Poplar Hill Mansion facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Poplar Hill Mansion
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 Location in Maryland
Location in the United States
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| Location | 117 Elizabeth St., Salisbury, Maryland |
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| Area | 0 acres (0 ha) |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 71000380 |
| Added to NRHP | October 7, 1971 |
The Poplar Hill Mansion is a really old and interesting house located in Salisbury, Maryland. Today, it's a special house museum where you can visit and learn about history! You can find it at 117 Elizabeth Street.
History of Poplar Hill Mansion
In 1795, a person named Major Levin Handy bought a large piece of land, about 357 acres, just outside of Salisbury. He started building this beautiful Federal-style house later that same year. However, Major Handy faced serious health problems and ran out of money. Because of this, he had to stop building the mansion and put it up for sale in 1803.
Two years later, in 1805, Dr. John D. Huston bought the house, which was still unfinished. He continued building it until it was complete. After Dr. Huston passed away, his wife, Sarah Huston, inherited the estate. This included the property and people who were enslaved at the time.
Sarah Huston later sold some parts of the property between the late 1840s and early 1850s. This land was then used for new buildings. In 1881, George Waller bought the estate. His family lived in the mansion for many years, until 1945.
After the Waller family, Fred A. Adkins bought the property in 1945. He updated the house, making it more modern. In 1948, Mr. and Mrs. Ward A. Garber became the new owners.
Finally, in 1970, Wicomico County bought the estate. The mansion was then placed in public trust in 1974, meaning it became owned by the City of Salisbury for everyone to enjoy. In 1971, Poplar Hill Mansion was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's recognized as an important historical site.
Architectural Features of the Mansion
The Poplar Hill Mansion has some cool design features that make it special. These include:
- It has tall and grand proportions.
- The front of the house, called the facade, has a bold gable shape.
- It has large sash windows, which are windows that slide up and down.
- You can see delicate and detailed woodwork inside. This is in the Federal or neoclassical style.
- There are also finely detailed Palladian windows. You can find one on the hall landing to the second floor and another above the front door.
Ghost Legend of Poplar Hill Mansion
There's a story that a young girl named Sara, who was enslaved, sadly died in the house. The legend says her dress caught fire in a bedroom on the second floor during the time the Huston family lived there. Since then, some people have reported feeling a "consoling" spirit in the mansion.
