William Hilleary House (Bladensburg, Maryland) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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William Hilleary House
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William Hilleary House, December 2008
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 Location in District of Columbia
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| Location | 4703 Annapolis Rd., Bladensburg, Maryland |
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| Area | 0.7 acres (0.28 ha) |
| Built | 1742 |
| NRHP reference No. | 78003116 |
| Added to NRHP | July 20, 1978 |
The William Hilleary House, also known as the Hilleary-Magruder House, is an old and important home in Bladensburg, Maryland. It is located in Prince George's County. This house is special because it is the only stone house from the 1700s in the county that has a unique "gambrel" roof. A gambrel roof has two different slopes on each side, like a barn roof.
Today, the house is surrounded by roads. It sits near an exit ramp that connects Kenilworth Avenue with Annapolis Road.
Contents
History of the Hilleary House
The William Hilleary House was built a long time ago, between 1742 and 1764. It was built by a person named William Hilleary.
Early Owners and Important Visitors
After William Hilleary, the house had several owners in the 1700s. One important owner was Richard Henderson. He was a well-known merchant, which means he bought and sold goods. He also bought and sold land. Henderson was a County Justice, which was like a judge or a leader in the local government. He was also known for writing many articles in local newspapers.
A very famous person, George Washington, visited this house! His diary shows that on May 9, 1787, he ate dinner at Richard Henderson's home in Bladensburg.
In 1793, Henderson sold the house to Major David Ross. Major Ross was the son of Dr. David Ross, who was a surgeon and merchant. Dr. Ross had been an "Agent Victualer" for Maryland troops during the French and Indian War. This means he was in charge of providing food and supplies for the soldiers.
The Ross Family and the War of 1812
Dr. David Ross, Major Ross's father, owned another famous house nearby called the "Ross Home." This house was sometimes called the old brick hospital. During the War of 1812, in August 1814, the Ross Home was used as a hospital. This was during the Battle of Bladensburg, which was a big battle fought in the area.
Dr. Ross was one of the first people to live in Bladensburg. He also served as a Town Commissioner, helping to run the town. From 1750 to 1759, he was a Justice of the County Court.
Protecting the Hilleary House
The William Hilleary House is a very important historical building. In 1978, it was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of places in the United States that are important to history and should be protected.
In 1979, a group called Prince George's Heritage, Inc., took over the house. They worked to restore it, which means they fixed it up to look like it did a long time ago.
More Information
- You can find more details about the William Hilleary House, including a photo from 2007, on the Maryland Historical Trust website: William Hilleary House, Prince George's County, Inventory No.: PG:69-7.
A special report was made for the State Highway Administration. This report includes the history of the Hilleary-Magruder House. It also talks about two other historic places nearby: the Market Master's House and the George Washington House/Indian Queen.
