Harmony Grove

53 Pages·2004·2.6 MB·English

F-3-108
Harmony Grove Survey District

Architectural Survey File
This is the architectural survey file for this MIHP record. The survey file is organized reverse-
chronological (that is, with the latest material on top). It contains all MIHP inventory forms, National
Register nomination forms, determinations of eligibility (DOE) forms, and accompanying documentation
such as photographs and maps.
Users should be aware that additional undigitized material about this property may be found in on-site
architectural reports, copies of HABS/HAER or other documentation, drawings, and the “vertical files” at
the MHT Library in Crownsville. The vertical files may include newspaper clippings, field notes, draft
versions of forms and architectural reports, photographs, maps, and drawings. Researchers who need a
thorough understanding of this property should plan to visit the MHT Library as part of their research
project; look at the MHT web site (mht.maryland.gov) for details about how to make an appointment.
All material is property of the Maryland Historical Trust.

Last Updated: 11-21-2003
:MARYLAND HISTORICAL TRUST NR Eligible: yes _
NR-ELIGIBILITY REVIEW FORM no=:z-
Harmony Grove Historic District,
Property Name: includes Spring Bank (F-3-22) Inventory Number: _F_-3_-_10_8_ ____________
Address: 7930-7945 Worman's Mill Road City: Frederick Zip Code: 21701
-------
County: -Fre-der-ick- -------USGS Topographic Map: -Fre-de-rick- -------------
Owner: Various
42, 136, 28-538014
109, 28-534698
303, 28-544707
183,304 28-534876
Tax Parcel Number: 264 #1 Tax Map Number: 57 Tax Account ID Number: 28-543891
----
Project: US 15/MD 26 Agency: _M_D_ S_ H_A_ _____________
Site visit by MHT Staff: no __y es Name: Date:
--------
----------~
Eligibility recommended Eligibility not recommended
c
Criteria: --A --B- X- C- -D Considerations: A B D E F G None
Is the property located within a historic district? __ no __ yes Name of district: -------------
Is district listed? no yes Determined eligible? no yes District Inventory Number:
Documentation on the property/district is presented in: MHIP Files
Description of Property and Eligibility Determination: (Use continuation sheer if necessary and attach TTlilfJ and photo)
The Harmony Grove Survey District meets the requirements of Criterion C for its architecture, as it is is
significant primarily for the architecture of its buildings, each of which has qualities unique within the
district, and including Spring Bank (F-3-22) which is already listed I the National Register in 1984 for its
eclectic Gothic Revival and Italianite style. Harmony developed as a mill village. The town was
bifurcated by the construction of the US 15 in the 1970's, causing the loss of a number of buildings.
Additional buildings have been lost over the years to development. As an example of mid to late 19th
century community planning, the survey district is of minor significance because of demolitions of key
buildings over the mid-20th century, including the railroad station, post office, and freight warehouse, two
stores, the stone Worman' s Mill of the early 19th century and a second church.
Prepared by: Rita Suffness Date Prepared: December 12, 2001
ligibility recommended Eligibility not recommended
A B A B C None
{](
2tJo j o4 54-8
F-3-108
Harmony Grove Survey District
Including Spring Bank (F-3-22)
Frederick
Frederick Quadrangle
'
I
I
P.. 42
.136
P.109
~P.303
3
~,.....__.....3t~ P.208
F-3-108
Hamony Grove survey District ca. 1840-1910
Frederick vicinity
Private
'lhe Hamony Grove survey District encompasses about 10 acres arrl includes
six contri.l::uting residences, one unoccupied lCXJ house, an unoccupied fonner
frame church, arrl one non-contril:::uting residence. 'lhe district is the center
of the 19th century village which developed fran about 1820 to the first decade
of the 20th century near Wonnan's Mill, demolished. 'lhe earliest
l10W'
structures in the village are the unoccupied lCXJ house which may be a circa
1840 slave house associated with the Wonnan House, a circa 1870 brick fannhouse
with several frame outb.rildings of about the same period. Also in the district
is Spring Bank (F-3-22), irrlividually listed in the National Register, which is
an 1880 brick architectural landmark with extravagant decorative detail in the
Gothic Revival arrl Italianate styles. One of the other contriruting residences
was b.rilt in 1876 as the schoolhouse arrl, after its closing in 1910, was
converted to a tea room in 1915 arrl to a residence in 1940. 'lhe Hamony Grove
District is significant for the architecture of the b.rildings, each of which
has unique qualities within the district arrl represent the vernacular arrl
Gothic Revival/Italianate styles among domestic, religious, arrl educational
b.rildings.
F-3-108
Hanoony Grove SUrvey District
Frederick
Frederick County
HISIORIC a::>Nl'E)cr':
MARYIAND a:H'REHENSIVE HISIORIC PRESERVATION PIAN DATA
Geogl:aI:tric Organization: Piedmont
(Harford, Baltin'K>re, carroll, Frederick, Howard, Montganery
Counties, am Baltin'K>re City)
Chronological/Development Period:
Agricultural-Iniustrial Transition, A.D. 1815-1870
IrrlustrialjUrban Dominance, A.D. 1870-1930
Prehistoric/Historic Period '!hemes
Architecture, Iarrlsca:pe Architecture arrl Connnunity Plannin:J
Social/Fducationa.1/0.lltural
Resource Types:
category: District
Historic Envirornnent: Rural
Historic Function arrl Use:
Domestic/single dwelling/residence
Domestic/single dwelling/mansion
Domestic/secomary structure/other deperxlencies
Education/school/schoolhouse
Known Design Source: None
M57 Survey No. F-3-108
;MARYLAND
Magi No.
Maryland Historical Trust
\''HISTCR:c r~,~:-~r:·-~
j ' .._.I - '\I• - -'
State Historic Sites Inventory Form DOE _yes x no
1. Name
(indicate pref erred name)
historic Harmony Grove Survey District
and/or common
2. Location
street & number 7930-7945 Worman' s Mill Road __ not for publication
city, town Frederick _e_ vicinity of congressional district 6th
Maryland Frederick
state county
3. Classification
Category Ownership Status Present Use
-1L district __ public _K_ occupied __ agriculture __ museum
__ building(s) 2L-private __ unoccupied __ commercial __ park
__ structure __ both __ work in progress __ educational _K__ private residence
__ site Public Acquisition Accessible __ entertainment __ religious
__ object __ in process _x_ yes: restricted __ government __ scientific
__ being considered _yes: unrestricted __ industrial __ transportation
~not applicable __ no __ military __ other:
4. Owner of Property
(give names and mailing addresses of ~ owners)
name See Section 7
street & number telephone no. :
city, town state and zip code
5. Location of Legal Description
Frederick County Courthouse
courthouse, registry of deeds, etc. liber
street & number 100 W. Patrick Street folio
city, town Frederick state Md. 21701
6. Representation in Existing
Historical surveys
title Spring Bank (F-3-22), National Register of Historic Places
date 1984 _x_ federal _x_ state __ county __ local
pository for survey records Md. SHPO
city, town Crownsville state Md.
7. Description
Survey No. F-3-108
Condition Check one Check one
_excellent - deteriorated _ unaltered _x_ original site
~good _ ruins ~ altered _moved date of move
_fair _unexposed
Prepare both a summary paragraph and a general description of the resource and its
various elements as it exists today.
o.::>NlRIBUI'IN RESOURCE CDUNI': 17
'Ihe Hannony Grove SUrvey District enc:::arrpasses an area of about 10 acres centered
on the 19th centw:y village located on the east arrl west sides of Wonnan's Mill Road
just east of U.S. 15 about two miles north of Frederick (City), Frederick camty,
Marylarrl. 'Ihe district is principally residential arrl includes five contriJ:::uting
dwellings ran:Jing in date from about 1840 to about 1890, an unoccupied former church
built in 1878, arrl an uncx:x:::upied log dwelling possibly built about 1840 which is
currently located within the Frederick corporate limits which adjoin the survey
district boundary on the east arrl west, arrl a non-contril:uting rnodern residence.
One of the contril:uting houses is Spring Bank (F-3-22), individually listed in the
National Register in 1984 arrl significant for its outstandirg architectural style
cornbinin:J Italianate arrl Gothic Revival details. It is currently a residence arrl
bed arrl breakfast inn. Another residence in the district was originally the 1876
school. Bordering the sw:vey district on the west is a railroad line, originally
built in 1872-73 as the Frederick & Pennsylvania Railroad arrl ncM owned by the
Marylarrl state Railroad Administration. 'Ihe village at its greatest extent in the
pericxi 1875-1940 included a brick arrl frame station, post office, arrl store with
associated outruildin:]s on the west side of the rail line north of Spring Bank arrl
the current outline of the district. A historic early grist mill, Worman's Mill
(d ercolished) , was located south of the district near the junction of Worman' s Mill
Road arrl MD 26 arrl other small shops arrl stores were located along the road betwe
it arrl the center of the current survey district. With the decline of the railroau
after 1945, arrl the rise of autaoobile use, the village of Hannony Grove was reduced
by dercolitions to its present size, which includes seven additional dwellin:]s along
the road just south of the survey district boundary. 'Ihese houses were excluded
because of their recent construction dates or severe loss of integrity.
'Ihe buildings in the district include two large brick houses located on the east
side of the road near the northern errl, the Worman House arrl Spring Bank, which have
a high level of architectural sophistication compared to the rnodest frane arrl log
structures on the west side of the road. 'Ihe brick 1876 schoolhouse is the only
non-wood franed structure on the west side of the road. 'Ihe wcx:xi buildings have
asbestos shingle, vinyl, arrl german siding, arrl the unoccupied log house has board
arrl batten siding except on the south elevation, where the log structure is
exposed. Roofs are gabled with standing seam metal or modern mnposition arrl the
roofs of the large brick houses are slate arrl hipped with m.nnerous cross gables,
especially in the Spring Bank roofline. Both of these houses have several
contri.b.Iting outruildings, principally frame arrl brick barns, garages or carriage
houses, sheds, arrl smokehouses. However, Spring Bank's outruildings include a gas
house, presumably an original feature supplying gas for lighting in the 1880 house.
'Ihe condition of IOOSt of the principal structures is gocxi to excellent arrl all have
been altered in varying degrees. 'Ihe log outhlilding is in the IOOSt precarious
physical condition, being open to weather arrl vandalism. Following are brief
descriptions of the contri.b.Iting buildings:
(Continued on separate sheet)
8. Significance
Survey No. F-3-108
Period Areas of Significance-Check and justify below
_ prehistoric _archeology-prehistoric ~community planning _landscape architecture_ religion
_ 1400-1499 _archeology-historic _conservation _law _science
- 1500-1599 _ agriculture _ economics _ literature _ sculpture
- 1600-1699 ~ architecture ---*--education _ military _ social/
_ 1700-1799 _ art _ engineering _ music humanitarian
_x_ 1800-1899 _ commerce _ exploration/settlement _ philosophy _ theater
_ 1900- _ communications _ industry _ politics/government _ transportation
_ invention _other (specify)
Specific dates c. 1840-1910 Builder/A rchitect
check: Applicable Criteria: x A B x C D
and/or
Applicable Exception: A B c D E F G
Level of Significance: national state x local
Prepare both a summary paragraph of significance and a general statement of history and
support.
'Ihe Harmny Grove SUrvey District is significant prilnarily for the architecture
of its b.rildings, each of which has qualities unique within the district and one,
Spring Bank (F-3-22) which is individually ilrp:>rtant for its eclectic Gothic Revival
and Italianate style, for which it was listed in the National Register in 1984. 'Ihe
ruildings include a sinple circa 1840 log house, possibly a slave house, a second
log dwellinq of the same period with an unusual integral porch supporting part of
the upper half-story, an 1876 brick schoolhouse converted to a dwelling, a dated
1878 frame church which has had little exterior alteration since its construction, a
vernacular frame house of about 1875 with segmental arched openin;Js and a Gothic
'Revival gable window, and a circa 1870 brick vernacular house with a patterned slate
pped roof, a rear winq with balustraded porches, and several cont:errp:>rary frame
out:J:::uildings. As an example of mid and late 19th century comnrunity planning, the
survey district is of minor significance because of demolitions of key b.rildings
over the mid-20th century, including the railroad station, post office, and freight
warehouse, two stores, the stone Worman' s Mill of the early 19th century, and a
second church. 'Ihe construction of U.S. 15 in the 1960's and 1970's caused many of
the demolitions and re-routed the road traffic fran the fonner Frederick-Emmitsblrg
'I\lrnpike (now Worman' s Mill Road) to bypass the village. 'Ihe result was the loss of
econanic demand which had sustained the village irrlustries and shops.
Hanoony Grove developed as a mill village as did many early 19th century
Frederick County communities, with the homes and shops of associated mill employees,
owners, and supporting craftsmen growing up alon:J the main access to the mill.
Churches and schools followed closely, and, in 1872-73, the Frederick & Pennsylvania
Railroad, which provided further sustenance to the commercial life of the village,
as well as access to the larger towns of Frederick and Walkersville. Shortly
thereafter, a post office, store, and station b.rilding was b.rilt and Spring Bank,
the country home of a wealthy Frederick rusinessman was erected in 1880. 'Ibis
signaled a charge in Harmony Grove fran the workin;J class homes and stores to the
fine homes of people who earned their livin;J outside the village. Although the
railroad eventually declined and the b.rildings associated with its arrival were
later demolished, the center of the town represented in the survey district remained
virtually intact. In the early 20th century, the closin;J of the school in 1910
represents the beginnin:J of this decline. 'Ihe post office closed in 1919 and was
demolished in the 1970's for the bifurcation of U.S. 15.
9. Major Bibliographical References
Survey No. F-3-108
Bond, Isaac. Map of Frederick County, 1858
Brown, Carl E. Personal interviews, Dec. 11-12, 1992
Brown, Carl E. Harmony Grove Recollections. 1990 Bound typescript in Maryland Room,
C. Burr Artz Public Library, Frederick, Md.
(Continued op separate 3heetl
1 O. Geographical Data
Acreage of nominated property 10 acres
Quadrangle name Frederick, Md. Quadrangle scale __l_ :_ 24---'-0~00~--
UTM References do NOT complete UTM references ew
ALJ.J I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I
Zone Easting Northing Zone Easting Northing
c LJ..J ...L.......L----- D liJ I I I I
L..Ll ._I. ..L.......L---- FLU I I I I
e
l..i.J ._I LU I I
G -'---'---i.... ........ - H
L-1
Verbal boundary description and justification
Approximately 10 acres including the National Register site Spring Bank (F-3-22) and
the other contributing buildings on both sides of Worman's Mill Road.
List all states and counties for properties overlapping state or county boundaries
state code county code
state code county code
11. Form Prepared By
name/title Janet L. Davis, Historic Sites Surveyor
organization Frederick County Planning & Zoning Depidate December 1992
street & number 12 E. Church Street telephone [phone]
city or town Frederick state Md. 21701
The Maryland Historic Sites Inventory was officially created by
an Act of the Maryland Legislature to be found in the Annotated
Code of Maryland, Article 41, Section 181 KA, 1974 supplement.
The survey and inventory are being prepared for information and
record purposes only and do not constitute any infringement of
individual property rights.
MARYLAND n1~:0.~iCAL TRUST
DHCP/DHCC
return to: Maryland Historical Trust
100 COMMUNITY PL.ACt
Shaw House
21 State Circle CROWNSVILLE, MD 21032-2022
Annapolis, Maryland 21401 . r: 1 / ~: ~ "\~t
(301) 269-2438
PS-2746
Harnony Grove SUrvey District SURVEY No. F-3-108
Frederick County
7 .1 Description (Continued}
Sprin'J Bank (NR, F-3-22}, 7945 Wonnan's Mill Road: '!he 2-1/2 story brick
mansion was milt in 1880 (dated stone in structure) by George Houck. '!he five
bays in the west elevation are spanned by a one-story bracketed p:>rc.h and an
off-center cross gable tops the southern three bays. '!he south elevation has a
projectin'J bay wirrlov/ near the southwest corner and a side entrance with a
bracketed entry p:>rc.h. Above the p:>rc.h is a wirrlov/ un:ier a bellcast hood with
console brackets. A balustrade with corner posts and finials tops the entry
p:>rc.h roof. Double interior em chimneys rise at the north and south gable
errls of the patterned slate roof. At the junction of the cross gables is a
square cupola with a hipped slate roof and groups of three arched windows on
each side. At the rear of the house is a two-story brick ell which was
exterrled in the 1920's. A two-story open p:>rc.h faces south and a secorrl,
deteriorated p:>rch is located on the north side of the ell. A third p:>rch is
attached to the east em of the ell, part of the 1920's addition. '!he interior
retains much of its original trim, mantels in painted slate, interior shutters,
plaster ornamentation, and hardwood floors. '!he house is a spectacularly fine
exarrple of the eclectic styles of the late 19th century ccmbinin'J elements of
the Gothic Revival and the Italianate styles. '!he exterior and interior trim
is highly sophisticated and corrplete. Local craftsmen Cllarles G. Walter and o.
F. Borrl are documented as two of the milders of the house. In the 1882
History of Western Maryland by Scharf, it was described. as one of the finest
and ll'OSt costly in the County. Associated with the house are a brick gas
house, part of the lightin'J system, a brick smokehouse, a brick privy, and a
brick carriage house, all conterrporary with the house. In 1926, Cllarles G.
Bowers, then an architecture student whose family owned Sprin'J Bank durin'J the
early 20th century, and later a praninent Frederick architect, altered same
wirrlow openings on the west elevation and designed the east:errmost extension to
the service win'J. Sprin'J Bank displays Frederick County Landmarks Foundation
plaque mnnber 216. OWner: Rayrnorrl L. & Beverly A. canpton, 7945 Wonnan's Mill
Rd. , Frederick, MD 21701.
Wonnan House, 7935 Wonnan's Mill Rd.: '!he two-story brick house appears to
date fran about 1850, having the basic vernacular fonn of main section and rear
win'J, although the patterned slate hi:pped roof with central chimneys may be an
alteration of the last quarter of the 19th century. Infonnation supplied to
the Frederick County Landmarks Foundation for plaque no. 88 states that oral
tradition gives the date of construction as about 1870, milt by the widow of
William D. Wonnan, who died in 1868. '!he brick is 6:1 American borrl. '!he west
elevation has five bays and a cross gable with a center entrance with a transan
and sidelights. Console brackets ornament the transan surrourrl. '!he window
open.ir)3s have gauged flat arches with 6/6 sash, wood sills, and louvred
shutters. In the cross gable is a rourrl-arched 2 /2 window. A one-story p:>rch
with chamfered p:>Sts extends across the west elevation. On the south gable erxl
is a one-story bay window. A two-story rear win'J extends eastward fran the
main section. A two-story open p:>rch with balustrades is located on the south
elevation. '!he interior was inaccessible for this survey. OUtl:uildin'Js
associated with the house include a small frame barn now used as a garage, a
frame privy, a frame shed of urrletennined original use, a frame garden shed
which was probably originally a hog barn, and an open-sided frame wood shed.
All have vertical board and batten sidin'J with standing seam metal roofs. '!hey