AA-144 Summer Hill 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: 06-11-2004 e<>. o1c.t4 l'{O ti Form 10-300 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR STATE· (Rev. 6-72) NATIONAL PARK SERVICE COUNTY· NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM FOR NPS USE ONLY ENTRY DATE (Type al 1 entries complete applicable sections) COMMON' 1--~-;i.!Jmn~r-1lill _____________________________________________________________ _ AND/OR HISTORIC' f2. ~OCATIO_N_~--~-------------------~-------~ J STREE-T AND NUMBER: I S011th si d; Maryl~rnd ~- ~ - ,.,, A CITY OR TOWN: CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 7;/.1 m;1,, e--,._ -J:: n~,·"' • 1 1 - F 011-rt-h STATE t CODE COUNTY: f CQL)t M~rvl <>n.-1 I ")A _, __ 1 I nnc: j3. CLASSJFICATION CATEGORY ACC ESSI BL E OWNE'RSHIP STA TU~ z (Check One) TO THE PUBLIC 0 Distrift. [)a Building 0 Public Public Acquisition: 0 Occupied Yes: 0 [_] Restricted 0 Site '- Q Str'-!.cture [ii Private O In Process IX] Unoccupied Being Considered [] Unrestricted 0 Object ~ 0 Both 0 0 Preservation work No in progress Ki I 1---------·-·--------''------------''------=~~~·~-------_._--------~------- PRESENT USE (Check One or More as Appropriate) 0 Agricu ltura I [l Government n Park D T ransportoti on '.=--~ Comments 0 Commercial 0 Industrial Ii-: Pri vote Residence 0 Other (Spec/ ly) -------- -- Educationa I Military [_l Religious 0 D ---- - - I 0 Entertainment 0 Museum 0 Scientific (4. z OWNER OF PROPERTY J !OWNER'S NAME, w ~,~ ~~-~~-~~~~~--:o~LJ(4.'l4.d·~u..,~··"'~---------I-~1 STREEe;,D N~~9J' J - '' 0 ## I' I~ w <mo" ;ow"' I """' L00d i n,,u; • ., · 11 p l\l.<1_ryl ,:inrl f;~ · l.._5-'.c;;...'°l..;:..OC-"-' .. _A_T_l_O_N_O_F_.:.:_~'""'~-G--'-A-'--L_D_E_S_:_C_R_IP_T_l_O __ N ________________________ ----'jl--- ___j COURTHOUSE, REGISTRY OF DEEDS, ETC' I n: '- 0 c: 2 z1_, STREET AND NUMBER: <1l -< Church Cj rcle CITY OR TOWN: STATE Cct,f. --6 I'.: ,, c:... ~nnanolis Marvland 7d e--i-- l-6· -,~~flE:S~~TATIQ_N IN EXISTING SURVEYS -1 1 L-..;....;::,;:.~;....=:=;::~-"---'-..;_;;_::__;__-=:..:._:_:..:..~-=_;___;__ __~~-~·----~~~~~~----------------~--< TITLE OF SURVEY, j fTI I i Z I n ~ -< I) DATE OF ..,SURVEY' 0 Federal 0 State ;_ ;u [I Cooo" ~ ,-C~<;,-1 DEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS: '.:I~ rp V• !---------------------------- -- --- - -- r;; ~;~ STREET A.ND NUMBER: 0 7 CITY OR TOWN~ ---------------F,;l~--~l- ~ ~ 10 '---'--- AA-1Y1..1 p. DESCRIPTION (Check One) 0 Excellent [X] Good 0 Foir 0 Deteriorated 0 Ruins [J Unexposed CONDITION (Check One) (Check One) 0 Altered IX] Unaltered [l Moved IX] Originol Site DESCRIBE THE PRESENT AND ORIGINAL (if known) PHYSICAL APPEARANCEr Swruner Hill, located on the south side of Maryland Route 214, three quarters of a mile west of Davidsonville, is a two story, plus attjc, frame dwelling, five bays wide and two deep. To the east is a two story wing, two bays wide and two deep. The windows in both sections have six over six lights. On the main block the top edges of the five second story windows are even with the lower edge of the fascia boards. The scrolled brackets of the cornice fill the soffit and extend to v.·ithjn a few inches of the bottom edge of the fascia. The same brackets contjnuc along the barge and return. A similar treatment occurs on the wing although the brackets are not as elaborate. The entire house sits on a brick foundation of common bond, six courses of stretchers to each course of headers. The center double door on the north facade of the main bJock :~ has three panels in each door and is flanked by narrow vertical windows of four lights over a vertical wood panel. Surmounting the door and side­ lights is a six light rectangular transom. The south door in the central m hall h;:is six panels and is surmounted by a three light transom. Between m the second and third bays from the west a chimney pierces the metal roof on the north and another on the south sides. A third chimney pierces the north side near the peak at the east end. The kitchen wing also has an z inside end chimney on the east. -i In the central hall is a stairway that rises to the third floor attic. It has a heavy round newel and three heavy turned balusters per tread. ;o The scrolled decoration on the step ends continues along the seconJ and c ¥ third floor landings. West of the central hall are two parlors copnecteJ n "I.,>': " by large, panelled, sliding doors. Each room has an interior fireplace -i ';~ with a projecting chimneybreast with beaded edges. The grey marble fire­ . places ar.e early victorian in style, each with a round-arch opening, f · 0 ~\ .,, panelled spandrels, and a curved mantelshelf supported in the center hy ;1 ~i-.. ' z ~M_' •• large console. The door frames are molded as are the window frames. ~it ! ·, Each window also has a single horizontal panel beneath it. ~ ., ' The northeast room, on the other side of the stair hall, has a nearly identical fireplace, in black marble, with a shield-shaped plaque in place of the center console. The three fireplaces on the seconc.l floor are also marble, but very plain, with rectangular openings. ' The east wing may predate the main block. On the first floor arc Pr1c room and a '~tair hall with one chamber above. The stairs arc steep, with rectangular balusters and a ramped handrail. The six-panclle<l Joors in this section appear to be of older construction than those in the ma i 11 block. The vertical and horizontal rails are joinec.l with peggec.l, rnort isc­ and-tenon joints and have metal, hox 1ocks. One <loo-r-, in a<lc.li.::ion 1() till' metal~ lock, also has a wood, box lock. In the cellar under thi'. wi111•. i» a scaled fireplace on the e:ist wa 11. The chimney r i scs th r<lll)',h t lw t WP rooms above and emerges as an inside enJ chimney. - -- - --- -- - j ~-------·------- ------·· - I'· SIGNIFICANCE PERIOD (Check One or More as Appropriate) ''?.' ·~·~1"'~ 0 Pre·Columbion \ 0 16th Century [] 18th Century [] 20th Century D 15th Century 0 17th Century G'{j 19th Cen lury SPECIFIC DATEISI ([{Applicable and Known) circa 1840 AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE (Check One or More BS Appropriate) [l Abar iginol D Educoti on D Political Urban Planning D Pre hi sloric D Engineering [=1 Religion/Phi. IX' Other (Specif>·) D Historic 0 Industry losophy litig·1tion D Agriculture 0 Invent! on l) Science (X] Architecture D Landscape Cl Seu lpture ~ D Art Architecture D Socio I/Human- Commerce Literature 0 D itorion 0 Communications 0 Military 11 Theater Conservation 0 [J Music ["] Transportation STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE Sununer Hill is a typical Maryland farmhouse of the mid-nineteenth century. The exterior is in transition between mid-nineteenth century style, broadly derived from the Greek Revival, and an earlier style z derived from Federal-Georgian sources. The interior detailing 0 especially the marble mantle pieces and heavy woodwork place the house d~finately in the mid-century. The retarditaire appearance of the exterior typlifies the reluctance of southern Marylanderts to erect 1- structures following the most recent architectural styles. On the u interior, however, local builders felt free to use the most contcmpoL;r:; ::::> ornament. 0:: I- The tract of land on which Summer Hill stands was involved in on unusually high number of Chancery cases in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, contributing to the development of Maryland real property z law. In an 1849 decree the court ordered the division and sale of the property of John Beard, to settle his estate; 65 1/2 acres (that portion LU which had been assigned to the widow, Harriet A. Beard, as dower) was sold.. to James I. Gray, the probable builder of Summer Hill. l w V"I Summer Hill stands on part of a 1260 acre tract of land surveycJ for Richard Beard in 1663 and known as "Beard's Habitation." A 1698 Act of the Assembly defining the Anne Arundel-Baltimore County boun<lary referred to "Beard's Mill," and Richard Beard represented Anne Arundel County in the Assemblies of 1662 and 1663. Beard was the brother-in-law of William Burgess, a merchant whose vessels brought English settlers to Virginia . ., 1 George H. Stewart vs Harriet A. Beard, Chancery Papers 11185, Anne Arundel County, l-S47, Hall of Recor<ls, Ann;.ipolis, ~bryland. - -----·---------- - ·- - - ---- -- -- - " . .. ·' ' •. f 9. MAJOR B18LtOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES PRIMARY SOURCES Hall of Records, Annapolis, Maryland. Anne Arundel County Land :111d Probate Records. Chancery Records Inventories and Accounts Federal Direct Tax Assessment of 1798. South River Hundred, Anne Arundel County Hopkins, G. M. Atlas of 15 Miles Around Baltimore, Including Anne Arundel County, Marllan<l.