|
|
|
Indian Spring Farm The farm, which was called "Stump's Prospect" in 1805 and consisted of 1,015 acres, was once part of John Stumps of Stafford's vast land holding in Harford County. John Stump's son, William, moved onto the farm. In the 1814 tax rolls it was indicated that the farm had improvements of which was an "old frame dwelling 20 x 30 where William Stump and Joseph Parker lived." In 1816 John Stump willed the farm to William along with some cash. William removed the old frame house and erected a 2 1/2 story stone dwelling. William died in 1821 and the farm wound up belonging to John Wilson Stump, his brother and his heirs wife Sarah Biays. They had already lost all the other property they had inherited. They tried to sell "500 acres of Deer Creek land..... Called Stump's Prospect" ....improved by a "Mansion house of modern style, built of stone.... somewhat out of repair." Thomas Symington from Baltimore offered $50 an acre for the farm in 1862. Mr. Symington renamed the farm "Indian Spring Farm." Mr. Symington added a service wing and a rear extension to the "mansion." In 1864 Mr. Symington, age 71 married Mary Archer Wilson, age 37. Mr. Symington expanded the mansion drastically to the north and east. He added all the modern conveniences, hot and cold running water, water closets, bathtubs and even an ice cream freezer. Thomas also built a 2-story stone farmhand house complete with Gothic gables and porch trimmings. In 1875 Thomas Symington died and left the estate to his wife and children. Daughter Caroline and her husband, Johns Hopkins Janney purchased the farm in 1878. In 1926 two grandsons of Thomas Symington purchased the farm and brought it to its glorious days. Donald Symington added a library/ballroom to the rear, built a spacious garage and servant's quarters. he added the state of the art complex of barns and silos to care for his prize-winning Jersey cattle.
Resources from "An Architectural history of Harford County, Maryland" by Christopher Weeks. |
|
Send mail to
info@dublincountryfair.org with
questions or comments about this web site.
|
