End of an era: Former C.P. Crane Power Station imploded

BOWLEYS QUARTERS, Md. — The former C.P. Crane Power Station in Bowleys Quarters imploded.

The implosion happened right on schedule at 8 a.m. in front of hundreds of onlookers in boats or on land.

"It’s an end of an era... I think it’s going to be, in many, many ways, a loss," said Kathleen Kammann, who has lived next door to the plant all her life.

The power plant was a landmark and navigational beacon that neighbors that will be missed by neighbors, boaters and pilots.

“We’re gonna miss it. Everybody knows when they are out there on the water; there’s home. There’s the power plant," said Capt. John Heinz with the Bowleys Quarters Volunteer Fire Department.

What's left of the 153-acre plot will be cleaned up. It's not clear what will happen to the land. It was bought by Forsite Development last year and they have been working to clean it up since. The plant had been in operations since the 1960s before shutting down in 2018.

"It’s a shame to see it come down. Any effort to make it a national historical landmark failed. Any effort to make it a navigational aid failed," said Heinz.

The Baltimore County Planning Board will vote at its next meeting at the beginning of September whether to approve Forsite's request to extend sewer and water to the site.

Some of the options for the property include turning it into a renewable energy provider, a data center or high-density housing.

Neighbors like Kammann hope it doesn’t turn into a large development.

"There was a certain peace that it was there and it wouldn’t be developed into an area with 400 houses. Our community doesn’t have the infrastructure to support that so there’s a sense of uncertainty as it comes down," said Kammann. "BGE was given a special exemption to build that plant because it was for the greater good, and clearly that need no longer exists so I would like that property to go back into rural conservation and be persevered for generations to come."