One hundred years ago a sleepy little agricultural village became Linthicum when the Baltimore and Annapolis Short Line Railroad laid its tracks through farmland owned by the Linthicum family. In June 1908, four Linthicum men formed the Linthicum Heights Company to develop part of their properties for residential use and the community of Linthicum was born. On Sunday, April 27 from 1 to 6 p.m. eight historic Linthicum homes will be opened and welcoming visitors during the tour sponsored by the Linthicum Centennial Committee.
Although there have been house tours through Linthicum before, this Centennial-inspired tour is unique and includes homes that have never been part of any previous tour. It is literally a once-in-a-hundred-years event and should not be missed! Limited tickets are still available for $15 at Charlene’s Hallmark at Shipley-Linthicum Shopping Center or can be obtained by calling 410-859-1795 or by e-mail to karenstorey@cablespeed.com
The homes on the tour include:
The Old Linthicum Estate on Valley Road. Originally built in 1910 by Dr. G. Milton and Laura E. Linthicum, this Colonial Revival house has been extensively renovated by the new owners. Even though modern enhancements have been added, care has been taken to keep many of the historical features of the stately home including the original French doors, Hardwood floors and dining room chandeliers. Although the former screened-in porch is now a family room, it still has the old wooden ceiling.
On East Maple Road, tour visitors will find The Honeymoon Cottage. The story goes that this 1930 Dutch Colonial was built as a wedding gift for the newlyweds. The new owner has kept intact most of the historic aspects of the house: the original old paned-glass windows, hardwood floors and the charming screened-in summer porch. The interior showcases eclectic furnishings with a contemporary flair and a particularly efficient modern kitchen—all blending in perfectly with the unique design of the house.
Off Hammonds Ferry Road in the Gapgalleon community is the Old Stoll Farmhouse. Built about 1885 this vernacular Victorian farmhouse is being lovingly restored by its young owners. Of special interest are the original woodwork, pocket doors, newel post and hardwood floors. The house features wood siding, a wrap-around porch, a mudroom , two fireplaces and beautiful wainscoting on the library's walls. The cheerful country kitchen has been renovated, as have the bathrooms, to suit the demands of a family with small children.
On the West Side of Camp Meade Road, visitors will find the Janyska Home on S. Hammonds Ferry Road. This property features a stone retaining wall built by the WPA, the USA Work Program, in the late 1930's. Built about 1912, it has many unique “nooks and crannies” along with its original pine floors. The kitchen has an over the door transom and is unusual in that both ceiling and walls are covered with a decorative tile which gives the room a European imprint. The side porch with its original wainscoting has been enclosed as an office and the upstairs bedrooms feature high, small stained-glass windows.
On Hawthorne Road is the Bieler Home. Built around 1912, it features original carving on the living room mantel and built in shelves that flank the French doors that lead into what was once a screened-in side porch and is now the family room. Off the country kitchen an addition is now a sunny breakfast room. Several architectural details, such as crown molding, ceiling medallions and an embossed paper “tin” ceiling in the kitchen, are new.
Forest View Road is the site of a Tenant Farmer’s House built in the 1800's or even earlier and was located on the William Shipley farm. A tenant farmer could live in the house for “board and wood”. The original house was a 3-room shanty and through the years has seen many changes. Originally it sat in the middle of what is now Forest View Road, and when the road was built, the house was moved back and down two lots. The house has the original wide-planked hardwood floors, molding and the newel post on the stairs.
On Andover Road is the Andover Farmhouse and Windsor Stables at the Andover Equestrian Center. The typical L-shaped farmhouse on this 25-acre horse farm was built about 1860. It features original architectural details including hardwood floors in the dining room that have an inlay design and stairs leading from the back upstairs of the house down to the kitchen and. The large barn on the property, built as a dairy barn in the “gambrel roof” style, is also open for the tour.
Also open for the tour are:
Linden Hill: Joshua Linthicum built this Colonial Revival house in 1910 for his bride, Bertha. The sweeping lawn once held a variety of boxwood, azalea and a large magnolia tree, which still stands. The home was built to take advantage of summer breezes with its cross-ventilation and summer sleeping porch on the third floor. The Linthicums’ daughter inherited the house and lived there until it was sold in 1972. The new owners lived in it until 2005 when the house and its three plus acres were sold to a developer. Although recently extensively renovated, some of the natural charm of this magnificent house has been retained.
The Linthicum Train Station where the B&A Railroad began operations in 1887. Constructed in 1908 as a waiting station with a ticket window, an addition was added in 1921 and in 1930 the building was increased to its present size. After passenger trains ceased operation in 1950, the station became Linthicum’s first library in 1957 and later was used by St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church as a co-op nursery school. The building was renovated in August 1984 by owner, Kenneth A. Pippin, who has used it as his office headquarters. The station is a landmark in the community it once served.
Holly Run Chapel, built in 1828, is the first Methodist Protestant Church in the world. It is said that it was constructed with bricks from an abandoned War of an 1812 powder house, transported as ballast in a ship from England. In 1886 an addition created room for a semi-circular rostrum and a larger pulpit. An unknown itinerant German artist painted the walls and ceiling with beautiful stenciling. Artist, Ron Spencer later diligently reproduced this delicate stenciling, after the church was moved to its present location and again after lighting struck the church in 2004. The chapel is a testimony to the faith and devotion of the early residents of our community.
The Holy Cross Antiochian Orthodox Church was originally the second Methodist church in Linthicum. The cornerstone was laid on December 3, 1911. Its Romanesque design underscores the importance of religion in the community and the granite suggests an immovable faith and a bastion of belief. The church has been a home for many other denominations after the Methodists built a nearby larger church.
The Benson-Hammond Farmhouse is the last surviving historic farmhouse in northern Anne Arundel County and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is a 2 1/2-story, 19th century brick dwelling, constructed in the Greek Revival style. Thomas Benson built it as a two-story house around 1830 and enlarged it to its present size in the 1870's. The house and farm were sold in 1887 to the Hammonds and remained in that family until 1947 when it was purchased by Baltimore City to build Friendship Airport. The house was saved from destruction and restored by the Ann Arrundell County Historical Society. It serves as the society’s headquarters and as a farmhouse museum.
The GFWC Woman’s Club of Linthicum Heights’ Clubhouse, built In 1920, was a portable, mail-order building erected as the first St. John Lutheran Church. This was the church's home until a new church was built in 1950. Then the woman’s club purchased the building as their clubhouse. The building has been the temporary home of many other religious denominations and the community's first accredited kindergarten. Inside tour patrons will find an art show featuring local artists, the Centennial quilt (quilt raffle tickets will be available for purchase) and refreshments will be served.
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