F-5-46 Nathan Harris House - Maryland Historical TrustThe Nathan Harris House acquires its significance as an historic site from its fir.e arch·itectural style, located in an area

F-5-46

Nathan Harris House

Architectural Survey File

This is the architectural survey file for this MIHP record. The survey file is organized reverse-

chronological (that is, with the latest material on top). It contains all MIHP inventory forms, National

Register nomination forms, determinations of eligibility (DOE) forms, and accompanying documentation

such as photographs and maps.

Users should be aware that additional undigitized material about this property may be found in on-site

architectural reports, copies of HABS/HAER or other documentation, drawings, and the “vertical files” at

the MHT Library in Crownsville. The vertical files may include newspaper clippings, field notes, draft

versions of forms and architectural reports, photographs, maps, and drawings. Researchers who need a

thorough understanding of this property should plan to visit the MHT Library as part of their research

project; look at the MHT web site (mht.maryland.gov) for details about how to make an appointment.

All material is property of the Maryland Historical Trust.

Last Updated: 11-21-2003

F-5-46 Nathan Harris House Harrisville Private

The Nathan Harris House is an ell shaped two and one-half story gable roofed common bond brick residence of vernacular Federal style which was built in two sections.

c. 1780

The eighteenth century section is the southern most part of the building which is four bays wide. An eight panel door with six light transom and entablature flanked by columns occupies the second bay. The window in the first bay of the first level appears to have replaced a door as indicated by a distinct change in the quality of the brickwork.

An 1820's addition to the residence extends north to the rear of the original house. This two and a half story common bond brick addition is five bays wide. An unusual stepped brick cornice, which was first used on the eighteenth century part of the build­ing, was continued in the 1820's addition. Its design creates a dentiled frieze effect through consecutive spacing of bricks in a dentil pattern.

The interior of the 1820's addition to the building has been refinished with late nineteenth century Victorian trim, mantelpieces and baseboards with pine floors and interesting rose corner blocks in each corner of the paneled windows and doorways.

The Nathan Harris House is located on the Varle map of 1808. A town, Harrisville, grew from Harris's initial settlement of this area, but today exhibits little of its past activity.

MARYLAND HISTORICAL TRUST F-5-46 1100465204

INVENTORY FORM FOR STATE HISTORIC SITES SURVEY

6NAME HISTORIC Nathan Harris House

AND/OR COMMON

flLOCATION STREET & NUMBER

West side Harrisville School Road CITY. rowN

STATE

Maryland D CLASSIFICATION

CATEGORY OWNERSHIP _DISTRICT _PUBLIC

X_BUILDING(S) x_PRIVATE

_STRUCTURE _BOTH

_SITE PUBLIC ACQUISITION _OBJECT _IN PROCESS

_BEING CONSIDERED

DOWNER OF PROPERTY NAME Ferdinand A. Heitmuller

STREET & NUMBER

Route #4 box 207 CITY. TOWN

VICINITY OF

STATUS

x_OCCUPIED

-UNOCCUPIED

_WORK IN PROGRESS

ACCESSIBLE _YES RESTRICTED

_YES UNRESTRICTED

x_NO

Mount Airy _ v1c1N1TY oF

IJLOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION COURTHOUSE. REG1sTRYOFDEEDS,ETc Frederick County Courthouse STREET & NUMBER

N. Court St. CITY. TOWN

Frederick

II REPRESENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS TITLE

DATE

CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

ED 18 Map 71 P38 COUNTY

Frederick

PRESENT USE

_AGRICULTURE _MUSEUM

_COMMERCIAL __ PA:lK

_EDUCATIONAL X_PRIVATE RESIDENCE

_ENTERTAINMENT _RELIGIOUS

_GOVERNMENT _SCIENTIFIC

_INDUSTRIAL _TRANSPORTATION

_MILITARY _OTHER

Telephone #:

STATE ' zip code Maryl and 21771

Liber #: 549 Folio #: 64

STATE

Maryland 21701

_FEDERAL -5TATE _COUNTY _LOCAL

DEPOSITORY FOR

SURVEY RECORDS

CITY.TOWN STATE

II DESCRIPTION

_EXCELLENT

_GOOD

~FAIR

CONDITION

_DETERIORATED

_RUINS

_UNEXPOSED

CHECK ONE

_UNALTERED

-ALTERED

CHECK ONE

X_ORIGrNAL SITE

_MOVED DATE __ _

DESCRIBE THE PRESENT AND ORIGINAL (IF KNOWN) PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

The Nathan Harris Hous~ an ell shaped two a~~ a half story gable roofed common bond, brick residence faces south from the west side of Harrisville School Road in the settlement of Harrisville.

The main residence was built in two sections. The eighteenth century section is the southern most part of the building which is four bays wide. The main entranc2 ·is located in the second bay from the west corner of the house. It is an eight par.el door with six light transom, and entablature which is flanked by columns. The remaining bays on both the first and second levels are occupied by 6/6 windows with architrave trim and flat brick arches. The window in the first bay of the first level appears to have replaced a door as indicated by a distinct change in the quality of the brickwork.

The 1820 1 s addition to the residence extends north to the rear of the original house. This two and a half story common bond brick addition is five bays wide. The entrance, a re­placed windowed door, inside a recessed paneled entrance with four light transom and side lights, is located in the third bay. A pedimented frame entrance porch encloses the third bay. Occupying the remaining bays are double hung 6/6 windows en­closed by storm windows with flat brick arches. The window in the third bay on the second level is also flanked by narrow 2/2 windows on each side.

The entire structure is built on a low random stone foundation and is covered by a replaced tin roof. An unusual stepped brick cornice which was first used on the eighteenth century part of the Guilding was continued in the 1820 1 s addition. Its design creates a dentiled frieze effect through consecutive spacing of bricks in a dentil pattern.

Three interior brick chimneys rise from the north and west gables and in the center of the south section of the residence.

A small one story shed roofed frame section has been added to the south part of the building.

The interior of the 1820 1 s addition to the building has been finished with late nineteenth century victorian trim, mantel pieces and baseboards with pine floors and interesting rose corner blocks in each corner of the paneled windows and door­ways.

A small stone outbuilding is located southwest of the main residence.

CONTINUE ON SEPARATE SHEET IF NECESSARY

II SIGNIFICANCE

'='EAIOD AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE -- CHECK AND JUSTIFY BELOW

-PREHISTORIC _ARCHEOLOGY-PREHISTORIC _COMMUNITY PLANNING _LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

_1400-1499 _ARCHEOLOGY-HISTORIC _CONSERVATION _LAW

-1500-1599 -AGRICULTURE _ECONOMICS _LITERATURE

_ 1600-1699 !ARCHITECTURE _EDUCATION _MILITARY

_1700-1799 _ART _ENGINEERING _MUSIC

)L 1800-1899 _COMMERCE -EXPLORATION/SETILEMENT _PHILOSOPHY

_1900- _COMMUNICATIONS _INDUSTRY _POLITICS/GOVERNMENT

_INVENTION

SPECIFIC DATES BUILDER/ARCHITECT

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

_RELIGION

_SCIENCE

_SCULPTURE

_SOCIAUHUMANITARIAN

_THEATER

_TRANSPORTATION

_OTHER !SPECIFY)

The Nathan Harris House acquires its significance as an historic site from its fir.e arch·itectural style, located in an area which even today is sparsely populated in Frederick County. As early as 1808 Nathan Harris had built the existing brick residence and a small town, Harrisville grew out of Harris's initial settlement.

CONTINUE ON SEPARATE SHEET IF NECESSARY

IJMAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES

CONTINUE ON SE~AR.ATE SHEET IF NECESSARY

II!JGEOGRAPHICAL DATA ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY--------

VERBAL BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION

LIST ALL STATES AND COUNTIES FOR PROPERTIES OVERLAPPING STATE OR COUNTY BOUNDARIES

STATE COUNTY

STATE COUNTY

mFORM PREPARED BY NAME I TITLE Cherilyn Widell, Sites Analyst

ORGANIZATION DATE

Frederick County Historic Preservation 4/7/78 STREET & NUMBER TELEPHONE

12 East Church St., Winchester Hall 663-8300 ext 266 CITY OR TOWN STATE

Frederjck. Maryland 21701

The Maryland Historic Sites Inventory was officially created by an Act of the Maryland Legislature, to be found in the Annotated Code of Maryland, Article 41, Section 181 KA, 1974 Supplement.

The Survey and Inventory are being prepared for information and record purposes only and do not constitute any infringe­ment of individual property rights.

RETURN TO: Maryland Historical Trust The Shaw House, 21 State Circle Annapolis, Maryland 21401 ( 301) 267-1438

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