K-12 River House (Smyth-Letherbury House, Denton-Weeks House)
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: 05-14-2004 fc"r 10-300 Ut<'1 1 ED ST A 1 E 5 DEPA P. NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM (Type:;,// cn/rlf.:s - cumplete applicablt> sC:ctions) -~ ------11. NAME j C ::cv.,..ON· l Denton House I~ er:~~: 0 R~C------1 ___ penton-1·;eeks House or River House Smyth-Letherbury House I ~CATION ~~------1 ~ 1 r:; £ E i t.. t...; 7"" t.i lJ ,,_.. f:: E R; l__l__ Q_I_ \;.§ t ~!:_§_tree t I ! CITY GF TC•·,....,: CCDE V'l ~, z I -- Oisttict Pu!ilic I _, ~ Sui !ding :.:x 0 .. ' ·n··· ""'' Pri..,cte '"''·:;":"::::::. -ilg Site I· Strvcture I:::J ~::::'.:'... I::;.~.~.~:."' - ! Objec• 1-1 Bo•h ~ Sei,,g Considered Z. p,eser..,..c11cn -erk C Unrestricted 1 I- ~ No l------~------~------I _J______l~--·-n_p_•_o_g_'_:~~ u ______.,.... u ~------~·-~ ------:::> (, c-. errrnent a:: Pri"ote Re~i-dence 3r Other (Specify) ____,-=_· ''"'''"'' j =Educot1:::rol 11.i I, tory __I Religious -----~T_·_o_~_·_p_o_·_·o_·_·_o_ntenanb=>d I -..,, \= Er.ier,c1~-en1 1 M •.:seurr 2 Scientific _ z 1;1. owr~ER0F"-F"20PE"Rn-- l ::;\·,r .. E F-... ~ :,, ,:...•."£ ::s: .. llJ > :State of Maryland, Maryland Historical Trust Ii ... ------~ w ,~11= __J.=11na!2_~~~~-- ______H • jMaryland 24 , 1 L5-~~c~~~-~~:~,~F~~:-~~;,o;~~J:1:~!?~ic-,------...;__\ ~ I i ol 1 Kent County Courthouse______~ ~i jsTqr::ET L".,':_ ?.;U"-"'UEF=..: !:::::l ~r : Courthouse ~CJ.re ______rT · i js1a1E CODE l· I i Chestertown ii Maryland 24 , l~~~EE!:~~:~~~N IN EXISTING SURVEYS ------nTl ! National Historical Landmark ______'_·_:~I ~l 8 c.:...,.E o~ 5·-·=vE". 197 ('\ V Federal --., S•ate . County , local ' i"'i J ~------""'"'------~' 1':·z~I .· ::iE~OSITCF<" FC;i:;: 5U~V£Y RECOB.DS: :::- ! § i ~! r\ational Historic ~andrnarks Proaram :: ;;; I I . ""I : u. s. De-::.artment of the Interior, Neitjona_l Park Service 101 I c T .... 0 ~ - :, "·~.I 1 Js~·."-C .------'-'-~F-\ ~Ji T•~ashi:r.sto~-- ______L_j j__ _ •• '[:J ~-,_-- ; c. ~:: c ~ : - •t. E t~ - O F -; ~ : · '• """." ~ P I :JR ., c' .. " '. 9 L:; =A::,.., ~E ;,.., f"I:::: ;.:an·:: anc _J I ~-~. 'T .~ t< A T I 0 N A L R E ':. - : ?. O F H I ST G i". IC P L AC E ~ I J:ent ______IN 'Y ~ ··-:-::.;.. ~ • N CW. It~ t... TI~;~ F 0 RM f--_ ,~ :;~s~;~~-°''+\-~;J ------·------l (,"'._~r..ter ittll ct,fric-6) l I I :..::,nton House I i I 1~6. REPRES!::KT.L.TION r:; ::..1.:::: STING Sl.J?.\7EYS continued I Maryland Pegiste!" historic sites and landmarks I 1970 State Maryland Histori~al Trust I Post Office Box 1704 Annapolis, Maryl2nd 21404 code: 24 I Historic .P~"Tierican Building Survey 1969 Federal Library of Congress Washington, D. c. code: 11 >. I I I I '------~__J (l of 4 continuation sheets) !-:HT .K-12 [?_:_ DE5CR~Ti_o~ - -- 1------_------~C.~~:i.-o-::;;------ 1 ! COND11 ION f c::__ __E:.:_~ ~- - - -~-~o~d __ ;J~~'-'_g_?•• 1 The existing five-bay long street facade is unique in Ches~ertown. It stands three full stories above a high baseffient, separated by a painted, molded stone ~ater table. The Flemish bond brickwork has a very narrow, convex, white mortar joint. Each window of the basement, first floor, and second floor is accentuated by a rusticated, painted stone, flat-arch with keystone. On the first and second stories, the window lintel keystones are double, and the central window keystone of the second story is molded and carved. Between rn the first and second stories is a plain belt course of stone, painted white. m Woo~ steps will ascend one flight to the central entrance,! z similar to t~e stoop design of the James Brice House, Annapolis~ Both the entrance door and reveals are paneled with molded I raised panels and are flanked by. plain Doric pilasters which 1 will support a full pediment. The outline of the original j pediment ~as revealed when the nineteenth-century porch was ! removed, thereby enabling an exact replica to be constructed. ; I I I Brick pilasters at the corners of the facade rise three I full stories from the water table up to the cornice and are 0 a feature of the facade. A less developed prototy~e is found at the headquarters building of the Kent County Historical z: Society on Church Alley, Chestertown. A rosette carved in a square panel is recessed in a stone block, between the· capital·of each pilaster and the main cornice. The cornice is a simplification of a Corinthian design with the modillions and plancers (the soffit of a cornice) carved above the capitals only; the carved plancers repeat the design of the rosettes below. On the river facade, the basement is at ground level, creating a full story. The Flemish bond brickwork is similar to that used on the street (west) facade. A nineteenth century photograph shows the design of a two-story porch ~hich· will be reconstructed. Brick piers will support the wood porch, supported by square columns from the first to the second floor and round columns from the second floor to the roof, a modified continuation of the main roof. A simple balustrade will extend between columns at both levels. () I SEE CONTINUATION SHEET L ______------EHT l~-12 ro•m 10-3000 ur111EG STATE~ DEPART'-'.ENT OF THE INTERIOR '.J~ly 19l9) l·A11011AL PJ.RK SERVICE t:~:ylandcour'" 1" ______~l NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES Kent INV EN TORY - NOf..~INA TIOI~ FORM -~-·------~ FOR NPS USE ONLY --E t~-1 _R'_'_' u_,,~ ~;Fe-_-_-_-, D ~-;~ - (Con~in:;ation Sheet) ------~------J ___ _ r Denton House i I #7. DESCRIPTION continued I l '; Doors to the interior from each porch level will be located i in the central bays. The ground level porch has a wide, diamond f chevron, batten door with original long iron strap hinges. The gable-ends were originally without openings except for a door at the basement level on the southeast; and two casement windows flanking the chimney in each end of the attic. Mt. Pleasant, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania~ has a first-floor plan with a central passage flanked by a single large room on the north and a smaller room and stairhall at the south ends. Each room is treated simply, having panele~, recessed interior l· shutters, a chair-rail, dentil cornice and plaster "alls. One original mantel repeats the dentil mold of the cornice. An i elliptical ~rch separates the stair from the passage of the t first and of the second stories, although the staircase extends to the at.tic. More elaborate rooms are located on the second story. Paneling from the "Chestertown Room'!. now installed in the Winterthur Museum, was originally in the northeast ioorn. The precedent for its intricate design has been compared with de signs in William Pain'fi The Practical Builder (1744) in a re port "The Chestertown Room at Winterthur" by John Snyder, Jr., a Winterthur Fellow. The two remaining rooms retain paneled fireplace walls and dado, reflecting the transition between the earlier Georgian and the Federal designs. : One original raised-panel wall remains on the third story in the southwest room; and a mantel with Chinese fretwork remains in the northeast room. Three small rooms with beaded board partitions were originally located in the three bays of the northeast (entrance)facade. The latter arrangement was also found off the kitchen in the basement. When restored, the basement will contain kitchen, dining and utility areas. The upper stories will be used as reception rooms and sleeping quarters. ------(2 of 4 continuation sheets) \ \ Kt.fT K-12 E- SIGNJFIC.1-.NC~------·------' lJ l61h Cenlu•y '.J{ l81h Cenlury OC 701h (en!ur y f I ~ 15th Century 0 17th Century ~J l91h ~er.!ury j SP[Cl:FIC :.:..t..TE'S1 (l/Aµplicnblr andl\nown) t c. 1784-87 I (Checlc Onr or A1ore as Appropriate) A.WC:A.S OF° SIGNIFICANCE 't Urban l Abor iginol Xl E d.;cotion 0 Political CJ Planning I 0 P1~historic 0 Engin~ering 0 Religion/Phi. 0 01her (Specify) 0 Historic 0 lndi.:stry lo•ophy I• I 0 Agriculture 0 ln"'~ntion 0 Science ~ Architecture ·o lcnd~cope 0 Scu1rture i Art F 0 Architecture Soc 10 I/Human- XI ~ Cc.:r.rr,crce literature I ;::] 0 ito1 ion Cc,"nmunicctions I 0 0 Mili1ary [J The al er r· Co ... :.er..,otion Cl 0 M\..•SiC 0 Tronspcr!olion t i' f r The affluence and influence of the combination college town on a navigable river is exemplified by the architecture I of the Denton House, a waterfront residential property. I z I r The first professor of law (1791) at Washington College I ! a (foended 1752) was a former resident in the house and recently l Miss Frances Denton, the former executive secretary to r- J Colonel Edward House (1858-1938), advisor to President i u i\oocrow Wilson. ::::> a:: The house is known in Chestertown for its local architectural excellence. A ·room from the house was recog , i I- nized by Mr. Henry Francis DuPont as worthy of being moved r to i.·;interthur. z The Denton House stands on parts of "water lots" number 12 and 13 of the original plat of Chestertown. John Tennant w and Jude Clarkson were the first known grantees.of the two L!.J lots. In 1736 and 1737, William Timbull, a Barbados merchant, purchased the two waterfront lots from Tennant and Clarkson. At the time of his death, William Timbull had built a house on the lots, as recorded in the legal transactions after his death in the Barbados in 1741. By petition to the General Assembly of Maryland, legal title was granted in 1784 to Eleazer McComb. Upon his legal acquisition of the property, he irr~ediately sold it to Thomas Smyth. Thomas Smyth (1729-1819) was one of the wealthiest mer chants of Chestertown and Kent County prior to and just after the Revolution. He was Judge of the Court for Kent County (1757-1769), a member of the Maryland Conventions of 1774 through 1776, signer of the Association of Freemen in 1775, and ~ember of the Council of Safety for the Eastern Shore in 1775-76. During the Revolution, he was actively involved in securing supplies for the continental army. Thomas Smyth owned the property for two and a half years and ther. sold it to his son, Richard Gresham Smyth, who held it for only nine months before he deeded it to Peregrine J 0 Letberbury. SEE CONTIKUJ..TION SHEET __ _ >c-m 1C-:''.lcc L"•'T~D $Tt.Tf~ DEPt.F\T!JfNT OF THE i"'TfRIOR 'J.lr '.\0~9; t.t-11'.)r•AL PAi NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY. NOll.INATION FORM (Cuntinu:ition Sheet) (l\'urr.l,,~r atJ enftlt&) Denton House #B. SIGNIFICANCE continued The purchase price for the property ~as unchanged from 1784, when Thomas Smyth bought the property, tc the time it was sold to Richard Smyth. However, in 1787, Letherbury paid h 1200 current money, an increase of b 900 over the original cost of b 300. Considering the value of the pound after the Revolution and the family relationship between Thomas and Richard Smyth, it is possible that the present structure was constructed during the Smyths' ownership. If not, it was con structed by Peregrine Letherbury, after his purchase on July 19, 1787 . ._ Peregrine Letherbury practiced law in Chestertown, and was the first p.rofessor of law (1782-1801) at Washington College. He, as we~l as Thomas and Richard Smyth, contributed to the founding of ~ashington College in 1782. Letherbury served as Secretary, and later President, of. ·the Board of Visitors and Governors of the College. In 1776, and again in 1779, he had been elected to the General Assembly of Maryland. After the Revolution he was actively involved-in Masonry and in 1791 was elected Grand Master of the Maryland Masonry for one year. After his death in 1801, the house was left to his daughter Mary, who later married Doctor George Washington Thomas, a physician in Chestertown. Mrs. Thomas had no children and upon her dea~h in 1849 she devised the property to Peregrine Letherbury Wickes and provided for his education. After gradu- - ,. ation from-Princeton in 1856, he studied law with Severn Teakle Wallis, a·very prominent barrister of Baltimore. He settled in Chestertown and later moved to York, Pennsylvania, his wife's home. He then sold the house to his brother, Ezekiel Cha.."Ttbe_r s Wi ekes, al so a lawyer. In 1877, the house was purchased by .Mary Elizabeth Willson Brown, granddaughter of Thomas Smyth. During her ownership, the building was used as a school for girls. From then until 1938, the property passed to various local families, until Miss Frances Denton, former private secretary to Colonel Edward Eouse (1858-1938), advisor to President Woodrow Wilson, purchased the property. Upon her death in 1948, she bequeathed the property to her niece, Miss Marion Weeks. Prior to Miss Weeks' death in 1968, she deeded it to the Maryland Historical Trust to secure its future preservation. Upon the Completion of its restoration, it will be rented as a private home, to be 1 o~~ned_to t~e__ public five tim~s annually. ______J (3 of 4 continuation sheets) HHT }~-12 MAJOR BIBLIOGR!-.PHICAL REFERENCES R~corder: Michael Bourne, Field Surveyor, Maryland Historical I Trust, Annapolis, Maryland, November 1970. I Hall of Records, Annapolis, Maryland: Deeds, Wills, ' Revolutionary Papers. I Kent County Courthouse, Chestertown, Maryland: Wills, Deeds. I SEE CONTINUATION SHEET Gt GE_S>GRA?Hl_S~L D_A TA-~=-~~-==--- ______J.,•.c LO'·L.tT'-J::)E. COCIRDlt.rA.1ES -. LATITUDE Ar .. o LCNGllUCE COOFID!NATES j ~ L~Tl1'UDE I =EFJNlr-.;G J.. S:.OECi'Lt .. GLE L0C/.."T1".JG THE i~HCPEh.TY j 0 DEFl'"..:ING THE CENTER FOINT :>FA. ~F-..OPE.RTY t' ;·=,. ~:~r.:~t:·,~·:,, =.~ ...~~.;:'..T,'.: .. :~ R ;·;·~ ~~'.~:.~:~~~~~~." ·:~~·~ ,':.7~:·": :':·:·~:1 1 SE ;~-~------'------'----'------'------~=-F1:0Xl""""ATE 1-.._c~EJ...G=--OF N:-)M1,...ATEU PFi:CPERTY:___ lL4_ gcre______, i:._15-- ALL 5-..A-E5 .t."'D COUNT•ES FOR T=ROPERllES OVERLAPPING STATE OR COt.:NTY SOUNDAR•E:.5 STATE: CODE COUNTY m I m I -- ISTATEo CODE COUNTY: z 1 ISH>L CODE COL NTY: I!>T ... TL CODE CO:....JNTY: -! -=:j __: ;o ------~--J~OO< I I 11. FORM PREPARED BY ~------c 11..:.:.. ...·E Ar..:o 1'"1T:....E: i !.'.!Is. Preston Parish, Keeper of the .F~aryland Register n r------~------J Of'G.C..NIZJ..T•(.:~ -! Maryland Historical Trust 22, 197 ------~------~----- J~~"~.~--- JI STF>:EET L.NO l'...U~~eEP 0 Post Office Box 1704 I z CITY OR TOWt.:· ~TATE coc E I \ k."1napolis I Maryland I ST AT E LI A 1SON 0 f FI CE R C ER TI FICA I I O_:_N____ _El\ _____:_N_A__:_T_:_I O_N_A_L:::_R_E_G_l _ST_E_R_V_E_R_. _IF_l_C_A_T_I O_N ___ --; I 1 ht'reby certify th;it this property is included in the t1onol Hist unc Prc-<-er.,.a: 10n A ct of J U··6 (Puhl 1 c J .;;w I ~o:ional Rei-'.ister. eve:il".Ja~t-d eic(.ord1n~ !o tl'-.e cntc-r>.n Late ATTEST: Orlando Ridout IV T111., State Liaison Officer for !·~aryland D&.tt' JAN 2 8 1971 0 -=------~-:HT !~-12 ------, J:' c: f,,, , : . J.:: 0 LJNITED 51 ATES DEP.t.RTl.l.ENT OF THE JNIERIOR STATE I . (J.I, 1;t~ 1 N.t.1 IONAL P.t.RK SERVICE INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM _ _Y~n1=.______---i • _____"GR N~~~~l Y -~ ENTRY "'L'".•OER -~A.T:_j _ _ (Cc~~inu.'."ltion Sheet) _ ---==--=-r=-=-J F------1 "" """'"" Denton House #9. REFERENCES continued Schultz, Edward T., History of Freemasonry in Maryland, J. H. Medairy & Co., Baltimore, 1884, Vol. I, p. 396. }. "History of Washington College," Vertical Files, Washington I College Library, Chestertown, Maryland. Biographical Cyclopedia of Representative Men of Maryland and the District of Columbia, National Biographical Publishing Company, Baltimore 1879, p. 424. "The Smyth family," Vertical Files, Enoch Pratt Library, Baltimore, Maryland. -· Snyder, John, Jr., "The Chestertown. Room, Winterthur," paper writ ten .r-~ay 19 69, Winterthur ·Museum, i·hn terthur, Delaware. Maynard P. White, 107 South Mill Street, Chestertown, Maryland; interviews. .. .. Denton House is located in. the First Congressional District of Maryland. I -- --- _J (4 of 4 continuation sheets) ~. l"L '~ 1~..i..vVL HoUA.e (,ftV1-l:.vd_own public: friaA..~ Hi.A.toAf.cal J/lllAi:.. 7?..i..vVt HoUAef iA a f-i-n.e example at tlwlie ~ bui..U D!f p/W/ipVLVUA. mvz.cf.aniA ot the ei..fPd..eeni:A c~ f_,.n.ected ..i..n Me 1:;80 1 JJ.. p.lti.tJ.11. to [he/if.Vt townlJJ.. declute a/i a pod ..i..n fa.volt ot Ba.LlirwA.e., il ex..empli.f-i-V1 th~n of i.lvd the We yev~ to Jed.V!P-l ~ 'Jhe /iow.,_e ku been cvmple:le.4J 1tVlfoA..ed. 1-nAi.de and ou.i. J Ae ex...i.A.iinfr f-i-ve-ba!f litlteei.. fa.ca.de iA wU. noA.ihea,tj;f_ JWOm. Jhe hoUA.e iA ..i..n !iple.ndi..d condition and iA opened pVt..i..oc/lcalLv- to the ;pblic. £.tfSeA'JerJl MARYLAND HISTORICAL TRUST INVENTORY FORM FOR STATE HISTORIC SITES SURVEY HISTORIC Denton-Weeks House or Denton House AND/OR COMMON !liver House llLOCATION · STREET 6 NUMBER 107 Vater Street CITY, 10WN CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT Cboatertawn - VICINITY OF First STATE COUNTY 1149"land Kent BcLASSIFICATION CATEGORY OWNERSHIP STATUS PRESENT USE -DISTRICT XPUBUC ~CCU PIED -AGRICULTURE _MUSEUM ..%aulLDING(SI _JtRIVATE -UNOCCUPIED -COMMERCIAL _PARK -STRUCTURE - BOTH - WORK IN PROGRESS -EDUCATIONAL X...PRIVATE RESIDENCI _SITE PUBLIC ACQUISITION ACCESSIBLE -ENTCRTAINMENT _RELIGIOUS _OBJECT _IN PROCESS 1..YH RESTRICTED _GOVERNMENT _SCIENTIFIC --8EING CONSIDERED - YES UNRESTRICTED _INDUSTRIAL _TRANSPORTATION -NO -MILITARY LOTHERtenanted iioWNER OF PROPERTY NAME Maryland Historical Trust Telephone t : STREET1i NUM11ER 2525 Riva Road CITY TOWN STATE , zip cOde Annapolis - VICINITY OF lid. i!i-62&- .LOCA'l'ION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION Liber t : EJ.YP 26 COURTHOUSE Folio 1:7 REGISTRY OF DEEDS.ETC. Offic e of the Clerlc STREET 6 NUMBER Kent County Court House CITY. TOWN STATE Chestertgwn Id • • REPRESENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS TITLE Nationd Historic Landmark DATE 1970 DE'°81TORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS l1ational Historic Landmarks PrQfQ"IJD CITY. TOWN STATE U.S. Tiepartment or the Interior, National Park Service Washington, D.C. II DESCRIPTION K-tt- CONDITION CHECK ONE CHECK ONE _ EXCELLENT _DETERIORATEO J DESCRIBE THE PRESENT ANO ORIGINAL (IF KNOWN I PHYSICAL APPEARANCE Located within the are~ designated as a National Hist~ric Landroa.rk in Chestertown, River House is on the soi1thea.st side of Water ...;Dteet betvr~Pn M'aple ,:..venue anti High Street on a pa.rt of Tmm tat 12. The existing five-bay long Sweet facade is uniqi.:.e in Chestertoon. It stand$ three full stories ab:JVe a high basement; separated by a painted, molded stone water table. The Flemish bond brickwork has a very narrow, convex, white mortar joint. Each window of the basement, first .floor, and second l'l.oor is acconvuated by a rusticated, Da:i.nted stone, • flat-arch with keystone . On tllle first; and second stories, the ;.·inclow lintel keystones are double, and the cent.r Q wi.'1da:·1 keystone of the second story is olded and carved. Betweon t.he first and second stories is a ,1a.i..n belt ccur&e of stone, pair.it ed ·Jhi.t"". ' B~ick pilasters at the cornP.rs of the £acade rise t!Jree full stories rr~m the water table UF to the cornice and are a ~eature or the facade. A less 1eveloped prototype is founc at the headquarters buil ding or the Kent County Historical Society on Church Alley, Chestartown. A rosette Car'red.in a square panel is recessed in a stone block, between the capital of each n·laster and the main cornice. The c~rnice is a si!Tl')l ification of a Corinthian des'i..gn w.i.th the "'lodilli-,ns and p'.}.ancers (the soffit of a. cornice) carved above t;he capitals only; the carved plancf"rs repeat the design of tha rosett es below. On the river facade, the basement is at ground 13vol, creating a full stor.r. The Flenish bond bricl~wark is similar to that used o!'I the street (t-·est) facade. The nineteenth century photograph shows the design ?f a two-st1Jcy porch whi ch was raconi:;tructed. arick piers s1.ip port the wood porch, supnort.ed by square columns fron the first to the sec.:.>nd iloor and round columns from the second floor to the ro,f, a modified ~1ntinuatinn of the 'llB.in roof. -~ sim le b-..lustrade ext.ends be tween columns at both lGvels. no~rs t;o the interior from each porch level are loc,;red in the central bays,. The eround level. porch has a uide, diamond chevron, batten do)r with orieinal lone iron strap hinges. '!he gable ends were or7ginally without openings exoept for a door at tho basement level ~n the southeast and two casement windows flanking the chimney in each end of the attic. Mo •• Pleasant, Philadel phia, Pennsylvania, has a first-i1.oor plan vtlth a central passage f l anked by a single large room 011 the north and a mnallcr rr.> m :ind stairhall at the south ends. ~ach room is treated simply, hav:ing paneleo, recessed interior shutters, a chair rail, dentil c'>rnice and plaster walls. One original mant13l repeats the dentil mol d of the cornixe. An elliptical arch seuarateG the stair from the paasa"e of the first and of the second stories, ali;!-Jougb ·the staircase ex+..ands to the attic . nore el aborate rooms are l ocated on the second story. Paneling .trorri the 11 Cheste ~town Roomtt now inst.alled in the m.nterthur '>vfuseum, was originally in the northeast roani . The prece dent for its intricate design has been C'Jl'llnared with designs in William Pain 1 s ..!'.!!! CONTrNUE ON SEPARATE SHEET IF NECESSARY ( ~ont · nued) II SIGNIFICANCE PERIOD AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE •• CHECK AND JUSTIFY BELOW _PREHISTORIC -ARCHEULUClY·PREHISTORIC _COMMUNITY PLANNING -LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE -RE UGI ON -1400·1499 -ARCHEOLOGY· HISTORIC _CQ,.SERVATION -LAW _SCIENCE _1500-1599 -AGIUCULTURE -ECONOMICS -LITERATURE -SCULPTURE -11100·, 1199 X-ARCHITECTURE -EDUCATION _Ml UT ARY ~SOCIAIJHUMANITARIAN X1100-1199 -ART _ENGINEERING _MUSIC _THEATER -1800-1899 _COMMERCE _EXPLORATIONtSETTLEMENT _PHILOSOPHY _TRANSPORTATION _1900. _COMMUNICATIONS _INDUSTRY _POUTICSIGOVERNMENT _OTHER ISPECIFYI _INVENTION SPECIFIC DATES 17801 8 BUILDER/ARCHITECT tmknown STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE ...'\ . . .. : ' ' J • , ,,, i "" ~.. ~ 01 . ~ J ...: -. .. ,_ .,,' d, • c. .. ' : River Houe is a fine example of thoso dwellings built by prosperous Merchants of the eighteenth century. Erected prior to Cheatertown'3 declioe as a port in ravor or Ba1timore, it exemplifies the transition or the late Georgian to Fecjera1 style in American architec ture. 'l'he ho:>Use is known in Maryland .for its architectural excellence. Paneling from the roan was removed to Henry Francis du Pont 1 s Winterthur Museum where it was incorporated into the Chestertown Room. · .u1e first professor of law (17191) at Washington College (founded 1752) was a form.er resident in the house as was M1ss Frances Denton, the former executive secretary to · Colonel Edward House (1858-1938), advisor to President Woodrow Wilson. The Denton House stands on parts or "water lots" number 12 and 13 of the original plot of Chestertown. John Tennant md Jude Clarkson were the first grantees of the tvo lots. In 1736 a.nf 1737, William Timbrill, a Barbados merchant, purchased the two waterfront lots from ennant and Clarkson. At the ti"'le or his death, William Tinibrill, • :B.eellel!I 11teiaeRa1",, ~ltall8fi ~ '- had built a house on the lots, as recorded in the legal transactions after his death in the 'Barbados in 1741. By petition to the General Assembly of Ma_ryland, legal title was granted in 1784 to Eleazer McComb. Upon his legal acquisition or the property, he immediately sold it to Th omas Sm;yth • . Th::imas Srey-th (1729-1819) was one of the wealthiest merchants of Chestertown and Kent County during the Revolutionary p3I'iod. He was judge of the Court of Kent County (1757-1769), a member of the Marvland Conventions of 1774 through 1776, signer or the Association of Freemen in 1775, and m~mber or the Co ncil of Safety for the Eastern Shore in 1775-76. During the Revoluti~n he was act1vely i nvolved in securing supplies for the continental arJl\Y• Th".Xnas Smyth 01med the prooE'\rty for two and one half years and then sold it to hie s ~n, Richard Qresham Smyth, who he1d it for only nine months before he deeded it to Peregri ne JAath~rbury. 'The purchase price for the pro,..orty was unchan39d rran 1784, when Thomas .3myth bought the property, to t he t i-.e it was sold to Richard Srrvt;h. However, in 1787, Leatherbury ~d lJ.200 current 111:>ney, an increase of 9a 1!900 over the original ;,300. Considering ) value of the pound after the Revolution and the family relationship between ThJmas and Richard Smrth, it is possible that the present structure was constructed durj_ng the Seyt;h 's ORRership. I£ not, it WiiS constructed by Peregrine Lether bury, after his purchase on auly 19, 1787. (continued0 CONTINUE ON SEPARATE SHEET IF NECESSARY l<-tv llMAJOR BIBUOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES Hall of Records, Annapolis, Md.: Deeds, wills, Revolutionary papers. Kent County Courthouse, Chestertown, Md.: Wills, deeds. Schultz, Edward T• '!Jistary or !o"'reemasonq ,1!! "Jaryland, J .H. "~eda.iry and Co., Balti ore, 188h, Vol. !; ""~· 396. qistory or Washington College, Prtical Files, Washington College Library, Chestertown. CONTINUE ON SEfAMTE SHEET IF NECBSSMY (~i"'&"'} llfJGEOGRAPHICAL DATA ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY ----'4i~ac.... ri..ii;eL--_ VERBAL BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION Beginning on the SOilth side of the pavement on the south side of Front ~reet at a point apposite to and on a line with the center of a brick wall standing on a part or the 111.vision line between the lot formerly ot M.J. Fleming and this lot or land and runrii~g thence with said side or said Front street in a southwest course 84 feet 5 inches to a point opposite the center of the ally between the house standing on this lot and the residence formerly or the late C.L. lynson and running from thence w:ttb the center of the alley and the center or a brick wall b•+HPeu +b:tlstitL \'i1filN~eb02ffrrtifi iiio~;,11H?>teit:i1SPti!lttrt8R~ Bnf»Jrl41iufteaee with ~V,1\.ter River to the center of the said ~9,ttween this lot and the lot f'ormerJ.L of M.J. Heming, thence with the center of said wart to the lire of tivision to the beginn;~ COUNTY ---- mroRM PREPARED BY l\IAME I TITLE Michael Bourne--recarded by Robert Neill Historic Site Surveyor ORGANIZATION DATE Marvland Historical Trust/r ....wn ot Chestertown Julj', 1976 STREET 6 NUMBER TELEPHONE CITY OR TOWN STATE 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 infringe ment 6f individual property rights. RETURN TO: Maryland Historical Trust The Shaw House, 21 State Circle Annapolis, Maryland 21401 (301) 267-1438 .... I IOI Description (continued) ~~ctical Builder (174u) in a report "The ChestArt:wn Room at 1~interthur" by John Snyder, Jr., f · interthur Fellow. The two remaining rooms retain paneled fireplace wal~s and dado, reflecting the transition between the earlier Georgian and the Federal designs. one original raised panel wal.l remains on the third story in the southwes~ room;. anti a man tel wi.th Chinese fretwork remains in the northeast roor.i. Three small rooms with bee. led board partitions were origina11y located in the three bays of the northwest (entrance) facade. The latt.er arrangement was also found off the kitchen in the basement ~11hi ch contains kitchen, dining and utility areas. The upper stories are used as reception rooms ~nd sleeping quarters. Significance (continued) Peregrine Letht>rbury practiced law in Chestertown, and was the .first professor of law ~ (1782-lfJOl) at Washington Coll13 r,e . He, as well as Thomas and Richard S'Tlyth, contribu:tJed to the founding of Washington College in 1782. Letherbury served as Secretary, and later President, of the Doard of Visitors and Governors of the College. In 1776, and again in 1779, he had been elected to the General Assembly of Maryland. After the :levolution he was actively involved in Masonry and in 1791 was elected Grand Master of the M..1.IJ·land Masonr.r for one yea.r. After his death in 1801, the house was left to his daugher, Mary, who later :married Dr. George Wa3hington Thomas, a. physician in Chestertown. Hrs. Thom® had no children and upon her death in 1849, she devised the property ~o Peregrine Letherbury Wickes and provided for his education. After graduation frJm Princeton in 1856, he studied law with Severn Teackle WalH.s, a very prominent barrister of Baltimore. He settled in Chestertown and ('-4-tcr ~oved to York, Pennsylvania, his wire ' s home . He then sold the house to his brother, !dal Chambers Uickes, also a llwyer. In 1877, the house was p 1trchased by Mar.f Elizabeth Willson Brmm, granddauP'hter of Thanas S:eyth. During her 01-mership, the building was used as a school .for gtrls. From then until 1.938, the prop~rty passed t.o various local fa.mi.lies, until Kiss Frances Denton, former private secrr.i tary to 'Jolonel Edward buse (1115'9-19JR) advj sor to President Woodrow Wilson, purchaced the prop0 rty. Uoon her ~ eath in 1948, she bequeathed the prop~rty to rer niece, ~liss Jfarion W;"'.eks . Prior to ltiss Week's death in 1968, she deeded i.t to the "4arvland P; storical Trust t0 -secure its future preservat ·on. Mr. and ·:rs. Karl ..iller now oc~upy the home in return for a contribution toward its restoration. River House is pnriodi~ ally or.>ened to the public. Bibliography (Continued) · Biographical Cyclopedia of Represent~tive }1en of Mazyland and ~ District 2£. Columbia, National Biographical Publishing CoMpany, Baltirnore,W79, Pi 424. 11 The Smyth I<'amily," Verticl Files, Enoch Pratt Library, Baltimore, Md. Snydor, t199811ty.l'.John, Jr. 11 The Chestertmm Room, Winterthur, 11 paper wri 1,ten Hay, 1969 Winterthur Museum, Winterthur, Delaware. ?-favnard P. Whi ta, 107 South Mill Street, Chestertown, Maryland; int?rviews. ' / .-----. -- .----1 ' I I I I ~ kf +. I I L_ ~·- -·.. - .. - ...... -· ·-- - ·-·-.. ---- ... ~ - - - ... .. --- -- ...------~ _,__...,..__,___ -... ..,,,,.,.-.... ------·- - ...... -... ---.....-. --- .) ....,, lJ [ ' - 1 lcc\ ., l-- .. i. I ~--:I _J ·- _-J IX..:'_:-___. .. .. - .. . .. - -· -.- .. --~::.- ·...... I ..• t , ..r ... ;• :~ ,- ~ -. ,... . \ . I . ' . . . ~ '\, , ... , . . - . . . I"' --·· l .• . ··~. ,, ~ :...... _ ,,_:~· -:--. :- --- ~1 ~~ ~·~ ···· I r .. . . -- I __ t_ ...____ ------.. ,...... _,,,._. _ _.... ---- ...... ,"' . \ . .. ,. ·... . ~ ·- . . . ..' ' . : . . . '· ·- . . . .. : l fZE F'u :-···-·--·-·-.- f\r\/ :r~r,r/... ,( ,i~ ~ F I I * • .• ' ., ·11 ,• ;• 1 • • 1 • · ' ...... --- - - _ ___. 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From the wind~ws of the house was a speldid view of the river and the Many ships which sailed between Chestertown and England, the West Indies, and the northern colonies. From Museum Guide to Winterthur in the Spring 1964 • .. ,, • . . --~-----...... :-""' .. .-· ~·....._ ...- ...... - ~-...<..t... ~ • 'n.r 1rv··,(/\rv ·, , . . 11 II " I ' r . .. I I I lj '• I I I , ! 1- I ., ' I . • • I I 1' I I • • • I ::i 'I (. . 0 'i ? ~ : • \ i ' t ID ! .•. 11 i . .. I i . I i· '( ., ' ,• , .... I ' - I ,\ I . . I , . · • I' 'i : • ,, ,. . ; . . I 1 .. fi I .! I :·· ' . I I • : ; . . ,. ·' ., . ·1 I I • I : .. ' • • • I J I : J l .. ·• ' " ·-., "! 1, \ • • I 11 .1 .. I : .. ' i Ii ..I GUf_S1 DED 1; " . ' or,:::i ;:; ·.· . ., W t\l-LP"-- ST f~ t .. ::i rID ...... ---#------··----·-- . rt 0 U -S [ BU \ L\ \ N \ -l 7~ L HOMt; OfZ .Ml// fkf-..H(.f/ e:,_. 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""( "" ., ~rr· · :1 • rf''''i• 1-•,;< ~.. , -...1• l '"" .a.. }r ••• ... .c • .I ...... ,. 1 ... .. • •• ' .. ~!1 ! ·-::p .· 7I , · ~--·. •• J ~,._ ' 1: I .· ~ / . '· "m"" < 1 'Z ::0 !l !l !l •"'! 1. I .-i ii 11 ·'.. t : ~ ' .. I ~ . I / I ~. ~ ...... I I ...____ ...... -·· t ·--- ·- -- -- r- ~j\ - --.,, .• ,.n ... ,/ / z / 0 -- z - . . ( J FOODS ~::-w) \ !=AR/\1 \ I 1-· --~ ri \ ~- I•".;: .~ .··/ .· ·.· / ·'., I \ ,, 'I ' 'l ,, ; / .... - /2.. MD. HISTORICAL TRUST BOX 1704 ANNAPOLIS, MD. 21404 ~----- K/2 ., ,- ( , .HtSTONC AMERICAN BUILDINGS SURVEY (Library of Congress Negative) j~c.i'. c. ~att c./. t!. Y- ,,Photographer Date .. k1c1e. ' 19~ g-12 'De rrf-on w I.' ( ~ J #v ._, J ~ 3 r ')i -\ / o or~ So vf ht a..J+ r()-'¥"n -:s ,T, irJ.,, :S,,.. \ o/?.. 1. (6 er K-/V- K-1-z. nef7 t i'>n - (rJ e e I ~ f~ ~f~ Z 'l ~ f Io or t,.c.1e J.; o e ~, ~~,.,.;-..., 3T. w. .:r V'" I i>/-z. z /f>CJ k' - /.:<_ XJ I -.- ,,-:-- ,-; J. I. W, ..J~ - ...... K-/V 2 , ~o 7" ~ ·J ~--'<=== .. k- /Y- \ IC " \ ~1 ""'~~ . ~ ) ~ G 4' ~ J)F,VTIJA} - /OE£~ Hoo~~ K-JY ~ 1'~ ~ ~ I ~· ' ~~l ~ ~ '! '" ~~l ~ ._ ~s "\J \J ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ 0 ~ " ~ ~ 4' '( ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~·~ 1 ..... ' h.. e~ ~ ~ l( Q ~ -~ ·~ ltt ~ 4t' ~ .z. z.~_ "'i"e> .J, T w,T,e ~ 1 PJ-1ft! /Vo' trn '' "..J ~ 1;1-'- fl" ..:J (ti 1 :Y0"7:;1 cv .:? __· ~O" -~~ '1 \ ') J / 'R1veR H-ou..~e - l<-tz I 3- I -. I '3- I ~ti ·o~ •snod'dNN"' \-Olt )(09 isnlll ·w~tcOlS\H ·o\1 . ' ~ J .::. ' ~ ~ 1 ' f ------r...--:az.:- - \ \ \ I \ I I i-1z. 111.u \:\no~ _ . \rJ.N\ r<'· _I" ...... ,'7..... \l.\J.""'- 11~ - ~~h"\ -1\J.\t K-12 Kent County River House-Denton House