Farm Support Structures

A historic black and white photograph of the dairy to the right with a cow, long barn in the distance.
A historic view of the long barn (to the left) with cow barn in the distance (no longer standing), and the dairy (to the right).

NPS

Dairy

The Dairy was built over a natural spring between 1780 and 1800, and altered between 1830 and 1840. The Dairy was designed to store milk and process butter. The milk was cooled by placing stoneware milk pails in a basin filled with cool spring water. Water circulated under the gothic stone arch at the head of the spring, into the structure via directed channels, then out into a small creek on the north side of the structure. The Dairy was built into a hill to maintain the cooler temperatures inside the structure. Dairy storage and production was one of many sources of income for the Ridgely family, and the structure remained in use until the 1940s.

 
Stone structure that was a barn for dairy cattle
Barn for dairy cattle (no longer standing), 1937

HABS, NPS

Long House Granary

Built in about 1845, the Long House Granary is sited southeast of the Overseer's House and was aligned with the cow barn (demolished 1969). The two-story stone structure served as a hog barn and granary through the historic period. Four low openings on the southwest elevation served as entrances to hog runs. Until the 1960s, you would have also seen a very large barn for the dairy cattle called the “Cow House.” Located to the left of the longhouse, it was demolished in 1962 to clear the way for future residential development.

 
Modern day photograph of the mule barn looking from the lower house.
Modern day image of the mule barn looking from the lower farm house.

NPS/Tim Ervin

Mule Barn

The Mule Barn, was built during the extensive construction campaign during the mid-nineteenth century, was located on the west side of Farm Road. It was built in about 1851 to replace an earlier Mule Stable destroyed by fire by 1850. The two-story building housed the primary work animals of the farm. The mules pulled plows, mowers, and other farm equipment at the Hampton farm until the early twentieth century. These prize mules were a source of great pride for the Ridgelys and were often entered in livestock competitions.

Corn Crib

The Corn Crib was once a large, one-story, wooden gabled structure used to air dry corn before it would was ground into corn meal. The large structure, built between 1845 and 1860, indicates the prominence of corn at Hampton during that era. Ruins of the Corn Crib’s stone masonry foundations are located to the southwest of the Dairy. The structure was destroyed in 1988 by arson. The foundation walls were stabilized and capped in 1997–98.

 
A white log cabin with 2 sides, like a duplex. This was quarters of the enslaved
This building was probably created by connecting two log structures together. Look at the outside wall to see if you can tell how it was done. (Hint: the logs alternate at a joint.)

NPS

Log Farm Structure

This structure was built between 1835 and 1869 as a duplex with pine log plank walls on a rubble stone foundation. Archaeological research, along with structural and documentary evidence, provide clues to the building’s history. Although it is similar to wooden cabins for the enslaved prior to the emancipation proclamation, this cabin may have been a storehouse or workshop before it was used to house paid workers in the early 1900s.

 
Up close of white log cabin showing the logs alternate at a joint.
The logs making the log cabin, alternate at a joint.

NPS

The building was moved to its present location north of the Overseer's House and next to the Ash House around 1870. It is possible that the Log Farm Structure was constructed of salvaged remains of two structures formerly used as quarters for the enslaved.

In the early 1900s, blacksmith Charles Budd and his wife lived here. Helen Ridgely, the wife of Hampton’s fifth proprietor, mentioned the building in a 1908 diary entry, describing the “log cabin back of the Lower House—now quite a comfortable weather-boarded house of four rooms.” (NPS)
 
A modern day photograph of the rear of the log house and ash house.
View of the rear of the ash house (left) and log house (right).

NPS/Tim Ervin

Ash House

Built around 1850, the Ash House is a 5’ by 7’ structure constructed of rubble stone with a brick vault room. It is located near the Overseer's House, beside the Quarters of the Enslaved. When the Hampton farm was in operation this structure was used to collect ashes for making soap, candles, and lime for fertilizer.


North Farm Garage/Dovecote

The North Farm Garage, originally used as a pigeon cote and possibly chicken house, was built in 1880–90 as a single-story, three-walled structure north and west of the Overseer's House. The east wall originally had small holes for birds, and the west side was originally open until a wall was added in 1910. In 2009, this structure was rehabilitate to house public restrooms.

 

MORE BUILDINGS ON THE FARM SIDE

 

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Last updated: July 19, 2024

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Mailing Address:

535 Hampton Lane
Towson, MD 21286

Phone:

410-962-4290 (option 2)

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