Cool Hollow House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Cool Hollow Home
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Cool Hollow House (2016)
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| Location | Washington County, Maryland |
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| Built | 1823 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival Federal Architecture |
| NRHP reference No. | 100003253 |
| Added to NRHP | December 17, 2018 |
Cool Hollow House is a very old and well-preserved home in Washington County, Maryland. It was built around 1823. The house is located right on the National Road, which was one of America's first major highways.
The land where Cool Hollow House stands has a long history. It was once part of several "land patents." These were like early property deeds from the 1700s. Many of these lands belonged to the Chaney family. The property is also next to the Antietam Creek.
In 1809, Benjamin Emmert bought the farm. The land was later named "Emmert's Home." Benjamin Emmert's family owned the house for over 100 years. They sold it in 1910. Cool Hollow House was added to the National Register of Historic Places on December 17, 2018. This means it's a special place worth protecting!
Contents
What Does Cool Hollow House Look Like?
Cool Hollow House is a great example of a country home from the early 1800s. It shows a mix of two popular styles: Greek Revival and Federal.
Building Materials and Design
The entire house is made from bricks that were handmade. The walls are very thick, about 16 inches! This made the house strong and well-insulated.
The house has two stories and is wide, with five sections. It has a main entrance in the middle. You can see features like strong wooden lintels (beams above windows) with corner blocks. These details show the influence of the Greek Revival style. This style was very popular in the United States during that time.
Cool Hollow House During the Civil War
When the Civil War began in 1861, Cool Hollow was a large farm. It covered over 500 acres. The owners were David and Magdalene Schindel. Magdalene was the daughter of Benjamin Emmert, who built the house. Her grandfather, Captain Yost Harbough, was a hero from the Revolutionary War.
Battles Near the Home
Cool Hollow House saw fighting twice during the war. First, during the famous Battle of Antietam in September 1862. Then, during the Second Battle of Funkstown in July 1863.
During the Retreat from Gettysburg, the Union Army used "Cool Hollow" as a campsite. It was a good spot because it had lots of water from Antietam Creek. There was also a place to cross the creek (a ford) and it was right on the National Road.
On July 9, 1863, a battle took place right on the Schindel farm. Union General Buford sent his cavalry to push back Confederate forces. There was a short but intense fight. Union soldiers advanced, driving the Confederates back. The battle continued until it got dark.
Other Buildings and Features
The Cool Hollow property has several other interesting old structures.
Old Mill and Forge
You can still see the ruins of an old stone mill on the west side of the Antietam Creek. This mill might have been used for fulling (making cloth thicker) and dyeing. Right across the creek, on the east side, are the ruins of a forge. A forge is a place where metal is heated and shaped.
Historic Barn and Well
There are other old stone buildings on the property. A German-style stone bank barn has a carving in its rafters with the date 1793.
In the front yard, there's an old stone and brick well. This well leads to a registered cave! The cave is known as the Cool Hollow Well. It was surveyed by the United States Geological Survey. They found a passage that goes for at least 20 feet.
Cool Hollow Culvert
Right next to the driveway is the Cool Hollow Culvert, built around 1820. This stone arch bridge is one of the original bridges. It was built when the National Road, America's first federally funded highway, was being constructed.
Cool Hollow School House
An old schoolhouse, built around 1850, once stood on the farm. The Schindel family donated the land and money for it before the Civil War. This schoolhouse is famous for a special reason. It once sheltered a teacher named Eshleman. He was a trusted helper of the famous John Brown, who fought against slavery.
The restoration of Cool Hollow House was even featured in a local newspaper, the Hagerstown Herald Mail.
