"A History of St. Charles, Maryland: Portrait of a New Town" is an account of an often perilous journey in the creation of a town from the ground up, starting with the assemblage of the large tract of land by one colorful Congressman Frank Boykin of Alabama, who offered the parcel as a contender for the site of Dulles International Airport, through exploitation by several tenant farmers, loggers and would-be developers, ultimately into the hands of a serious, experienced businessman who entered into partnership with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in 1970, making St. Charles the second New Town under the federal New Communities Program, only to be abandoned by HUD when the Program was abruptly ended by a new Administration. By viewing the development of this new community from a historical perspective, one can accurately assess the diverse forces that shaped its growth over several decades. Building upon the history of the Southern Maryland and Charles County, the early years (1968 - 1990) of planning and development of St. Charles, Maryland established the vision, foundation, and framework that launched the new town on its successful path and later would assure its prosperity. Above all other considerations, success was largely due to the tenacity, resourcefulness, and personality of the developer, James J. Wilson, captured by Author William K. Klingaman. Klingaman conducted a series of oral-history interviews in the mid-1980's with Wilson and a cast of personalities from HUD, FHA, state and local government officials, local businesspersons, and members of the development team, and had unrestricted access to the files of HUD and the developer. These experiences and revelations can well serve as a textbook for developers, builders, and local authorities to consider when facing a panoply of obstacles, including dealing with squabbling government agencies, obtaining the financial resources needed to stay afloat, struggling to maintain the vision in changing markets, and complying with pyramiding new government regulations…and above all, a sense of the leadership it takes to keep propelling the vision forward. The history is conveyed through an enjoyable read, in a non-technical manner, with human interest episodes throughout the volume, capturing the roller coaster ride of events and relaying this amazing true story. The added 2020 Epilogue, punctuated with photographs, plans and illustrations, captures what St. Charles has accomplished and looks to its future.
