| Homewood, home of Charles Carroll (1775-1825), was built on the “Merryman’s Lott” tract, purchased May 1, 1794, by his father Charles Carroll of Carrollton (1737-1832), Signer of the Declaration of Independence. Homewood is a sophisticated Federal country house that reflects the extravagant taste of its owner. Although Charles Carroll of Carrollton originally budgeted $10,000 for his son’s home, the final cost was an exorbitant $40,000. By 1824, Charles Carroll of Carrollton bought the house back from his self-indulgent son whose wife, with her father-in-law’s blessing, had already left her husband and returned home. Over the years, the house changed hands several times, but William Keyser, a Baltimore merchant reassembled the lands and offered them to Johns Hopkins University as the site for a new campus.Constructed of brick with stone trim, the five-part house includes a central block connected to flanking wings by single-story hyphens. The four-columned portico on the south or main facade features a pediment filled with garlands around a shield-shaped window–Adamesque details typical of the period. The University still maintains the mansion and stables, now a National Historic Landmark.
Homewood is located at North Charles and 34th Sts. on the Johns Hopkins University Campus. It is open to the public as a house museum. Homewood tours are offered every half hour, 11 a.m. to 4.p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and noon to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The last tour begins at 3:30 p.m. For more information call 410-516-5589 or visit http://www.jhu.edu/historichouses |
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