17th century farm protected

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

The farm, located on Wohlgemuth Road in Lusby, was originally granted to Phillip Morgan in 1651, three years before the county itself was established, according to the property's National Register documentation.

However, the oldest part of the farm's house, which still stands, was constructed between 1670 and 1700 by the sons of Robert Day, who bought the property from Morgan.

The farm changed hands again in 1836 when Richard Breeden purchased it from Day. The property remained in the Breeden family until 1949, when Christian Wohlgemuth bought it. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.

The farm is one of the few properties in county that reportedly date back to the 17th century and might be the only one to actually be verified as such, according to Kirsti Uunila, the county's historic preservation planner.

The county has discussed with the owners the possibility of designating the property as historic for close to 12 years, but it wasn't until March that an application was submitted. The county's Historic District Commission reviewed the application on March 11 and approved it in a 6-0 vote.

"In the 16 years I've been in this position, we've never had the chance to review a property like this," Uunila said.

Perhaps just as important is the preservation of key aspects of the structures located on the farm, including the main house. Commissioner Barbara Stinnett (D) recently paid a visit to the farm, and said she was amazed by what she found.

"Everything is preserved in excellent condition," Stinnett said. "I was absolutely thrilled with it."

The board also voted unanimously to preserve the farm's entrance, which required a separate application because the paved portion of the Wohlgemuth Road is public. While the historic designation will not prevent the public portion of Wohlgemuth Road from any future expansion in the name of public safety, it will prevent development of any land on either side of road inside the farm entrance.

The farm, which overlooks St. Leonard Creek and includes a log barn and worm fencing in addition to the main house, was viewed as a local treasure by all five commissioners.

"This is a real home run," said Commissioner Jerry Clark (R), who acknowledged not always being the biggest supporter of historic preservation in the past. "It's totally historic. At some point I'd like to take a little tour down there."

Despite the renovations the property has undergone over the years, the remaining original elements offer a wealth of information regarding the region's early architecture, according to Uunila.

Of particular interest is the house's central chimney, which has not been discovered in any other surviving blueprints or plans from that period of time in Calvert, according to the Maryland Historical Trust.

"I'm tickled to death with it," Stinnett said.

jnewman@somdnews.com