St. Mary's Rectory (Aquasco, Maryland) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Saint Mary's Rectory
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Saint Mary's Rectory, October 2012 (post-restoration)
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 Location in Maryland
Location in the United States
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| Location | 16305 Saint Mary's Church Rd., Aquasco, Maryland |
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| Area | 5 acres (2.0 ha) |
| Built | 1849 |
| Architect | Townshend, Jeremiah |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Italianate, Vernacular Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 87001572 |
| Added to NRHP | September 10, 1987 |
The Saint Mary's Rectory is an old, historic house located in Aquasco, Maryland, in Prince George's County, Maryland. It was built in 1849 and made twice as big in 1856. This building is important because of its unique design and its connection to the history of St. Paul's Parish and the Aquasco community.
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What is Saint Mary's Rectory?
The rectory is a two-and-a-half-story house made of wood. It has a special roof shape called a gable front. The house is a great example of a local building that mixes different styles. These styles are called Greek Revival and Italianate. The way the house is laid out inside shows a common design for homes of successful landowners and business people in the mid-1800s.
A Look at Its Design
The original Greek Revival style can be seen in many parts of the house. This includes the front entrance, the detailed roof edges, and the design of the porch. You can also see it in the inside stairs, the frames around doors and windows, and the fireplace in the main room.
The Italianate style adds its own touches. These include the strong, decorative brackets under the roof edges. There is also a special window with three parts on the north side of the house.
A Home with History
The old rectory served St. Paul's Parish, which is an Episcopal church, until 1977. After that, it was sold and became a private home. The new owners carefully fixed it up. Today, the house still looks much like it did in the mid-1800s. It has kept many of its original parts.
The rectory is in Aquasco, which is one of the few well-preserved farming communities left in Prince George's County. Aquasco was a very busy place in the 1800s. Many large homes belonging to wealthy farmers were built there. The rectory was built in a fancy style, probably because it was in such a lively and rich village.
Bringing It Back to Life
In 2011, the rectory received a special grant from the Prince George's County Planning Board. This money helped to restore the outside of the house. The most important part of this work was removing old asbestos siding. Underneath, they carefully restored the beautiful original German siding.
Why Is It Important?
Because of its historical and architectural value, the Saint Mary's Rectory was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987. This listing helps protect important places in the United States.
