Oakland Mills Blacksmith House and Shop
About this property
The Oakland Mills Blacksmith House and Shop, also known as Felicity, is a historic property at 5471 Old Columbia Road in Oakland Mills, Maryland. The Columbia Road was contracted on January 6, 1810, by the Maryland General Assembly to establish a toll road from Ellicott City to Georgetown. The property includes a 1.5-story wood-frame house, built c. 1820, a single-story blacksmithy, a smokehouse, and the remains of a spring house. The buildings are set close to the south side of the road. The house was built by the Ridgely family, who owned the original Oakland Mills flour mill complex that appeared on the Anne Arundel County tax list in 1798. The wood stable was used to raise Percheron workhorses for local farms. Both the house and smithy are extremely well preserved; the smithy, which ceased operation in 1950, houses one complete forge and parts of a second. In 1878, Samuel F. Whipps (1831–1909) moved from his father William Whipps' house at "Rebecca's Lot" (now Whipps Family and Public Cemetery) to Felicity. He operated the Oakland Mills post office and blacksmith shop with his son William Whipps. Future Circuit Court Judge James A. Clark Sr. worked for a Mr. Whipps on-site in the late 1800s. The property was later purchased by a Mr. and Mrs. Frank Collins. Most recently the property has been purchased by Genevieve Engleman, who resides there. The property was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2011. A 2001 book, Roads to Howard's Past, boasted about the Maryland Department of Transportation circumventing the historic properties, but by 2014 the historic register was changed to declare the property was not historic. County Executive Ken Ulman was part of the 2010 groundbreaking for a road-widening project in front of the historic structures. The project to increase traffic capacity and develop extra density in downtown Columbia reduced the property size, relocated Old Columbia Pike, and installed sound walls. YouTube conference announcing road widening project in front of the historic Felicity House Oakland Mills Blacksmith House and Shop, Howard County, including photo from 2007, at Maryland Historical Trust
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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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Questions about this property
When was Oakland Mills Blacksmith House and Shop listed on the National Register?
Oakland Mills Blacksmith House and Shop was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 18, 2011.
What type of historic resource is Oakland Mills Blacksmith House and Shop?
Oakland Mills Blacksmith House and Shop is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.
What is the period of significance for Oakland Mills Blacksmith House and Shop?
The period of significance for Oakland Mills Blacksmith House and Shop is recorded as the industrial era.
Can I research the history near Oakland Mills Blacksmith House and Shop?
Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Oakland Mills Blacksmith House and Shop will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.
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