CH-67

Clifton No. 2

Architectural Survey File

This is the architectural survey file for this MIHP record. The survey file is organized reverse-

chronological (that is, with the latest material on top). It contains all MIHP inventory forms, National

Register nomination forms, determinations of eligibility (DOE) forms, and accompanying documentation

such as photographs and maps.

Users should be aware that additional undigitized material about this property may be found in on-site

architectural reports, copies of HABS/HAER or other documentation, drawings, and the “vertical files” at

the MHT Library in Crownsville. The vertical files may include newspaper clippings, field notes, draft

versions of forms and architectural reports, photographs, maps, and drawings. Researchers who need a

thorough understanding of this property should plan to visit the MHT Library as part of their research

project; look at the MHT web site (mht.maryland.gov) for details about how to make an appointment.

All material is property of the Maryland Historical Trust.

Last Updated: 11-21-2003

CH-67 Clifton No.2 (Demolished) Charles County, MD Newburg vicinity Cathy Currey Hardy, January 2002

7. Description

ADDENDUM

Clifton No. 2 was first identified in the early 1970's by J. Richard Rivoire just prior to the site's subdivision, now Clifton on the Potomac. At the time it was believed that this was the home of Josiah Fendall and plans were underway to convert the structure into a museum. Later research revealed that the existing 18th c. structure was likely built as a dependency for a much larger dwelling. After learning this, the building and its plans were abandoned leading to its eventual collapse in the mid-1980's.

Although the exact location of the site was not identified, it is believed to be on the north side of Overlook Circle, south of Fendall Lane in a large cedar grove. Standing nearby was Clifton No. l (CH-66). Both buildings were believed to have faced the Potomac River, with the post-Civil War Victorian dwelling to the east.

8. Significance

During the Civil War, the dependency now known as Clifton No.2 was part of a number of outbuildings belonging to Major Roderick Watson, of the Confederate Signal Corp. Watson worked with fellow agent Thomas A. Jones, who lived just to the North at the site of Raven's Crest. Watson died in 1861 after which time his daughter assisted in the Confederate cause.

9. Major Bibliographic References

Rivoire J. Richard, Homeplaces: Traditional Domestic Architecture of Charles County., La Plata MD: Southern Maryland Studies Center, 1990. pp.72-77.

Wearrnouth, John and Roberta.Thomas A. Jones: Chief Agent of the Confederate Secret Service In Maryland. Port Tobacco, MD: Stones Throw Publishing., 1995, 2000.

10. Geographical Data

Clifton No. I is associated with Charles County Property Tax Map 79, Parcel 102 in Section M of Clifton Subdivision.

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Form 10-300 UNITED STA 1 JEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

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(Dec. 1968) NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

~ ~· COUNTY:

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLAC S INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM FOR NPS USE ONLY

ENTRY NUMBER I DATE

(Type all entries - complete applicable sections) I fk NAME: .•.. ) .•• / . ··

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COMMON: "CLIFTON" '- ; 1 : I I .. TliRt.:.S iLlOT~ '.E~IB, '··

ANDIOR HISTORIC: A.DlHTiuN TO 'f:J1E ~ 01WTi .~RS, J3.1.'l'1 t:N Is C .... IFFS

LOCATION s·TREET AND NUMBER: Clifton Dcvelopr,1en t

CITY OR TOWN: Ne,.Jburg

STATE l~::ryl and I CODE I COUNTY: I CODE c:12rlcs

I I I CLASSfFICATION

CATEGORY OWNF.RSHIP STATUS

ACCESSIBLE

(Check One) TO THE PUBLIC

District 0 Bui !ding UC: Pub.lie -0 Public Acquisition! Occupied D Yes:

Site D Structure D Private ~ In Process D Unoccupied Ga Restricted D

Object D Both D Being Considered 0 Preservation work Unrestricted D

PRESENT USE (Check One or More as Appropriate)

Agricultural 0 Government 0 Park

Commercial D Industrial D Private Residence

Educational D Military D Rehgious

Entertainment D Museum D Scientific

OWNER OF PROPERTY OWNERS NAME:

Clifton Development

STREET AND NUMBER:

CITY OR TOWN:

F.:.ull:ner

LOCAllON OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION COURTHOUSE. REGISTRY OF DEEDS, ETC:

Cllo.rle.s County Courti10usc STREET ANO NUMBER:

CITY OR TOWN:

L'' Pli:li:.J.

APPROXIMATE ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY:

REP.ilESet(fATION JN EXISTING SURVEYS TITLE OF SURVEY:

DATE OF SURVEY:

DEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS:

STREET ANO NUMBER:

CITY OR TOWN:

. •

Federal

Attn:

n

in progress 0 No: 0

0 Transportation D Comments 0 D Other (Sp eel ly) D D storaic

D

Mrs. Jose1)hinc Fisher

I STATE: I CODE

Haryland J "9

I STATE l CODE

Haryland I

State D County D Local D

!STATE: I CODE ,____

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Clifton (Cliffton} , 'Z.

Charles County, Newburg , Maryland

18th century

Cliffton Development Corporation

CH-'17 CLI:'TO:N Char:es Countv

This small , rural brick house is one of the few re­maining single (room) dwellings of early date extant in the state. It deserves special consideration because it has survived significantly intact and thereby presents itself as a unique and valuable tool for interpreting ~he socio- economic development in the region to w~~ch ~t is so firmly associated . As an early example of architect~re it establishes building use and construction tcr~n~ques employed during the early years of ~aryland ' s colonial pe!'.":..od .

When constructed , Cli!ton was entirely o= b~ic~ ar.d had a steeply angled "A" frame roo!, sheat:-ied with ho:::-:.zo:i­t2:1y fixed riven clapboards . The so~t.h. eleva~~o~, river front , had a centered batten door with segmental arch flanked by a single small window . 7he interior flush g~~:c chimney at the east end is set off-center to +he roof ridge resulting in the illusion that the roof rake is set at ~· . .;o di=fere~t angles . The chimney cap itsel= dis?lavs ~n eigh­tcent~-century usage of ~he plaster necking- band . At t~e base o! the structure the ~ater table has a flat to- co~rse, no~ worn to a qua~ter-round ef~ect, a~d the eava ~o~st~~c'::ion of the roof was not boxed but had its joist ends a.~c second­ary plates exposed .

The original interior o= the house was purely utili­tarian in character . ~he floo:::-s were o~ wood ~~ich :::-an flush to t~e front of an expansive ~ire?lace oneni~g and small flanking stair closet. The walls were p astercc a~d the ceiling joists exposed, u~sp:ay~~s beaded edges. Existing evidence indicates tha".:. t:~e e!'ltrancc to t'te at'::ic was gained by a ladde?:"-ty~e s~air e~c:os~d within a boa~e paneled closet at the southeast co:::-ner of the house . The

page 2

CH- 67 CLIFTON Charles County

interior of t he a tti c, l ighted by a single west gable window, had its end walls plastered but the roof frame remained com­pletely exposed .

Between the years 1825- 1 835 the interior of the house was extensively renovated . All of the flooring was replaced and the previously exposed ceiling was covered with lathe and plaster. The stai= closet was removed and a larger, more practical stair erected in its place . The most thorough alteration concerned the fireplace which had a much smaller segmentally arched opening constructed toward the south end of the original aperture . At the north end an interior flue wall was extended down to ground level and the resulting area utilized as a closet . In the attic the new ceiling and walls were framed out and plastered . A small fireplace with flanking closet was built at the east end, a partition wall with door was constructed at the stair area, and the bric1-::. gable at the west end was removed and replaced by one of frame construction . This new gable provided for a centered door flanked by a single four- over- four pane window to each side .

On the exterior the changes consisted of enlarging t~e existing south elevation window and installing anothex- at the opposite side of the door, bricking in a closet window at the east end, and erecting an exterior stair at the wes~ end giving access to the gable door .

In the late nineteenth century the riven claphoards on the roof were replaced with tin sheathing and the =ormerlv exposed eav,es were boxed with planked boards . In the earlv twentieth century the north elevation wall collapsed and was replaced by one of masonry block .

In 1658 Clifton was patented to Captain William Batten under the name "Battens Cliffs . " rrom that time on it ho.s had direct associations with several of Charles County's most notable families . It is known that Josias Fe!'da11 (a mid-seventeenth- centu.:y Maryland Proprietary Gove~~or) owned the Clifton property and at various times live~ o~ or near this property . Clifton, enlarged through the years, des cended in the Fendall family until 1783 when it ~·:as sold by Philip ~ichard Fendall. By that time the Fendall fa~~:y had erected an "elegant brick mansion" adjacent to ".:hi:; existing si:.ructure which then began service as a summer l<"i::­chen.

During the Civil War the location of Clifton ~as co~­sld0red an important link in the Confederate unaerg=ou~c railroad. This particular section of the river, '::now,.., as the Potomac Narrows , wa.s freauently used for transoorting

oage 3

CH-67 CLI:rTo~·

Charles Co'.lnty

people and messages between Maryland and Virginia and t~e ele­" ated bluff upon which the house is situated served as ·::he necessary signalpost .

Archeological sites on the property include prehistoric and histori c Indian settlements, a seventeenth- century ri'"cr village known as Bristol, and the sites of both t~e Fenca:l Mansion and the circa 1810, one- story, frame house which later replaced it . There are also two eighteenth-centurv farm builcings standing in close proximity to the existing brick house , one of which, formerly a combination corn cri~ and private jail, may date to the early eighteenth century.

Recorder : J . R~chard Riv~ire I'iary land ::isto~icC" l ':'rt:.st

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i!lt SIGNI Fl CANCE PERIOD (Checl< One or More ee Appropriate)

Pre-Columbian 0 16th Century O 18th Century 1itJ 19th Century 0

20th Century 0

0 4Po G>1 S ~o'( 15th Century 0 17th Century 0

SPECIFIC DATE(S) (If Applicable end Known)

AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE (Check One or More ee Appropriate)

Abor i9inal Education D Political ~ Urban Planning 0 Other (Specify) 0 Prehistoric D Engineering D Religion/Phi-

Historic D Industry D losophy D Agriculture D Invention D Science D Art D Landscape Seu I pture D Commerce D Architecture D Socia I/Human-

Communications D Literature D itorian x::i Conservation D Military ~ Theater D

Music D Transportation D

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE (Include Per•one12ee, Delee, Evente, Etc.)

The house sits in tite are.a of a Civil ./ar si~;nd post bcc.'.l.use this area i::s known ns the Potou;:.c l.i.J.rrows ~ the shortest distance across the river from U::l. to Vo.. The post was operated by ;i Richnrd ;fatson and ~1is dau~hter

T,.1e hous~ they lived in has since disappc2r-::d <,n.~ a post-Civil ;Jc..r one ercci:cd in it's pl;ice. The house kno1m here as Clifton stands directly: to the rear of thi.s house, nestled in a Group of barns and out-buildings.

.l. m.h-:tbcr of r:;ravcstones ht:\Ve been found in the foundations of a nco.rby barn. One be2rs the n11I:1c of Bcnja;.1~, Fendall who was the [;randson of Governor Josio.s Fend2..ll(Y Gov. Fendall did ovm lo.nd in this imnediate vicinity and beq_:eathcd it to his son John (1674 - 1734) who in turn bequeathed it to his son Benj~~in (1708 - 1764).

The o·;mers seem to have traced the land back to the patent of 1658 naming it Datten or Batten Gliffe.s and owned • by one~ :30.tten.

~~-The present 01·mers are quite anxious to restore the

11ouse uhich would add greatly to the aesthetic ap:>eal of the development however they are reluctant to proceed without some sort of professional guidance..

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_, G c fl-9. MAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES (l. l"'~ .

. , .... Hrs. Josephine Fisher research papers, person.:i.l

lo. GEOGRAPHICAL DATA -LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE COORDINATES 0

LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE COORDINATES

DEFINING A RECTANGLE LOCATING THE PROPERTY DEFINING THE CENTER POINT OF A PROPERTY

R OF LESS TH~N c;>N.!" ACRE

CORNER LATITUDE LONGITUDE LATITUDE LONGITUDE

Degrees Minutes Seconds Degrees Minutes Seconds Degrees Minutes Seconds Degrees Minutes Seconds

NW 0 . . 0 . 0 . . 0 . NE

C) . . 0 . SE 0 . . 0 . SW 9 . . 0 .

V\ LIST ALL STATES AND COUNTIES FOR PROPERTIES OVERLAPPING STATE OR COUNTY BOUNDARIES

STATE: CODE COUNTY CODE m m

STATE: CODE COUNTY: CODE

STATE: CODE COUNTY: CODE z V\ )

_.. STATE: CODE COUNTY: CODE -f

::::0 41. FORM PREPARED BY •. . ·· . . ...

•· . c: NAME AND TITLE: J •. :Hcl1~rd _;.i vo ire n ORGANIZATION ..

:._~cl,-::1d i.Iistoric'll Tr.ist !°ATE ..... -f

STREET AND NUMBER: 0

z CITY OR TOWN:

·..!1·1~nolis STATE

Ecr~,rlc:.nd CODE

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12. STATE LIAISON OFFICER CERTlflCAtlON NATION.AL REGISTER VERIFICATION

As the designated State Liaison Officer for the Na-

tional Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (Public Law I herebv certify that this property is included in the

89-665), I hereby nominate this property for inclusion National Register.

in the Na tiona 1 Register and certify that it has been

evaluated according to the criteria and procedures set

forth by the National Park Service. The recommended

level of significance of this nomination is: Chief, Office of Archeology and Historic Preservation

National 0 State 0 Local 0

Date

Name ATTEST:

Title

Keeper of The National Re~ister

Date Date

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