Rockville in Montgomery County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Rocky Glen Farm / Dawson Farmhouse: Built 1912
Dawson Farm Park - Rockville’s History in Your Own Backyard
Henry (Hal) Dawson, - son of Lawrence A. and Mary Kiger Dawson, left Rockville in 1885 for the Dakota territory, where he amassed a fortune as a cattleman. Hal returned to Rocky Glen with his wife Frances (Fannie) Williams Dawson and their four children in 1911.
Rather than enlarging the existing 1874 farmhouse, Fannie chose a site nearby with the openness and wide vistas that she was accustomed to in the west. The large stucco and timber house is a rare Rockville example of an early 1900s residence. Fannie designed the 20-roomhouse with Queen Anne and mission-style elements on the exterior and a craftsman interior. The builder, Mr. Lance of Des Moines, Iowa, built the house almost completely by himself and lived with the Dawson family for the three years that it took to complete.
The interior of the house has a large, open stairwell, arched entranceways and big, open rooms. The library, or “indian room,” held much of the Dawson’s extensive collection of Native American artifacts, reminders of their life in the west and their friendship and respect for the Lakota and Navajo people.
Descendants of Hal and Fannie Dawson lived here until the property was sold in 1980.
A lane ran past the corn crib, pig pens and butchering area, into and around the granary, and down the hill to the creek. The park path follows this original farm lane.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Notable Buildings.
Location. 39° 4.444′ N, 77° 8.502′ W. Marker is in Rockville, Maryland, in Montgomery County. Marker can be reached from Copperstone Court. This marker is in Dawson Farm Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1064 Copperstone Ct, Rockville MD 20852, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Rocky Glen Farm / Dawson Farm: 1840-1980 (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Dawson Farm - 1840-1979 (about 400 feet away); Rocky Glen Farm / Dawson Farmhouse: Built 1874 (about 400 feet away); John C. Brown Memorial Bridge (approx. 0.3 miles away); Saint Mary's Church (approx. 0.6 miles away); Saint Mary's Catholic Church (approx. 0.6 miles away); Rockville Station (approx. 0.6 miles away); Montgomery County Jail (approx. ¾ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Rockville.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 4, 2021. It was originally submitted on June 21, 2019, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. This page has been viewed 287 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on June 21, 2019, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.