Woodlawn (Columbia, Maryland)

Woodlawn, is a historic slave plantation located at Columbia, Howard County, Maryland.[2] It is a two-story, stuccoed stone house built in 1840 with wood frame portions constructed about 1785. It was part of a 200-acre farm divided from larger parcels patented by the Dorsey family. The design reflects the transition between the Greek Revival and Italianate architecture styles. The home is associated with Henry Howard Owings, a prominent Howard County landowner and farmer, who also served as a judge of the Orphan's Court for Howard County. Owings purchased the property in 1858 and died at Woodlawn in 1869.[3] The former tobacco farm produced corn, oats, hay, and pork. The majority of the property surrounding Woodland and its slave quarters were subdivided by 1966 and purchased by Howard Research and Development for the planned community development Columbia, Maryland, leaving only 5 acres surrounded by multiple lots intended for development of an Oakland Ridge industrial center and equestrian center. The summer kitchen, smokehouse, corn crib and stable built about 1830 have been replaced by a parking lot.[4]

Woodlawn
Woodlawn, January 2011
Location9254 Old Annapolis Rd., Columbia, Maryland
Coordinates39°14′5″N 76°49′33″W
Area5 acres (2.0 ha)
Architectural styleGreek Revival, Italianate
NRHP reference No.83002953[1]
Added to NRHPFebruary 3, 1983
Woodlawn (side) in September 2018

In 2003, Preservation Howard County appealed to the Columbia Association to restore the adjacent stone slave quarters building predating the 1789 Woodlawn house.[5] In 2004 the property surrounding the Woodlawn manor was rezoned from residential to dense office use. All of the 200-year-old trees surrounding the property were declared diseased by the developer-owner and cut down.[6] In June 2006, Developer Ron Brasher submitted plans to build a 71,705sf office building adjacent to Woodlawn with a parking lot surrounding the building on all sides.[7] The project was temporarily delayed due to lack of road access and requests for reduced setbacks. The planning and zoning director cited the developer's efforts to restore and lease the 5000sf mansion for office space or a "condo opportunity" as a way to preserve the manor recently rezoned by the department.[8][9] In August 2007, the Columbia Association purchased the slave quarters property and approved another $125,000 for restoration with the construction of the office project pending.[10][11]

It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.[1]

See also

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. Seeking Freedom The History of the Underground Railroad in Howard County. p. 60.
  3. Cleora Barnes Thompson (1981). "National Register of Historic Places Registration: Woodlawn" (PDF). Maryland Historical Trust. Retrieved 2016-01-01.
  4. "HO-30 Woodlawn" (PDF). Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  5. "A plea to repair Howard slave site In Columbia, call to save dilapidated quarters gets a mixed response". The Baltimore Sun. 23 November 2003.
  6. Susan DeFord (22 June 2006). "Zoning Request Called Too Wide-Ranging Opponents are fuming about developer Ronald Brasher's cutting down of old trees in the grove shading the historic five-acre Woodlawn site". The Washington Post.
  7. "Woodlawn Manor threatened by bill before council".
  8. Darrell Nevin (April 2007). "Parity Lost?". The Business Monthly.
  9. Andrei Blakely (22 June 2006). "CA- Construction could imperil historic building". The Columbia Flier.
  10. "$125,000 OK'd for slave quarters". The Baltimore Sun. 27 August 2006.
  11. "HO-411 Woodlawn Slave Quarters" (PDF). Retrieved 14 January 2014.
  12. "HO-48 Woodlawn" (PDF). Retrieved 11 August 2014.
  13. Anna Borgman (2 March 1995). "Wrecking Ball Levels Historic Site: Special Designation Fails to Save 150-Year-Old Woodlawn Mansion". The Washington Post.
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