AL-III-C-143 Evitts (Evart's) Home Site
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: 12-11-2003 ,A1.--111-c....-14'3 Rocky Gap State Park MARYLAND HISTORICAL TRUST Evitts Home Site Evitts Creek Quad
INVENTORY FORM FOR STATE HISTORIC SITES SURVEY
HISTORIC Evitts Home Site AND/OR COMMON
fJLOCATION
STREET & NUMBER Rocky Gap State Park CITY. TOWN CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT VICINITY OF Sixth STATE COUNTY Maryland Allegany DcLAsSIFICATION
CATEGORY OWNERSHIP STATUS PRESENT USE _DISTRICT x_PUBLIC _OCCUPIED _AGRICULTURE _MUSEUM -BUILDING(S) _PRIVATE --.XJNOCCUPIED _COMMERCIAL )LPARK -- _STRUCTURE -BOTH _WORK IN PROGRESS _EDUCATIONAL _PRIVATE RESIDENCE _XSITE PUBLIC ACQUISITION ACCESSIBLE J{ENTERTAINMENT _RELIGIOUS _OBJECT _IN PROCESS _J(YES RESTRICTED _GOVERNMENT _SCIENTIFIC -BEING CONSIDERED _YES: UNRESTRICTED _INDUSTRIAL _TRANSPORTATION _NO _MILITARY _OTHER DOWNER OF PROPERTY
NAME Maryland Department of Natural Resources Telephone #: STREET & NUMBER Taylor Avenue
CITY. TOWN STATE I zip code Anna po 1is _ v1c1N1TY oF Maryland 21401
llLOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION Liber #: COURTHOUSE. Folio #: REGISTRY oF DEEDS.ETC. A11 egany County Courthouse STREET & NUMBER Washington Street CITY. TOWN STATE Cumberland Maryland II REPRESENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS TITLE
DATE _FEDERAL _STATE _COUNTY _LOCAL DEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS
CITY. TOWN STATE ~L-1JI·C-IV3 II DESCRIPTION
CONDITION CHECK ONE CHECK ONE
_EXCELLENT _DETERIORATED _UNALTERED _ORIGINAL SITE _GOOD _RUINS _.ALTERED _MOVED DATE. ___ _FAIR _ UNEXPOSED
DESCRIBE THE PRESENT AND ORIGINAL (IF KNOWN) PHYSICAL APPEARANCE The Evitts home site is located about 100 feet east of a trail which climbs Evitts Mountain on Rocky Gap State Park between Cumberland and Flintstone in Allegany County, Maryland. The site is situated near the top of the mountain on its southeast slope. All that remains is a clearing on a level area of the mountain side, a small depression in the ground surrounded by ruins of foundations and a hand dug well lined with stone. Near the house site are lengths of field stone fences running through the forest. Part of an early 19th century cast iron stove plate was found lying on the ground near the foundations. Trees that have grown up inside the stone fences appear for the most part to be 50-75 years old. The site is traditionally believed to be the home of the first settler in Allegany County whose name was Evart or Evitt. He supposedly came to this place in the 1730 1 s and the mountain upon which he settled has been named for him. The site now marked was obviously inhabited by someone who valued its remote location but nothing has been found at the present time to indicate that the site was occupied during the early 18th century. The only datable evidence is the fragment of the stove plate from the early 19th century and the age of the trees in the stone ~ fenced enclosures.
CONTINUE ON SEPARATE SHEET IF NECESSARY -II SIGNIFICANCE
PERIOD AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE -- CHECK AND JUSTIFY BELOW _PREHISTORIC __ARCHEOLOtiY-PREHISTORIC _COMMUNITY PLANNING _LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE _RELIGION -1400-1499 X-....ARCHEOLOGY-HISTORIC _CONSERVATION _LAW _SCIENCE _1500-1599 X-....AGRICULTURE -ECONOMICS _LITERATURE _SCULPTURE -1600-1699 --ARCHITECTURE -EDUCATION _MILITARY _SOCIAUHUMANITARIAN :j,.1700-1799 _ART _ENGINEERING _MUSIC _THEATER _ 1800-1899 _COMMERCE LEXPLORATIONJSETTLEMENT _PHILOSOPHY _TRANSPORTATION -1900- _COMMUNICATIONS _INDUSTRY _POLITICS/GOVERNMENT _OTHER !SPECIFY) _INVENTION
SPECIFIC DATES BUILDER/ ARCH ITEC.T
STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE The significance of the Evitts site lies in its representation of a lifestyle based upon remote conditions. It seems odd that someone would choose to live on a cold, windy mountainside farm when there was more fertile agricultural land available. Perhaps archeological work will reveal more about this piece of property. If it is land that was settled by Evitt then the site has additional significance as the home of the first known white settler in Allegany County. Further documentation is necessary, however, before the early origins of this farm site will be known. Attached is a copy of an excerpt from Thomas J. Scharf 's History of Western Maryland concerning "Evart the Englishman" and describing his supposed home site.
CONTINUE ON SEPARATE SHEET IF NECESSARY ~L-III --c -!~3
IJMAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES
CONTINUE ON SE~.ARATE SHEET l~ NECESS~Y IIiJGEOGRAPHICAL DATA ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY approximately 5 acres
VERBAL BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION
LIST ALL STATES AND COUNTIES FOR PROPERTIES OVERLAPPING STATE OR COUNTY BOUNDARIES
STATE COUNTY
STATE COUNTY mFORM PREPARED BY NAME I TITLE Paula Stoner ORGANIZATION DATE Preservation Associates, Inc. January. 1979 STREET & NUMBER TELEPHONE P. 0. Box 202 CITY OR TOWN STATE Sharpsburg Maryland
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 of individual property rights. RETURN TO: Maryland Historical Trust The Shaw House, 21 State Circle Annapolis, Maryland 21401 ( 301) 26 7-14 38
PS- 1108 .ALLEGANY COUNTY.
n of Mountains and 1 the uiountnin 11 ear the point 11here tht: sl.r"l
\V guide and weut in search 11f the spot where iL was said mer, co usil.ting ot' the father, mother, three sons. and rs EYart's cabin had ::tolJJ. 'l'ril\•eri'ing the side of the o daughter. "The daughter was accideutally drowned. it mountain now kn own ai:; "E''an's" or Evitt's Mouot:dn While returning with their ueigM111ra from the funeral, for some distance north of' the point where the turn- one of t.he boys riding behind his father and another
!'! pike leading from Hagerstown to Cumberland crofil!es behind the mother, they \l"ere fired upon by a party M11rtin's i\fouutnin, Gen. McKaig and his guide lef\ of fifteen Delaware [nuiani:;. The men of the party,
0 their horses, aad with much labo1· reached the top of fi,•e iu number, were nil killed, and Lhe ho~e on which c lhe lllothcr rode was killeu. The two boys nnd the 1 Tllo author i! intlelit\.'tl lo C:icu . '.r. J. ~foKaig, fur111erly of 010~her were captured. The moLher on the day after Cu1oherlond, ror the iorormntiuo contninod iu the 111.~<;rupn oy- ~ ing •k.:tcb of th~ dciivaLion ornam~ ur nwnntnins nnrl stroarus I the capture escaped, was retaken and murJered, ant.I in Alle:rany County. the t\~o Loys were hrought by theil' captors lo "Wills- Se ho.tf, .) ~11.S. f!r:Stoni <:i.f. Wes11'11l Ma~AM& . 'rh~t&. ~ (b!A.i., ft. fue.=ls. reR>z .
"'yd L( ~ f I /, f,yft" 1/c, , ~ :; le. ff 1id
Pa.lo~ P•••.,•olian At~
/I I
,01110 5,.,..., t•••"'vallon Auod:JI•
11U /J/-C-1 t/J
-- \
0rt ~ ' 6
t ovlo Stoo••
rro•~rvotton ~to~ '- u