CH-10 The Retreat 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 NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 7024-0018 (Rev. 8-86) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Registration Form This form is for use in nominating or requesting determinations of eligibility for individual properties or districts. See instructions in Guidelines for Completing National Register Forms (National Register Bulletin 16). Complete each item by marking "x" in the appropriate box or by entering the requested information. If an item does not apply to the property being documented, enter "NIA" for "not applicable." For functions, styles. materials. and areas of significance, enter only the categories and subcategories listed in the instructions. For additional space use continuation sheets (Form 10-900a). Type all entries. 1. Name of Property historic name Retreat (CH-10) other names/site number 2. Location street & number MD Rt. 484 Poor House Road) and MD Rt. 6 LJ not for publication N A city, town Port Tobacco vicinity state Maryland code MD county Charles code 017 zipcode 20677 3. Classification Ownership of Property Category of Property Number of Resources within Property [Kl private ~ building(s) Contributing Noncontributing LJ public-local Udistrict 2 1 buildings LJ public-State Usite ___ sites 0 public-Federal 0 structure ___ structures Oobject ___ objects 2 ---1 Total Name of related multiple property listing: Number of contributing resources previously N/A listed in the National Register 0 4. State/Federal Agency Certification As the designated authority under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, I hereby certify that this CXJ nomination D request for determination of eligibility meets the documentation standards for registering properties in the National Register of Historic Places and meets the procedural and professional requirements set forth in 36 CFR Part 60. In my o inion, the perty CXJ meets D does not meet the National Register criteria. D See continuation sheeb #'"" • ~-/6-ot:J --------~ Sig~e of certifying official Date 5'fATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER State or Federal agency and bureau Housin and Community Develo ment, Mar land Historical Trust In my opinion, the property D meets D does not meet the National Register criteria. D See continuation sheet. Signature of commenting or other official Date State or Federal agency and bureau 5. National Park Service Certification I, hereby, certify that this property is: D entered in the National Register. D See continuation sheet. D determined eligible for the National Register. D See continuation sheet. '":::J determined not eligible for the National Register. LJ removed from the National Register. D other, (explain:)--------- Signature of the Keeper Date of Action c_:.: .. ·c 6. Function or Use Historic Functions (enter categories from instructions) Current Functions (en~er categories from instructions) Single dwelling Single Dwelling 7. Description Architectural Classification Materials (enter categories from instructions) (enter categories from instructions) foundation __B_r_i_c_k _____________ Colonial walls Weatherboard roof Asphalt other ___________________ Describe present and historic physical appearance. DESCRIPTION SUHHARY: Situated on the north side of Md. Rte. 484, (Poor House Road), . 02 mile northwest of its junction with Md. Rte. 6, Retreat is a one story, clapboard sheathed, frame house basically ell-shaped in overall plan. The circa 1770 principal part of the house faces south-southwest and is of regionally traditional styling characteristic of its period, distinguished by a three-bay facade with an end door, and a high gable roof with peaked dormers. At one end stands a large double chimney of brick construction incorporating a flush, shed-roofed pent. Extending out from the rear of the house is a one story, gable-roofed, frame wing with dormers and an exterior chimney. The wing is attached to the main block by a narrow, low roofed, one bay hyphen. The room configuration of the original part of the house consists of a side-passage and off-set stair with two adjacent rooms, and two rooms at the attic level. Much of the eighteenth century woodwork of this part of the house remains preserved, including simple but bold mantles with applied fretwork, ceiling cornices, chair rails, window and door trim, raised panel doors, and blind paneled wainscoting lining the stairwell and the end wall of the hall. Two attic doors with fixed glass panes above four raised panels are an especially interesting interior detail. The rear wing, joined to the main hall by a narrow, board sheathed passage, contains two main rooms at the first floor and two attic chambers above. One of the first floor rooms features walls sheathed with flush beaded boards and exposed ceiling joists, while the adjacent room, now a modern kitchen, has exposed wall and ceiling framing. The wing, built circa 1800, originally stood off the chimney end of the main block and was moved to its present location circa 1910. A frame, pyramid-roofed meathouse, dating from the early nineteenth century and located near the rear wing, was moved here from another historic property in the county known as "Brent.land" in 1953, and is the only surviving building associated with that property. Retreat, approached by a private gravel road, is surrounded by cultivated fields, meadows and woodland, preserving its original agricultural and rural setting. [K]see continuation sheet for GENERAL DESCRIPTION NPSFonn 1~ (-) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number __7__ Page __1_ Retreat (CH-10) Charles County, Maryland GENERAL DESCRIPTION: Built on brick, English bond foundations, Retreat measures 30'-4" wide and 28'-3~" deep with a centered exterior chimney at the southeast end that is 16'-3" across at the base. The three-bay principal ele- vation includes a transomed entrance door to the left with two nine-over­ nine pane sash windows to its right. Above are two clapboard sheathed, gable-roofed dormers containing sash of six-over-six panes. The same arrangement of door, windows and dormers is repeated on the rear elevation, although the rear door, formerly exposed, is now covered by the hyphen connecting the main block and rear wing. The northwest end elevation of the house has £wo first floor windows of nine-over-nine sash and two smaller gable windows above. The dominant feature of the southeast end is a double chimney with two free-standing stacks, each having uneven, tiled weatherings. The chimney incorporates a flush pent with an unusually narrow shed roof. A small, two-pane casement window, centered in the chimney wall but not aligned with the pent roof, lights the interior chimney closet. Of Flemish bond construction at the base, the chimney masonry changes to common bond below the weatherings. Other more subtle changes in the brickwork suggest that the chimneys might ·have been partially rebuilt before the 1945 restoration of the house. An interesting and as yet unexplained feature of the chimney are two flat topped shoulders on the right side of both stacks. It is possible that these may have been intended to support the structural framework of an original wing. The northwest elevation of the wing is set back about 4-inches from the end wall of the main block, and is attached to the latter by a 7'-3" hyphen. The wing, approximately 32'-6~" wide by 18'-3" deep, is four bays wide on its southwest side. A door occupies the second bay from the northeast end and is sheltered by a small shed-roofed porch. Each of the end windows frame sash of six-over-six panes, while a narrower window to the right of the door is of four-over-four panes. The rear elevation has an off-centered door fronted by a small stoop and steps, and two windows of six-over-six sash. The partially exposed southeast elevation has a sin~le six-over-six pane window while the northeast end has an exterior chimney, 6'-10" wide at the base. The chimney is flanked by small, six-pane casement windows at the first floor level and two smaller windows in the gable. The wing was built on brick piers and has two gable-roofed dormers on the northwest side. The hyphen joining the two parts of the house was originally without foundations, its only support being the joining of its framing to that of the house and wing. It has a single window centered in its northwest wall and a centered door, now sealed, in its southeast wall. See Continuation Sheet No. 7.2 NPSFonn1~ Ot.18 /l<>prov• No TOU-0018 (Mel United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number __7_ Page __2_ Retreat (CH-10) Charles County, Maryland The front entrance door of the main block opens onto an ell~shaped hall, 9'-2" wide at the front and 15' wide at the back.