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Bostwick (Bladensburg, Maryland)
Encyclopedia
Bostwick is a historic home located at Bladensburg
in Prince George's County
, Maryland
, United States
. According to its date plaque, it was built in 1746 by Christopher Lowndes
(1713-1785). The house was later the home of Lowndes’ son-in-law, Benjamin Stoddert
(1751-1813), first Secretary of the Navy
. Colonel Thomas H. Barclay (Tory in the American Revolution; brother-in-law of Lt. Colonel Beverly Robinson; first British consul appointed in New York after the peace of 1783; British agent for prisoners of war in War of 1812) resided at "Bostwick," the oldest surviving structure at Bladensburg. Located nearby is the Market Master's House
, also built by Lowndes.
Bostwick is a -story brick structure laid up in Flemish bond
. A basement and ground level lies under the entire house. The gable
roof, with dormer
windows, is slightly belled at the eaves. The main (west) facade is five bays
with a central doorway. A one-story porch extends across the front, and the pedimented central bay of the porch projects forward. "C.L. 1746" in wrought lead painted black is embedded high in the south chimney. Also on the south side is a distinctive buttress
added about 1800 by Stoddert, who was concerned about a crack in the wall on that side of the house. At the base of the buttress are two dungeons or cells. A gable-roofed common bond brick detached kitchen stands northeast of the house. Southeast of the house are several 19th century outbuildings and a barn.
Bostwick was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1975.
Bladensburg, Maryland
Bladensburg is a town in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 7,661 at the 2000 census.Bladensburg is from central Washington, DC...
in Prince George's County
Prince George's County, Maryland
Prince George's County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland, immediately north, east, and south of Washington, DC. As of 2010, it has a population of 863,420 and is the wealthiest African-American majority county in the nation....
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. According to its date plaque, it was built in 1746 by Christopher Lowndes
Christopher Lowndes
Christopher Lowndes was a leading merchant in colonial Bladensburg, Prince George's County, Maryland. He was named Commissioner of the town of Bladensburg in 1745, and in 1753 he was appointed one of the justices of Prince George's County, holding both offices until his death in...
(1713-1785). The house was later the home of Lowndes’ son-in-law, Benjamin Stoddert
Benjamin Stoddert
Benjamin Stoddert was the first United States Secretary of the Navy from May 1, 1798 to March 31, 1801.-Early life:...
(1751-1813), first Secretary of the Navy
United States Secretary of the Navy
The Secretary of the Navy of the United States of America is the head of the Department of the Navy, a component organization of the Department of Defense...
. Colonel Thomas H. Barclay (Tory in the American Revolution; brother-in-law of Lt. Colonel Beverly Robinson; first British consul appointed in New York after the peace of 1783; British agent for prisoners of war in War of 1812) resided at "Bostwick," the oldest surviving structure at Bladensburg. Located nearby is the Market Master's House
Market Master's House (Bladensburg, Maryland)
The Market Master's House is an 18th century vernacular Colonial-era stone dwelling with 20th century additions, set at the rear of a long, narrow lot in Bladensburg, Prince George's County, Maryland. It was constructed ca...
, also built by Lowndes.
Bostwick is a -story brick structure laid up in Flemish bond
Brickwork
Brickwork is masonry produced by a bricklayer, using bricks and mortar to build up brick structures such as walls. Brickwork is also used to finish corners, door, and window openings, etc...
. A basement and ground level lies under the entire house. The gable
Gable
A gable is the generally triangular portion of a wall between the edges of a sloping roof. The shape of the gable and how it is detailed depends on the structural system being used and aesthetic concerns. Thus the type of roof enclosing the volume dictates the shape of the gable...
roof, with dormer
Dormer
A dormer is a structural element of a building that protrudes from the plane of a sloping roof surface. Dormers are used, either in original construction or as later additions, to create usable space in the roof of a building by adding headroom and usually also by enabling addition of windows.Often...
windows, is slightly belled at the eaves. The main (west) facade is five bays
Bay (architecture)
A bay is a unit of form in architecture. This unit is defined as the zone between the outer edges of an engaged column, pilaster, or post; or within a window frame, doorframe, or vertical 'bas relief' wall form.-Defining elements:...
with a central doorway. A one-story porch extends across the front, and the pedimented central bay of the porch projects forward. "C.L. 1746" in wrought lead painted black is embedded high in the south chimney. Also on the south side is a distinctive buttress
Buttress
A buttress is an architectural structure built against or projecting from a wall which serves to support or reinforce the wall...
added about 1800 by Stoddert, who was concerned about a crack in the wall on that side of the house. At the base of the buttress are two dungeons or cells. A gable-roofed common bond brick detached kitchen stands northeast of the house. Southeast of the house are several 19th century outbuildings and a barn.
Bostwick was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1975.
External links
- Bostwick, Prince George's County, Inventory No.: PG:69-2, including photo in 1997, at Maryland Historical Trust website
- M-NCPPC Inventory of Historic Sites (Prince George's County); Bostwick, entry 69-005-09, p. 69
- Bostwick Hall, 3901 Forty-eighth Street, Bladensburg, Prince George's County, MD: 23 photos and 13 data pages, at Historic American Building Survey
- Bostwick Hall, Barn, 3901 Forty-eighth Street, Bladensburg, Prince George's County, MD: 2 photos and 1 data page, at Historic American Building Survey