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

The Cooling House

By Devry Becker Jones, August 30, 2019

1. The Cooling House Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Garrett Van Sweringen built this small structure around 1690. It provided a cool place to store his wine, beer, cider, and perishable foods. The walls of the cellar and its floors are original but the wooden parts of the building are all reconstructed. This brick lined cellar is the only surviving 17th-century space on the site. Note that its floor is laid in the same unusual brick pattern as the kitchen floor, implying that they date to the same time. Slots found in the brick walls suggest that a wooden frame held casks of alcohol and cider.

Erected by Historic St. Mary's City.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Notable Buildings.

Location. 38° 11.119′ 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), on the left when traveling north. The marker is inside the open-air Council Chamber on the Van Sweringen site. Touch for map. Marker

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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. Cellar Archaeology (here, next to this marker); A Busy Kitchen (here, next to this marker); The Servants (here, next to this marker); A Private Lodging House (here, next to this marker); The Kitchen (here, next to this marker); …Adjourn to the Arbour at Vansweringens (here, next to this marker); The Council Roome (here, next to this marker); The Illusion of Brick (a few steps from 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 85 times since then and 12 times this year. Photo 1. submitted on September 3, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.