Mount Harmon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Mount Harmon
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 Location in Maryland
Location in the United States
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| Location | 600 Grove Neck Road, Earleville, Maryland |
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| Area | 430 acres (170 ha) |
| Built | 1788 |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| NRHP reference No. | 74000945 |
| Added to NRHP | June 5, 1974 |
Mount Harmon is a special old house located in Earleville, Cecil County, Maryland. It's known as an historic home, meaning it has a lot of history. In 1974, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places, which is a list of important places in the United States. Today, you can visit Mount Harmon and learn about its past.
What Does Mount Harmon Look Like?
Mount Harmon is a beautiful brick mansion built around 1788. It was constructed by a person named Sidney George. The house has a main door with fancy decorations, including a carved design above it. This design looks like a scroll and has a special "pineapple keystone" in the middle. The door is also framed by tall, decorative columns called pilasters.
In the late 1920s, a wooden section was added to the south side of the house. This addition helped make the mansion even larger.
The Story of Mount Harmon's Past
The Mount Harmon estate is a large area of land, about 200 acres, next to the Chesapeake Bay. It sits on a piece of land that sticks out into the water, near the Sassafras River. The story of Mount Harmon began in 1651. At that time, a powerful leader named Lord Baltimore gave this land to Godfrey Harmon. This was called a "land grant."
From 1750 to 1810, Mount Harmon was a busy tobacco plantation. This means it was a large farm where tobacco was grown and processed. The Louttit and George families owned the plantation during this time. They made it a very successful place. However, after 1810, the plantation was no longer owned by these families and started to fall apart.
In 1963, a woman named Marguerite duPont de Villiers Boden stepped in. She was a direct descendant of the original Louttit and George families. Mrs. Boden saved the plantation and worked hard to fix it up. She restored the old kitchen and the main house. She also filled the house with furniture and items from the 1700s. Mrs. Boden even restored the "Tobacco Prize House." This building was important because it was where tobacco was prepared for shipping.
After Mrs. Boden passed away, her daughter, Kip Kelso Boden Crist, made sure Mount Harmon would continue to be cared for. She created a group called "Friends of Mount Harmon, Inc."
Who Are the Friends of Mount Harmon?
Today, the Friends of Mount Harmon (FOMH) are a group of dedicated volunteers. They work to protect and share the history of the plantation with visitors. They want everyone to learn about and enjoy this special place.
The FOMH volunteers offer tours of the house and kitchen. They also host fun events like Colonial picnics and special holiday tours. They have educational programs for schools, teaching students about life in the past. The group also takes care of the nature trails that wind through the property.
Mount Harmon also offers access to the water for canoes, kayaks, and boats. The beautiful formal garden, with its neatly trimmed boxwood bushes, is a popular spot for weddings. The large grounds around the main house are also used for festive events and business meetings.
