Oakland Mills Blacksmith House and Shop

The Oakland Mills Blacksmith House and Shop, also known as Felicity, is a historic property at 5471 Old Columbia Road in Oakland Mills, Maryland.

Oakland Mills Blacksmith House and Shop
Blacksmith Shop
Location5471 Old Columbia Road, Oakland Mills, Maryland
Coordinates39°13′17″N 76°50′51″W
Area2 acres (0.81 ha)
Builtc. 1844 (1844)
NRHP reference No.11000820[1]
Added to NRHPNovember 18, 2011

Buildings

The Columbia Road was contracted on 6 January 1810 by the Maryland General Assembly to establish a toll road from Ellicott City to Georgetown.[2] The property includes a 1.5-story wood-frame house, built c. 1820, a single-story blacksmithy, a smokehouse, and the remains of a spring house. The buildings are set close to the south side of the road. The house was built by the Ridgely family, who owned the original Oakland Mills flour mill complex that appeared on the Anne Arundel County tax list in 1798.[3][4] The wood stable was used to raise Percheron workhorses for local farms. Both the house and smithy are extremely well preserved; the smithy, which ceased operation in 1950, houses one complete forge and parts of a second.[5]

Subsequent owners

In 1878, Samuel F. Whipps (1831–1909) moved from his father William Whipps' house at "Rebecca's Lot" (now Whipps Family and Public Cemetery) to Felicity. He operated the Oakland Mills post office and blacksmith shop with his son William Whipps.[6] Future Circuit Court Judge James A. Clark Sr. worked for a Mr. Whipps on-site in the late 1800s.[7] The property was later purchased by a Mr. and Mrs. Frank Collins. Most recently the property has been purchased by Genevieve & Thomas Engleman, who reside there with their two sons, Hank & Beau.

Adjacent Oakland Mills Store and Dwelling. Circa 1798[8]

21st century

The property was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2011.[1] A 2001 book, "Roads to Howard's Past ", boasted about the Maryland Department of Transportation circumventing the historic properties, but by 2014 the historic register was changed to declare the property was not historic. County Executive Ken Ulman was part of the 2010 ground breaking for a road-widening project in front of the historic structures. The project to increase traffic capacity and develop extra density in downtown Columbia reduced the property size, relocated Old Columbia Pike, and installed sound walls.[9][10][11]

  • Oakland Mills Blacksmith House Front
  • Oakland Mills Blacksmith Shop Front
  • Oakland Mills Blacksmith House and Shop Front Together
  • Oakland Mills Blacksmith House and Shop Behind
  • Oakland Mills Blacksmith House and Shop Behind 2

See also

References
  1. "National Register of Historic Places Listings". Weekly List of Actions Taken on Properties: 11/14/11 through 11/18/11. National Park Service. 2011-11-25.
  2. Burke, Missy; Emrich, Robin; Kellner, Barbara (2008). Oh, You must live in Columbia. Columbia, Maryland: Columbia Archives. p. 21.
  3. Howard's Roads to the Past. Howard County Sesquicentennial Celebration Committee, 2001. 2001. pp. 79, 81.
  4. Burke, Missy; Emrich, Robin; Kellner, Barbara (2008). Oh, You must live in Columbia. Columbia, Maryland: Columbia Archives. p. 85.
  5. Kenneth M. Short (October 2010). "National Register of Historic Places Registration: Oakland Mills Blacksmith House and Shop" (PDF). Maryland Historical Trust. Retrieved 2016-01-01.
  6. "Whipps Family Cemetery" (PDF). Retrieved 1 October 2014.
  7. James A. Clark, Jr. Jim Clark Soldier Farmer Legislator. p. 1.
  8. "HO-154" (PDF). Retrieved 26 October 2014.
  9. Larry Carson (22 May 2010). "Route 29 widening impacts six vintage homes Project could seal off historic enclave". The Baltimore Sun.
  10. "MDOT" (PDF). Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  11. "Route 29 Project Means 'More Quality Time for Families': Ulman Thousands of commuters will be relieved by widening of the highway, officials say". Retrieved 30 August 2014.
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