La Plata in Charles County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Friendship House....one of Charles County's Oldest
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), March 31, 2019
Friendship House was built in the mid 1700s on a site overlooking Nanjemoy Creek in western Charles County by a member of the Dent family. The "Friendship" Dents were actively involved in their community, serving in prominent positions in county and state government.
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Friendship House has a unique architectural style originating in medieval England. Features such as the steep pitch of the roof and the Hall and Parlor design with timber framing were common to the houses of prosperous English farmers.
Friendship House is typical of a Tidewater settler's home for the 1700s.
The original house was constructed in two stages, the first stage consisting of a Hall that served as a living, dining, and perhaps bedroom and above it, a small Bedroom Chamber. A stone walled, earthen floor cellar was immediately beneath the Hall. Later, two other rooms were added, a downstairs Parlor and a second upstairs Bedroom Chamber.
Original construction was of brick noggin for exterior walls. Clapboard was added at a later date with a layer of mud for insulation between the brick noggin and the clapboard. Wood shingles were used for the roofing, probably replacing an original marsh grass roof.
Erected by The Southern Maryland Heritage Area Consortium, the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority and the College of Southern Maryland Foundation.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Colonial Era.
Location. 38° 33.6′ N, 77° 0.597′ W. Marker is in La Plata, Maryland, in Charles County. Marker can be reached from North Campus Drive west of Cross Campus Drive, on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 8730 Mitchell Road, La Plata MD 20646, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. From Creek to the College of Southern Maryland (a few steps from this marker); “The Monastery” (approx. 0.3 miles away); Thomas Stone (approx. 1.8 miles away); Church of St. Joseph (approx. 1.9 miles away); World War I Enlisted Military Memorial (approx. 2.1 miles away); Honor Roll (approx. 2.1 miles away); Vietnam Conflict Memorial (approx. 2.1 miles away); War on Terror Memorial (approx. 2.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in La Plata.
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), March 31, 2019
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), March 31, 2019
Credits. This page was last revised on June 6, 2022. It was originally submitted on March 31, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 482 times since then and 60 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 31, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.