Stemmer House ought to be preserved

It was a bittersweet pleasure to read the article about the upcoming auction of Stemmer House ("Stemmer House in Green Spring Valley up for auction," July 29). As we know all good things must end some day, but I have to suspect that Barbara Holdridge will have a difficult time leaving her beloved home.

Since I worked for her with Stemmer House Publishing for more than a decade, I got to know the house and the grounds. And of course, I met all of the animals. So when I read about an auction, I wondered what would happen with the pet cemetery and the swans. I do hope the new owner does allow Barbara to visit the swans, the cemetery and the gardens.

There were also pheasants and horses when I worked there. So the place was somewhat of an animal sanctuary. Stemmer House was a place I was encouraged to bring Bert, an Australian shepherd. There were days when I would be doing bookkeeping with Bert and four other dogs joining me in the office.

Like Barbara, I hope the next owner respects the history, the house, the grounds and the gardens. In this hectic world where a historic hotel was razed to make way for a prayer garden, we need to protect buildings with a long and storied history. Wouldn't it be wonderful if a nonprofit agency took over the building and grounds and made sure it remained a sanctuary?

Max Obuszewski, Baltimore