance building was a historical structure worthy of preservation and celebration. In addition, she saw a potential meeting space and other public uses to complement the adjoining City Place.

When the city advertised for bids on the property, it conducted a tour of the building that drew four potential bidders. At the bid deadline of Oct. 9, two bids were received, and during the Oct. 16 city council meeting, the property was sold to the high bidder: Barb Armstrong.

Although she did not initiate the sale, Armstrong took charge of the ambulance building's fate with a successful bid of $50,000.

Upon reviewing her proposal for the development of the property, Mayor Arthur Bond appeared ready to go to the mat with any council member who did not support the transaction. "I dare anybody to say no," Bond said in announcing Armstrong as the high bidder.

More than just writing a check to the city, in submitting her bid Armstrong laid out her vision for a mix of public and private use, to include a "townhouse" living space developed within the structure, possible commercial space, and a public meeting area with kitchen facilities. She expects to invest about $200,000 in the project, which will gut much of the building's interior while preserving the "original bones of the space."

"This open living, dining and kitchen area would be used similar to the ‘Bambacus Community Room' in the Frostburg Public Library, a room that is booked almost every night for community meetings," Armstrong noted in an eight-point written proposal submitted with her bid.

Overriding the entire redevelopment is restoration of the building to its original appearance, when it served as the city's fire department. The centerpiece of the façade work will be two arched doorways that opened for the fire department's horse-drawn wagons. The double doors were replaced years ago by a single garage-door opening for use of the ambulance, and the arches covered with brick work as part of that renovation.

"It has got a lot of history to it," Armstrong said. "Part of my motivation is to hold onto that history. I'd hate to see it lost."

Although the large doors will be reconstructed to their original appearance, as captured in a photo from the city's 1912 Centennial celebration, they will not open, to facilitate development of the downstairs living area.
All work will be performed in consultation with the Frostburg Historic District Commission, and in compliance with city codes.

The plans also call for work in the rear of the building, adjoining the City Place parking area, where Armstrong envisions a carport and deck for the residential use.

Armstrong herself will be the first to try out downtown living at 22 South Water. After the renovation is complete, she and her husband, the endearingly dubbed "Slug" Armstrong, will move into the townhouse for a year or more, while their own home in Grahamtown is being renovated.

Mayor Bond joined the rest of the council in embracing Armstrong's project. "We're very pleased that someone with your vision and energy put a bid on that property," he said at the council meeting.

For Armstrong, it all came down to history and community.

"When I saw that picture of the building from 1912, I just knew we didn't want to lose that for our town," she said.