Port Deposit Mayor: Partnership with Towson University Begins Town Renaissance

Towson University and the town of Port Deposit entered into an agreement Tuesday to protect the Northern map turtle, which is on the state of Maryland's endangered species list.

During a May 7 ceremony at the Tome Carriage House, Towson University President Maravene Loeschke and Port Deposit Mayor Wayne Tome Sr. signed a memorandum of understanding to partner in marketing and researching the Northern map turtle.

Towson University researchers have been studying the turtles—which have made their homes in front of the Tome Gas House on the shores of the Susquehanna River—since 2008.

After the Towson biologists "brought the plight of the turtle to our attention, it has become a rallying point for the community," Tome said, with Port Deposit adopting the turtle as its mascot and being the eyes and ears for researchers.

Recently, the symbiotic efforts of the school and the town came to the attention of National Geographic.

Through the agreement signed Tuesday, the university and the local government solidified their strategic partnership by committing to educational programs, ecotourism, economic development and research opportunities.

Already, the town has received $80,000 in funding to renovate the Tome Gas House into a center for education and research related to the Nothern map turtle.

"Today, we're inside a building that will represent the partnership beginning the rennaissance of Port Deposit," Tome said.

With the disappearance of industry and the economic downturn in Port Deposit, Tome said that some naysayers believed the town would go to pot; but the turtle was helping to turn things around and could help make Port Deposit "a destination," he said.

"We're looking forward to the renovation of one of our historic landmarks, the gas house, as the center to study and to help save the map turtle and become a focal point for ecotourism in the town," Tome said.

Another speaker at the ceremony echoed the idea that the turtle was a starting point in Port Deposit's turnaround.

"Sometimes progress takes different routes, sometimes progress takes dips and turns, but it happens and it's happening here in Port Deposit," Maryland State Delegate David Rudolph said. "If the Northern map turtle can be the beginning, imagine though what it can become."

On behalf of Towson University, Loeschke said she was "thrilled" to partner with Cecil County, and she added that the turtle project could lay the groundwork for more opportunities there.

"Perhaps some of our research could move on to the Conowingo Dam and silt and some of the other issues brought to bear on our ecosystem," Loeschke said.

Cecil County Executive Tari Moore said the partnership with Towson was "a win-win for everyone, especially the turtles." She added: "I'm sure this is going to be a very special tourist destination."

On Tuesday, Tome said that a resolution would pass making May "Tourism Month" in Port Deposit.

"Ironically," Tome said, "the slow-moving map turtles that call us home here in Port Deposit are catapulting us briskly into a promising future."

 See Also: National Geographic Features Port Deposit for Turtle Preservation