Pine Hall Brick’s English Edge® Full Range pavers were used to bring a design both new and old to a historic Maryland port town, on the Chesapeake Bay. (All photos courtesy Interlock Paving Company.)
To call Havre de Grace a historic place is something of an understatement.
One more vote in the First Congress in 1789, and Havre de Grace, Maryland, would have been the capital of the United States.
The town got its name after the Revolutionary War. Then known as Harmer’s Town, the small hamlet was visited several times by General Marquis de Lafayette, who was considered a war hero. He said the area reminded him of a French seaport on the English Channel, originally named Le Havre-de-Grâce.
Inspired by Lafayette’s comments, the residents incorporated the town as Havre de Grace in 1785.
George Washington stayed overnight in the town in 1789 on the journey to New York City for his first inauguration.
It’s nestled close to the mouth of the Susquehanna River and the head of Chesapeake Bay. Smithsonian magazine once called it one of the 20 best small U.S. towns to visit.
A modern paver upgrade that looks 250 years old
When the time came to make improvements to the city center, city leaders, along with the designer, Verdantas, and Interlock Paving Company, which installed the clay pavers, decided the best pathway forward would be paved in Pine Hall Brick Company’s English Edge Heavy Duty pavers.
Chris Turner, Interlock’s project manager, said the 32,000-square-foot project which wrapped up in August 2025, made extensive use of the pavers, chosen for their rich texture, warm tones and timeless appearance.
“The hardscape design seamlessly integrates with surrounding structures by using a paver color that complements the historic facades, while a brick ribbon along the sidewalk ties the concrete sidewalks to the brick roadway, creating a cohesive, aesthetically pleasing transition between materials,” said Turner. “The roadway was laid in a 45-degree herringbone pattern to give the road the strongest and most durable laying pattern and alternate color bricks were used to establish parking lanes instead of painted line markers.
“The use of the materials selected enhances the town’s historic charm, setting it apart with unique character while reinforcing its cultural identity and aesthetic appeal.”
The goal of the project was to help transform the downtown into a vibrant community hub, enhancing both business and the town’s inviting atmosphere.
And it worked: the durable, well-crafted roads have already withstood heavy truck traffic, passenger vehicles and bustling town festivals.
“Creativity was evident in adapting to downtown challenges, from coordinating with the other subcontractors to adopting the construction schedule for holiday events,” Turner said. “Scheduling had to be extremely coordinated but remain flexible for the project to be a success. Additionally, an extremely rain filled spring did not make this any less challenging as the project had at least 3 rain days a week for nearly a month.”
The project required careful attention to detail by Interlock Paving, including optimal compaction and precise cuts around utilities. The alternate color pavers used as parking lines require extremely long, straight cuts through the paving field to mimic the appearance of a painted line.
The best news? A successful civic investment
“The paver roadway successfully highlights Havre de Grace’s historical charm while offering a festive and inviting walkable space during special events,” said Turner.
“With a new paver roadway and accent paver sidewalk bands, the area now feels more welcoming and charming, especially during the town’s special events such as First Thursday concerts and holiday festivals.”