Rockdale (Fallston, Maryland) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Rockdale
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 Location in Maryland
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1724 Carrs Mill Road, Fallston, Maryland |
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| Area | 6.5 acres (2.6 ha) |
| Built | 1815 |
| NRHP reference No. | 82002814 |
| Added to NRHP | June 30, 1982 |
Rockdale, also known as The Robinson/Stirling Place, is a historic house and farm located in Fallston, Harford County, Maryland. It's a great example of a farm that grew and changed from the late 1700s through the early 1900s. The house itself is made up of three main parts, each built at a different time.
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Rockdale: A Historic Maryland Home
Rockdale is more than just a house; it's a whole farm complex with several buildings and beautiful gardens. It shows how people lived and worked on farms in Maryland many years ago. This special place helps us understand the history of the area.
A Look at the House
The main house at Rockdale is quite large. It has five sections across its front and is two and a half stories tall. It's built from stone, but the outside is covered in a special plaster called stucco. This stucco is also "scored," meaning lines are drawn into it to make it look like big stone blocks.
Different Parts of the House
The oldest part of Rockdale is the east room of the east wing. This section was built way back in the 1700s. The biggest part of the house, the main section, was built later, between 1815 and 1830.
Later additions came in the early 1900s. These include the north wing, a special window section called a bay on the second floor, and a small conservatory. A conservatory is like a mini-greenhouse, a sunny room often used for growing plants.
The Farm Complex
Around the main house, you'll find several other buildings. These are called outbuildings and were used for different farm activities, like storing tools or housing animals. There are also many trees and plants, plus what's left of the fancy gardens that were created in the early 1900s. These gardens likely had special designs and structures.
Who Lived at Rockdale?
One important person who lived at Rockdale was William E. Robinson (1860-1935). He was an entrepreneur, which means he was a business person who started and ran his own companies. Mr. Robinson was involved in the local canning industry. This means his business probably processed and preserved food in cans, which was a big industry back then.
Rockdale's History
The history of Rockdale stretches over many years, showing how farming and home life changed in Harford County. Each part of the house and farm tells a story about the people who lived and worked there.
Becoming a Historic Place
Because of its unique history and architecture, Rockdale was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. This is a list of places in the United States that are important to history and should be protected.
- [Rockdale, Harford County Learn more about Rockdale on the Maryland Historical Trust website], which includes a photo from 1980.
