September 28, 2015

A Little Historic House Tour

I am getting ready to join the board of an early 19th century house, the Carroll Mansion, here in Baltimore and after an absence of many years, I had a chance to do a brief tour of it last week. image

It was built by Charles Carroll of Carrollton, who was a signer of the Declaration of Independence, for his daughter, although he spent the last 12 winters of his life there. It looks like this now. image

It’s not too different… on the left window, you can see the shadow of the original doors, and I can tell you from experience that the shutters open, and there are lovely six-over-six windows, with their original interior shutters.

The house is empty now, having lost a lot of its original furnishings when the consortium of museums it was part of went bankrupt about 20 years ago. It’s now reviving itself as an arts and community center. It’s still part of the complex, and has its own private gardens, complete with lush, end-of-the-season flower beds. image

I had to gasp when I climbed to the second floor and saw the three main rooms, complete with their 12+ foot ceilings and amazing wallpapers and chandeliers. image

The gilded bits of this chandelier are wood, and it dates back to just after the house was built in 1811. I loved the effect of its shadow on the wall. image

Another chandelier kept sending the funniest reflections into my camera, and those of the friends that I was with. No other picture did this. Maybe it was the ghosts…image

As I said, the wall papers were magnificent!image

And some of the early details remain. image

I will be in and out of this house working on a special project over the next eight months, so stay tuned for more great historic house images!

14 comments:

  1. Do you have any involvement in Planchette? Sounds very intriguing.

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    1. Not involved with Planchette, but will be there when it's happening. We're doing a cocktail party at the same time, and using some of their themes.

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  2. Fantastic...As a Catholic, I have a real fondness for the Carroll family and their history. A Carroll founded Georgetown University and the Homewood Mansion on the campus of Johns Hopkins is a former Carroll family residence.

    All the best in this new, exciting endeavor.

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    1. There is another house in addition to Homewood - Mt. Clare Mansion on the southwest side of the city.

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  3. How exciting, Meg, and congratulations! Years ago, Frank P.L. Somerville (at the Sun for many years as a reporter and editor) wrote such a great exhortation to all of us to restore, preserve and protect this gem: (http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1999-01-26/news/9901260202_1_carroll-mansion-charles-carroll-shot-tower/2). I'm so glad you are taking up this charge!

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    1. We're not restoring it to its original condition or furnishings, because the other two Carroll houses have that covered. But some exciting other things.

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  4. Oh, I am so glad you're getting involved in helping to restore this gem! Many a day on my ride home to Pennsylvania, I drove by and felt sad for the house. The Carroll family are very distant relatives. Love the chandeliers, orbs and all

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    1. It stood empty for a long time because of the closure of the City Life Museums, but we're giving it a new life!

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  5. So glad to hear this house is being restored and you are involved in it. I hate seeing beautiful old houses go to ruin.

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    1. CD - you need to take a look at my Instagram feed - i did a whole tour of sad spaces over the weekend.

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  6. So exciting! I do not know this house but look forward to visiting when next I am in the area. Are there any plans anywhere of the original gardens? Any plants dating back to the home's "other lives"? Such would be a story too! Thank you for sharing.

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    1. If you know Baltimore, it's on the corner of Lombard and President Streets, just north of Little Italy.

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  7. As a native Baltimorian (I now live in Florida) I have always been interested in the Carroll family and Carroll Mansion. It is wonderful to hear of the restoration. I look forward to reading of all the new projects. Congrats on you board appointment.

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  8. That is a wonderful house. Love the wallpaper and the chandeliers!

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