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Market Master's House (Bladensburg, Maryland)
Encyclopedia
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. 1765, when Bladensburg was an active tobacco
shipping port.
The Market Master's House is significant for its association with the 18th century development of the town of Bladensburg. Lot 38 of Bladensburg was purchased by Christopher Lowndes
, who built nearby Bostwick
, on September 23, 1760. The use of the Market Master's House as a headquarters for tobacco inspectors or an overseer of tobacco marketing activity has not been proven, and no description of an approved Market Master has been found for the town of Bladensburg. However, the Market Master's House is one of only four buildings remaining from this significant period of the town's history.
The original block is a two-by-one bay, gable-roofed, 25 x 20 foot structure, 1 1/2 stories in height, of randomly laid roughly shaped non-native stone. The stone is thought to have been brought to the site originally as ship ballast
, therefore it is also known as the Ship's Ballast House. It contains one room on the first story, a corner stair, and one room on the second story. A small two-story west kitchen addition and one-story south shed-roofed addition were added about 1920, with later additions and renovations completed in 1956. In May - June 2009, the Maryland State Highway Administration
and the Center for Heritage Resource Studies (CHRS) at the University of Maryland, College Park
sponsored archeological digs at the site.
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1990.
Vernacular architecture
Vernacular architecture is a term used to categorize methods of construction which use locally available resources and traditions to address local needs and circumstances. Vernacular architecture tends to evolve over time to reflect the environmental, cultural and historical context in which it...
Colonial-era stone dwelling with 20th century additions, set at the rear of a long, narrow lot in Bladensburg
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...
, Prince George's County, Maryland
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....
. It was constructed ca. 1765, when Bladensburg was an active tobacco
Tobacco
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
shipping port.
The Market Master's House is significant for its association with the 18th century development of the town of Bladensburg. Lot 38 of Bladensburg was purchased 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...
, who built nearby Bostwick
Bostwick (Bladensburg, Maryland)
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 . The house was later the home of Lowndes’ son-in-law, Benjamin Stoddert , first Secretary of the Navy. Colonel Thomas H....
, on September 23, 1760. The use of the Market Master's House as a headquarters for tobacco inspectors or an overseer of tobacco marketing activity has not been proven, and no description of an approved Market Master has been found for the town of Bladensburg. However, the Market Master's House is one of only four buildings remaining from this significant period of the town's history.
The original block is a two-by-one bay, gable-roofed, 25 x 20 foot structure, 1 1/2 stories in height, of randomly laid roughly shaped non-native stone. The stone is thought to have been brought to the site originally as ship ballast
Sailing ballast
Ballast is used in sailboats to provide moment to resist the lateral forces on the sail. Insufficiently ballasted boats will tend to tip, or heel, excessively in high winds. Too much heel may result in the boat capsizing. If a sailing vessel should need to voyage without cargo then ballast of...
, therefore it is also known as the Ship's Ballast House. It contains one room on the first story, a corner stair, and one room on the second story. A small two-story west kitchen addition and one-story south shed-roofed addition were added about 1920, with later additions and renovations completed in 1956. In May - June 2009, the Maryland State Highway Administration
Maryland State Highway Administration
The Maryland State Highway Administration is the state agency responsible for maintaining Maryland numbered highways outside of Baltimore City...
and the Center for Heritage Resource Studies (CHRS) at 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...
sponsored archeological digs at the site.
It 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 1990.
External links
- Market Master’s House, Prince George's County, Inventory No.: PG:69-8, including photo in 1987, at Maryland Historical Trust website
- M-NCPPC Inventory of Historic Sites (Prince George's County); Market Master’s House, entry 69-005-08, p. 69
- Bladensburg Archaeology Project: The Market Master's House and Square: An Introductory History