National Register of Historic Places

Market Master's House

Bladensburg, Prince George's County, Maryland
Listed
March 28, 1990
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
90000553

About this property

The Market Master's House is an 18th-century vernacular Colonial-era stone dwelling with 20th-century additions, set at the rear of a long, narrow lot in Bladensburg, Prince George's County, Maryland. It was constructed c. 1765, when Bladensburg was an active tobacco shipping port. The Market Master's House is significant for its association with the 18th century development of the town of Bladensburg. Lot 38 of Bladensburg was purchased by Christopher Lowndes, who built nearby Bostwick, on September 23, 1760. The use of the Market Master's House as a headquarters for tobacco inspectors or an overseer of tobacco marketing activity has not been proven, and no description of an approved Market Master has been found for the town of Bladensburg. However, the Market Master's House is one of only four buildings remaining from this significant period of the town's history. The original block is a two-by-one bay, gable-roofed, 25 × 20 foot structure, 11⁄2 stories, of randomly laid roughly shaped non-native stone. The stone is thought to have been brought to the site originally as ship ballast, therefore it is also known as the Ship's Ballast House. It contains one room on the first story, a corner stair, and one room on the second story. A small two-story west kitchen addition and one-story south shed-roofed addition were added about 1920, with later additions and renovations completed in 1956. In May - June 2009, the Maryland State Highway Administration and the Center for Heritage Resource Studies (CHRS) at the University of Maryland, College Park sponsored archeological digs at the site. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990.

Location

4006 48th St.
Bladensburg, Prince George's County, Maryland
38.93917, -76.93666

Categories

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Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Overview
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The Land
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Geology
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Conflict & War
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The Civil War
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The Soldiers
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Native Heritage
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Settlement
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The Community
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Rivers & Rail
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Notable People
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Nearby Historic Sites

Hilleary, William, House
Industrial
0.1 mi
Bostwick
Industrial
0.2 mi
Peace Cross
Listed
0.2 mi
Washington, George, House (Additional Documentation)
Industrial
0.3 mi
Hilltop Manor
Industrial
0.5 mi

Nearby Battles

Burning of Washington DC — Battle of Bladensburg
1814Early Republic
0.4 mi
Battle of Bladensburg (Burning of Washington)
1814Early Republic
0.4 mi
Battle of Bladensburg
1814Early Republic
0.4 mi

Questions about this property

When was Market Master's House listed on the National Register?

Market Master's House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 28, 1990.

What type of historic resource is Market Master's House?

Market Master's House is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Market Master's House?

The period of significance for Market Master's House is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Market Master's House?

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