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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
Oakland Mills Blacksmith House and Shop is located in Maryland
Oakland Mills Blacksmith House and Shop
Oakland Mills Blacksmith House and Shop is located in the United States
Oakland Mills Blacksmith House and Shop
Location5471 Old Columbia Road, Oakland Mills, Maryland
Coordinates39°13′17″N 76°50′51″W / 39.22139°N 76.84750°W / 39.22139; -76.84750
Area2 acres (0.81 ha)
Builtc. 1844 (1844)
NRHP reference No.11000820[1]
Added to NRHPNovember 18, 2011

Buildings edit

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 edit

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.[citation needed] Most recently the property has been purchased by Genevieve Engleman, who resides there.[8][failed verification]

 
Adjacent Oakland Mills Store and Dwelling. Circa 1798[9]

21st century edit

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.[10][11][12]

Gallery edit

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

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b "National Register of Historic Places Listings". Weekly List of Actions Taken on Properties: 11/14/11 through 11/18/11. National Park Service. November 25, 2011.
  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. ^ Short, Kenneth M. (October 2010). "National Register of Historic Places Registration: Oakland Mills Blacksmith House and Shop" (PDF). Maryland Historical Trust. Retrieved January 1, 2016.
  6. ^ "Whipps Family Cemetery" (PDF). Retrieved October 1, 2014.
  7. ^ Clark, Jr., James A. Jim Clark Soldier Farmer Legislator. p. 1.
  8. ^ "The Remote OT". theremoteot.com. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  9. ^ "HO-154" (PDF). Retrieved October 26, 2014.
  10. ^ Carson, Larry (May 22, 2010). "Route 29 widening impacts six vintage homes Project could seal off historic enclave". The Baltimore Sun.
  11. ^ "MDOT" (PDF). Retrieved September 16, 2014.
  12. ^ Janney, Elizabeth (May 29, 2014). "Route 29 Project Means 'More Quality Time for Families': Ulman Thousands of commuters will be relieved by widening of the highway, officials say". Patch. Retrieved August 30, 2014.

External links edit


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