Woodlawn (Columbia, Maryland) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Woodlawn
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Woodlawn, January 2011
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 Location in Maryland
Location in the United States
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| Location | 9254 Old Annapolis Rd., Columbia, Maryland |
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| Area | 5 acres (2.0 ha) |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 83002953 |
| Added to NRHP | February 3, 1983 |
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Woodlawn is a historic house located in Columbia, Maryland, in Howard County, Maryland. It was once part of a large farm where enslaved people were forced to work.
The main house at Woodlawn is a two-story building. It was built in 1840 using stone covered with a special plaster called stucco. Some parts of the house are older, built around 1785 with wood frames. The house shows a mix of two popular building styles from that time: Greek Revival and Italianate architecture.
Woodlawn was originally part of a much larger area of land. This land was first claimed by the Dorsey family. Later, in 1858, a man named Henry Howard Owings bought the property. He was a well-known landowner and farmer in Howard County. He also served as a local judge. Owings lived at Woodlawn until he passed away in 1869.
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A Farm Through Time
The Woodlawn farm used to grow tobacco. Over time, it changed to growing other crops like corn, oats, and hay. The farm also raised pigs for pork.
Changes to the Land
By 1966, most of the land around Woodlawn was sold off. It was bought by a company called Howard Research and Development. They used the land to build the planned community of Columbia, Maryland. This left Woodlawn with only 5 acres of its original land. This small piece of land was then surrounded by new areas planned for businesses and even a horse riding center.
Many of the old farm buildings that were built around 1830 are now gone. These included a summer kitchen, a smokehouse (used for curing meat), a corn crib (for storing corn), and a stable for horses. Today, a parking lot stands where these historic buildings once were.
Efforts to Preserve Woodlawn
Over the years, people have worked to protect Woodlawn and its history.
Saving the Slave Quarters
In 2003, a group called Preservation Howard County asked the Columbia Association for help. They wanted to restore a stone building next to the main house. This building was the slave quarters, where enslaved people lived. It was even older than the main Woodlawn house, built before 1789.
Protecting the Main House
In 2004, the land around Woodlawn was changed. It was no longer meant for homes but for many office buildings. Sadly, all the 200-year-old trees around the property were cut down. The owner said they were diseased.
In 2006, a developer named Ron Brasher planned to build a large office building right next to Woodlawn. This new building would have a parking lot all around it. The project faced some delays because of road access and other issues.
To help save the Woodlawn mansion, the developer suggested restoring it. The idea was to rent it out as office space or turn it into apartments. In 2007, the Columbia Association bought the slave quarters property. They also approved more money to help restore it, even as the office project was still being planned.
National Recognition
Woodlawn is an important historical site. It was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. This list helps protect places that are important to the history of the United States.
