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Blandair Manor House

On April 18, 2004 a group from our church had a tour of Blandair Farm, a 300-acre farm right in the middle of heavily developed Columbia, Maryland.

The history of the farm goes back to 1757, but the last owner was an eccentric recluse and as she aged, she allowed the farm to run down. After she died, it was bought by the county and state to serve as a regional park, but the manor house was left unguarded and became a haven for unsavory youths, who did a great deal of damage. Now protected by a caretaker who lives onsite, the mansion and outbuildings will be restored.

Meanwhile, however, the farm is a marvelous trip through real history, and a wonderful example of the beauty that can be found even in neglect.

This gallery is a tour through the manor house, originally built in the 19th century, and last updated in the 1950s or '60s. My other Blandair gallery, Beauty in Neglect, takes you through to the outbuildings, fields, ponds and woods.
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  • What was once a proud, grand manor house, surrounded by utilitarian yet graceful outbuildings is now just a shell, to the casual eye. But if you have a good imagination, you can see the glory and the wonder of the past.

    What was once a proud, grand manor house, surrounded by utilitarian yet graceful outbuildings is now just a shell, to the casual eye. But if you have a good imagination, you can see the glory and the wonder of the past.

  • An addition was built onto the left side of the house at some point; this is a view of it from the back.

    An addition was built onto the left side of the house at some point; this is a view of it from the back.

  • This old wagon was left at the foot of the lawn in front of the house, beside the long lane leading in from the main road.

    This old wagon was left at the foot of the lawn in front of the house, beside the long lane leading in from the main road.

  • Once, this house was a a handsome mansion with a graceful porch, black shutters, and glowing pink bricks. Now the windows are boarded, temporary steps go up to the door, and the bricks are covered with dirt and moss. But the house still emanates a faded grandeur.

    Once, this house was a a handsome mansion with a graceful porch, black shutters, and glowing pink bricks. Now the windows are boarded, temporary steps go up to the door, and the bricks are covered with dirt and moss. But the house still emanates a faded grandeur.

  • Our group looks at the bricks while waiting for the door to be unlocked.

    Our group looks at the bricks while waiting for the door to be unlocked.

  • Some in the group look at other things, but all are fascinated by the old house.

    Some in the group look at other things, but all are fascinated by the old house.

  • The house is a traditional old southern mansion with a center hall and two large connecting rooms on either side. This is the entry hall and main staircase.

    The house is a traditional old southern mansion with a center hall and two large connecting rooms on either side. This is the entry hall and main staircase.

  • This is the wallpaper on the stairs.

    This is the wallpaper on the stairs.

  • The molding where the chandelier used to be in the main hall.

    The molding where the chandelier used to be in the main hall.

  • The front and rear main parlors on the right are connected to one another by a wide archway, and are decorated identically. They were used as one large space for elegant parties. The heavy velvet drapes still hang at the boarded windows. A radiator was placed between the windows when a central heating system was added to the house, probably in the early 20th century.

    The front and rear main parlors on the right are connected to one another by a wide archway, and are decorated identically. They were used as one large space for elegant parties. The heavy velvet drapes still hang at the boarded windows. A radiator was placed between the windows when a central heating system was added to the house, probably in the early 20th century.

  • The white marble fireplaces in the main parlors are ornately sculpted.

    The white marble fireplaces in the main parlors are ornately sculpted.

  • All four main rooms have magnificent, perfectly crafted plaster crown molding. (The dark lines are not marbling, but dirt and water damage.)

    All four main rooms have magnificent, perfectly crafted plaster crown molding. (The dark lines are not marbling, but dirt and water damage.)

  • An inside corner in the front main parlor. There is more beautiful molding on the large square opening that connects the front and rear parlors.

    An inside corner in the front main parlor. There is more beautiful molding on the large square opening that connects the front and rear parlors.

  • The chandelier in the rear main parlor. All the ceilings on the first floor in the main part of the house are 12 feet high.

    The chandelier in the rear main parlor. All the ceilings on the first floor in the main part of the house are 12 feet high.

  • A built-in bookcase was installed somewhere along the way. From it's appearance, I would guess it dates from the 1950s or '60s.

    A built-in bookcase was installed somewhere along the way. From it's appearance, I would guess it dates from the 1950s or '60s.

  • The wallpaper in the front room on the left once a rich apple green, is now browned and faded. The door in the center of the room (left) leads to the dining room. (The object at the far right is an unrelated sign being stored by the county until the house is renovated.)

    The wallpaper in the front room on the left once a rich apple green, is now browned and faded. The door in the center of the room (left) leads to the dining room. (The object at the far right is an unrelated sign being stored by the county until the house is renovated.)

  • The fireplace in the front left parlor is made of black marble, and is much simpler than those in the main parlors. This is a more intimate space than the rooms on the right, perhaps a place for the family to gather, or for the ladies to retire to after dinner.

    The fireplace in the front left parlor is made of black marble, and is much simpler than those in the main parlors. This is a more intimate space than the rooms on the right, perhaps a place for the family to gather, or for the ladies to retire to after dinner.

  • Below the chair rail in all the main rooms is beautiful ornamental molding.

    Below the chair rail in all the main rooms is beautiful ornamental molding.

  • At the time this photo was taken, our group hadn't found the light switch in the dining room yet, and with both windows boarded up, it was nearly pitch dark. As I made my way through the room, I aimed the camera at the wall and hoped for the best. I was lucky enough to get a spot where a picture had hung, showing the color the wallpaper used to be.

    At the time this photo was taken, our group hadn't found the light switch in the dining room yet, and with both windows boarded up, it was nearly pitch dark. As I made my way through the room, I aimed the camera at the wall and hoped for the best. I was lucky enough to get a spot where a picture had hung, showing the color the wallpaper used to be.

  • The addition has lower ceilings and smaller rooms. The small room between the dining room and the old kitchen was originally a butler's pantry; the last owner of the farm, Nancy Smith, was an accomplished horsewoman in her younger years and used it as her tackroom.

    The addition has lower ceilings and smaller rooms. The small room between the dining room and the old kitchen was originally a butler's pantry; the last owner of the farm, Nancy Smith, was an accomplished horsewoman in her younger years and used it as her tackroom.

  • All that is left on the capacious shelves in the large pantry closet are veterinary medicines.

    All that is left on the capacious shelves in the large pantry closet are veterinary medicines.

  • There were many medicines for dosing the horses.

    There were many medicines for dosing the horses.

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    What was once a proud, grand manor house, surrounded by utilitarian yet graceful outbuildings is now just a shell, to the casual eye. But if you have a good imagination, you can see the glory and the wonder of the past.
    An addition was built onto the left side of the house at some point; this is a view of it from the back.