St. Mary's City in St. Mary's County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

The Council Roome

By Devry Becker Jones, August 30, 2019

1. The Council Roome Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

The Council Chamber building initially had an unheated room for meetings. Later, this "roome" became Garrett Van Sweringen's principal entertainment space, where guests would meet, relax, eat, and drink. When Van Sweringen renovated the Council Chamber in the late 1670s, he installed a large brick fireplace featuring imported un-glazed tiles. His inventory, recorded in 1700, tells us that there were upholstered chairs and tables here. Decorating the room were two pictures and the Kings Arms. Covering the largest table was an elaborate "turkey workd carpetit." These refinements made this interior space one of the finest in early Maryland.

Erected by Historic St. Mary's City.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Entertainment • Industry & Commerce.

Location. 38° 11.115′ N, 76° 26.043′ W. Marker is in St. Mary's City, Maryland, in St. Mary's County. Marker can be reached from Old State House Road north of Point Lookout Road (Maryland Route 5)

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, on the left when traveling north. The marker is inside the open-air Council Chamber on the Van Sweringen site. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 47414 Old State House Road, Saint Marys City MD 20686, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Illusion of Brick (here, next to this marker); A Change in Government (here, next to this marker); A Private Lodging House (here, next to this marker); The Kitchen (here, next to this marker); The Servants (here, next to this marker); A Busy Kitchen (here, next to this marker); The Cooling House (here, next to this marker); Cellar Archaeology (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in St. Mary's City.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 3, 2019. It was originally submitted on September 3, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 80 times since then and 8 times this year. Photo 1. submitted on September 3, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.