National Register of Historic Places

Poplar Hill Mansion

Salisbury, Wicomico County, Maryland
Listed
October 6, 1971
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
71000380

About this property

The Poplar Hill Mansion is a historic U.S. mansion located at 117 Elizabeth Street, Salisbury, Maryland and is open to the public as a house museum. Major Levin Handy purchased 357 acres (1.44 km2) of land outside of Salisbury in 1795 and began construction of this Federal-style building later that year. Due to lack of funds stemming from severe medical problems, Major Handy discontinued construction of the mansion and put it up for sale in 1803. In 1805, Dr. John D. Huston purchased the incomplete house and continued its construction. Sarah Huston, Dr. Huston's widow inherited the estate, which included eighteen enslaved people and $110. She sold some of the property for development in the late 1840s to early 1850s. In 1881, George Waller purchased the estate and his family lived there until 1945. In 1945, Fred A. Adkins purchased the property and renovated the house, modernizing it. In 1948, Mr. & Mrs. Ward A Garber purchased the estate. In 1970, Wicomico County purchased the estate and the mansion was placed in public trust in 1974 under the ownership of the City of Salisbury. In 1971, Poplar Hill Mansion was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Delicate & intricate Federal or neoclassical style woodwork Finely detailed Palladian windows on the hall landing to the second floor & over the front door According to legend, a slave girl named Sara perished in the house after her dress caught on fire in the second floor rear bedroom during the Huston period. Since that time, there have been reports of a "consoling" spirit. Poplar Hill Mansion, Wicomico County, Inventory No.: WI-8, including photo in 1996, at Maryland Historical Trust website Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) No. MD-716, "Poplar Hill Mansion, 117 Elizabeth Street, Salisbury, Wicomico County, MD", 1 photo, supplemental material

Location

117 Elizabeth St.
Salisbury, Wicomico County, Maryland
38.37150, -75.59493

Categories

ARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
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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Nearby Historic Sites

Union Station, WI-150
Civil War
0.1 mi
Perry-Cooper House
Industrial
0.2 mi
Gillis-Grier House
Industrial
0.2 mi
Wailes, F. Leonard, Law Office
Industrial
0.5 mi
United States Post Office
Industrial
0.6 mi

Questions about this property

When was Poplar Hill Mansion listed on the National Register?

Poplar Hill Mansion was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 6, 1971.

What type of historic resource is Poplar Hill Mansion?

Poplar Hill Mansion is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Poplar Hill Mansion?

The period of significance for Poplar Hill Mansion is recorded as the industrial era.

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