NFS Form 10-900 OWB No. 1024-0018 (Rev. M6) 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 "N/A" 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 ACOUINSICKE other names/site number CH-53 2. Location street & number Billingsley Road N/ALJ not for publication city, town Pomfret |_X vicinity state Mary land code MD county Charles code 017 zip code 20675 3. Classification Ownership of Property Category of Property Number of Resources within Property IYI private ITI building(s) Contributing Noncontributing I I public-local I district 1 1 buildings I I public-State [site ____ sites I I public-Federal I structure ____ structures I object ____ objects 1 1 Total Name of related multiple property listing: Number of contributing resources previously N/A listed in the National Register ___Q____ 4. State/Federal Agency Certification As the designated authority under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as a mended, I hereby certify that this [X| nomination LJ request for determination of eligibility meets the documentation star dards for registering properties in the National Register of Historic Places and meets the procedural and professional requir ements set forth in 36 CFR Part 60. In my opinion, theoroperty DO meets EH does not meet the National Register criteria. I _ I See continuation sheet. <^>t>fc*fz- ——— -, /7/6/*t-~ Sig^tdre of certifying official STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER Dafe State or Federal agency and bureau In my opinion, the property [ I meets LJ does not meet the National Register criteria. I_ I See continuation sheet. Signature of commenting or other official Date State or Federal agency and bureau 5. National Park Service Certification gaterea •>•" I, hereby, certify that this property is: j7\ entered in the National Register. [ I See continuation sheet. I I determined eligible for the National Register. I I See continuation sheet. I I determined not eligible for the National Register. I I removed from the National Register. I I other, (explain:) __________ of the Keeper Date of Action 6. Function or Use___________________________________________CH-53 Historic Functions (enter categories from instructions) Current Functions (enter categories from instructions) DOMESTIC/single dwelling____________ DOMESTIC/single dwelling_________ 7. Description Architectural Classification Materials (enter categories from instructions) (enter categories from instructions) foundation BRICK____________ Federal__________________________ walls ____WOOD roof _____ASPHALT other WOOD Describe present and historic physical appearance. DESCRIPTION SUMMARY: Acquinsicke is a rectangular, two-story, five-bay, clapboarded frame dwelling with one-story additions to each end. With a northeast-southwest axis, the house stands on brick foundations enclosing a full cellar, and its one-room- deep, central passage plan is repeated on both principal floor levels as well as the finished attic. A boldly corbeled chimney stack stands at each end of the building's gable roof, servicing fireplaces in the first floor, second floor and attic rooms. All of the existing exterior finishes are contemporary with an extensive post-1934 rehabilitation. On the interior, the building's original floor plan remains undisturbed, although most of the trim, including mantels and doors, reflect renovations that occurred in the mid-and late nineteenth century and the late-1930s; however, the main stair, which rises in four flights to the attic, and the mantel and the trim of its flanking alcove in the first floor north room are original. Other early features include some of the baseboards, most of the trim of the attic chambers, and all of the flooring except that in the first floor south room. As part of the building's late 1930s rehabilitation a one-story, gable-roofed, kitchen-service wing was added at the north end of the house. About 20 years later a one-story, semi-hipped roofed sunporch was built at the opposite end. Despite the twentieth century changes, the integrity of the eighteenth century portion of the house as it existed in 1934 has been preserved. A detached frame garage, built about 1940 or 1950, stands off the north end of the house and at a right angle to it. There are no other extant structures. Historic landscape features include a series of two terraced falls to the south and southwest of the house. Acquinsicke is easily visible from Billingsley Road, which borders the north side of the site. Although some vestiges of its original rural agricultural setting remain, the surrounding lands are the focus of increased residential development. K] See continuation sheet No. 1 For GENERAL DESCRIPTION 8. Statement of Significance_____________________________________CH-53___ Certifying official has considered the significance of this property in relation to other properties: I I nationally I I statewide fxl locally Applicable National Register Criteria I |A I IB fxlc I ID Criteria Considerations (Exceptions) I |A I IB I Ic I ID I IE I IF I |G Areas of Significance (enter categories from instructions) Period of Significance Significant Dates Architecture______________________ _____1783-1798_______ N/A Cultural Affiliation ___________N/A Significant Person Architect/Builder N/A Unknown State significance of property, and justify criteria, criteria considerations, and areas and periods of significance noted above. SIGNIFICANCE SUMMARY: In a local context, Acquinsicke, built between 1783 and 1798, is a highly significant example of late eighteenth century, early Federal architecture. Exceedingly few examples of domestic architectural forms survive in this locality that illustrate as well as Acquinsicke the transitional phase between wholly vernacular building customs and those buildings whose carpentry and overall designs were clearly influenced by outside sources. In this regard, Acquinsicke's one-room-deep central passage plan, full two-story height, finished and heated attic chambers, and boldly corbeled and plaster banded chimney stacks are of particular interest. Viewed singly, each of these details is unusual in a local, late-eighteenth century architectural context; collectively, they establish Acquinsicke as wholly unique. [Xl See continuation sheet No. 6 For HISTORIC CONTEXT and MARYLAND COMPRE­ HENSIVE HISTORIC PRESERVATION PLAN data. 9. Major Bibliographical References CH-53 See Endnotes, Continuation Sheets 14-16 [X] See continuation sheet Nos. 14-16 Previous documentation on file (NFS): I I preliminary determination of individual listing (36 CFR 67) Primary location of additional data: has been requested l~Xl state historic preservation office I I previously listed in the National Register I I Other State agency I I previously determined eligible by the National Register I I Federal agency d] designated a National Historic Landmark I I Local government I I recorded by Historic American Buildings I I University Survey # _________________________ I I recorded by Historic American Engineering Specify repository: Record # Courthouse, La Plata_____ 10. Geographical Data Acreage of property 15.19 acres USGS Quad: Port Tobacco, Maryland UTM References A U.8| 1312,217.7.01 14,217,510,9.01 B Lii_8J I 31 2. 2l 6. 6. Ol I 4i 2l 7. 4l 9i 3i Ol Zone Easting Northing Zone Easting Northing C U.8| |3|2.2|4,5,0| 14,217,510.5,01 D ll .81 I3l2.2l5.6i0l 14i2 I 7.5 I 2.6.Ol I I See continuation sheet Verbal Boundary Description The boundaries are as shown on Map 13, Parcel 100, Charles County Tax Maps, Rev. to June 1, 1988. 5ee continuation sheet No. 17 Boundary Justification The boundaries include all known historic resources integral to the nominated property, maintaining the historic rural setting. I I See continuation sheet 11. Form Prepared By name/title ___ J. Richard Rivoire organization __ date ___ August 1991 street & number P.O. Box 132 telephone (301) 932-1000 city or town __ La Plata state Maryland zip code 20646 NFS Form 1040O« QMS Approval No. 10244018 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Charles County Maryland Section number i Page i GENERAL DESCRIPTION: Acquinsicke stands about 200 feet from the south side of Billingsley Road, approximately one mile west of the intersection of Billingsley Road and Maryland Route 228. As it presently exists, having open meadows to the east and south and wooded grounds to the west, the setting of the house has experienced little physical change since the 1940s. However, many of the surrounding properties, all of which were once part of the original Acquinsicke tract, are currently or are scheduled to be subdivided into residential developments. Once the main residence of a 1,500-acre working farm, Acquinsicke is a rectangular, two-story clapboard-sheathed frame structure with brick foundations and a gable roof. At each end of the roof there is a boldly corbeled chimney stack, each once embellished with a plaster band, an unusual feature on houses built after about 1780. Ihe house is one-room deep and five bays in width at both principal floor levels of both side elevations. The only exterior openings in the end elevations are small casement windows in each gable. As it did originally, the building's principal elevation faces west and probably once looked over formal or semi-formal gardens. The opposite site of the house is fronted by a circular drive. At the north end of the house there is a one-story, gable-roof frame wing that is contemporary with a major rehabilitation of the original structure that occurred in the late 1930s and early 1940s.