Location: Owings Mills, Md.
Price: $2,500,000
The Skinny: This landmark Georgian Colonial was built in 1751, and, according to current owner Barbara Holdridge, it was built by a pirate, Ulrich Stemmer. Local legend holds that Stemmer's widow, enraged by her husband's adultery, haunts the mansion, looking for her revenge.
Perhaps motivated by these spooky tales, the house was disassembled and moved to its current site in 1928, ruling out any lingering hope of finding some pirate booty on the 24-acre property.
That's quite a backstory for this pre-Revolutionary relic, but the Holdridges still managed to add a bit of their own. Barbara's late husband, Lawrence B. Holdridge, is a descendant of Civil War General William Tecumseh Sherman and Mohawk Chief Joseph Brant, who sided with the Red Coats during the American Revolution.
The hope for buried treasure might have been dashed, but that doesn't mean there's nothing hiding on this property. The listing touts the home's seven bedrooms, five baths, swimming pool, seven fireplaces, and outbuildings, but it barely mentions the property's spectacular gardens, which the Baltimore Sun named among the best in the area. Luckily, the Sun stopped by to interview Holdridge and tour the gardens. Check out the video, after the jump.
· 1751 Brick Colonial Mansion [Luxury Portfolio]
· So much history, so little time to see it [Explore Baltimore County]
· 'Ghost writer' collects history that chills bones [Baltimore Sun]
· Lawrence Barrett Holdridge, 88, founded hydraulic firm [Baltimore Sun]
Loading comments...