The Rossborough Inn
Encyclopedia
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The Rossborough Inn is a historic building on the campus of the University of Maryland, College Park
. Construction on the building began in 1798 and was completed in 1812, making it the oldest building on campus (older than the university itself) and the oldest building in the City of College Park. Built in the Federal style
, lower flankling wings were added in 1938, when it underwent extensive renovations. It is listed as a historic site by the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission
.
The building was constructed by land speculator John Ross, with its original purpose being an inn for individuals traveling between Baltimore
and Washington DC (on the Washington and Baltimore Turnpike). According to Anne Turkos, the archivist for the University of Maryland Libraries
, the name 'Rossborough' refers to the name of the area the inn was built on in the late 18th century and early 19th century, after landowner Richard Ross ("Rossborough" was used interchangeably with "Rossburg" as late as the 1920s). By 1835, financial troubles had doomed the inn business and the building was being used as a farmhouse by its owner at the time, Charles Benedict Calvert
, who had purchased the Riverdale Plantation. In 1858, Calvert donated the land that the Rossborough building sat on to the University of Maryland (then known as the Maryland Agricultural College).
Now a part of the school, the Rossborough Inn was a faculty residence in 1864 during the Civil War
, when Confederate
General Bradley T. Johnson and his cavalry brigade occupied the university grounds. Johnson used the Rossborough Inn as his headquarters.
The building has been used for a variety of university functions since. Extensive renovations by the university (with the help of the federal government) have resulted in a much different contemporary appearance than the inn previously had. It is currently used by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, but previously served for faculty and alumni functions (including serving as the home of University of Maryland Faculty and Alumni Club), and housed a restaurant (known as "The Carriage House") that served lunch on weekdays According to campus lore, the Rossborough Inn is haunted. Carved in the keystone above the front door is the head of Silenus
, made of a rare Coade stone
.
The Rossborough Inn is a historic building on the campus of the University of Maryland, College Park
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
. Construction on the building began in 1798 and was completed in 1812, making it the oldest building on campus (older than the university itself) and the oldest building in the City of College Park. Built in the Federal style
Federal architecture
Federal-style architecture is the name for the classicizing architecture built in the United States between c. 1780 and 1830, and particularly from 1785 to 1815. This style shares its name with its era, the Federal Period. The name Federal style is also used in association with furniture design...
, lower flankling wings were added in 1938, when it underwent extensive renovations. It is listed as a historic site by the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission
Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission
The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission is a bi-county agency that administers parks and planning in Montgomery and Prince George's Counties in Maryland.-History:...
.
The building was constructed by land speculator John Ross, with its original purpose being an inn for individuals traveling between Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
and Washington DC (on the Washington and Baltimore Turnpike). According to Anne Turkos, the archivist for the University of Maryland Libraries
University of Maryland Libraries
The University of Maryland Libraries constitute the largest public research library in the state of Maryland. Seven libraries are located at University of Maryland, College Park campus, plus an additional library and media center located off-campus...
, the name 'Rossborough' refers to the name of the area the inn was built on in the late 18th century and early 19th century, after landowner Richard Ross ("Rossborough" was used interchangeably with "Rossburg" as late as the 1920s). By 1835, financial troubles had doomed the inn business and the building was being used as a farmhouse by its owner at the time, Charles Benedict Calvert
Charles Benedict Calvert
Charles Benedict Calvert was a U.S. Congressman from the sixth district of Maryland, serving one term from 1861–1863. He was an early backer of the inventors of the telegraph, and in 1856 he founded the Maryland Agricultural College, the first agricultural research college in America, now part of...
, who had purchased the Riverdale Plantation. In 1858, Calvert donated the land that the Rossborough building sat on to the University of Maryland (then known as the Maryland Agricultural College).
Now a part of the school, the Rossborough Inn was a faculty residence in 1864 during the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, when Confederate
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
General Bradley T. Johnson and his cavalry brigade occupied the university grounds. Johnson used the Rossborough Inn as his headquarters.
The building has been used for a variety of university functions since. Extensive renovations by the university (with the help of the federal government) have resulted in a much different contemporary appearance than the inn previously had. It is currently used by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, but previously served for faculty and alumni functions (including serving as the home of University of Maryland Faculty and Alumni Club), and housed a restaurant (known as "The Carriage House") that served lunch on weekdays According to campus lore, the Rossborough Inn is haunted. Carved in the keystone above the front door is the head of Silenus
Silenus
In Greek mythology, Silenus was a companion and tutor to the wine god Dionysus.-Evolution of the character:The original Silenus resembled a folklore man of the forest with the ears of a horse and sometimes also the tail and legs of a horse...
, made of a rare Coade stone
Coade stone
Lithodipyra , or Coade stone, was ceramic stoneware that was often described as an artificial stone in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. It was used for moulding Neoclassical statues, architectural decorations and garden ornaments that were both of the highest quality and remain virtually...
.