Williamsport in Washington County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Elmwood Farm circa 1855

Photographed by Evan Dwyer, June 7, 2025

1. Elmwood Farm circa 1855 Marker

Inscription.

Elmwood Farm circa 1855. . In 1855, carpenter, John Corby built Elmwood, a Greek Revival and Italianate style mansion on Colonel John Dall's property for James Downey, a rising canal merchant and money lender from Baltimore. The Elmwood mansion house is an elegant representation of the still-popular Greek Revival architectural style. The Italianate style front windows were added during the 1880's. Not long after Elmwood was built, it was sold and changed ownership twice before John M. Kendle and his family settled at Elmwood. Descendants of John M. Kendle currently own and reside at Elmwood Farm today. After complete restoration, Elmwood Farm serves as a bed and breakfast and private residence to the owner/innkeeper. In 2011, Elmwood Farm was placed on the National Historical Register of Places., The C&O Canal and B&O Railroad arrived in the Western Maryland region in 1830s as alternate forms of transportation. In addition to the National Pike and the C&O Canal along the Potomac River in Williamsport, the lands and roads in the area served as a primary route during the Civil War for the invading Confederate army of General Robert E. Lee in 1862 and 1863, as well as the Union defenders throughout the war., Within miles from Antietam Battlefield and the Potomac River, Elmwood Farm and its land served as a protected resting spot for General Robert E. Lee and the Confederates as they eagerly waited five days for the swelling banks of the Potomac River to descend, allowing them to safely cross into Virginia (WV today). In the meantime, the Union soldiers were camping in the town of Williamsport (2.3 mi away from Elmwood). General Lee and his soldiers were prepared to march quickly; therefore, they did not take possession of Elmwood. On the other hand, General George McClellan and the Union failed strategically to confront and bring the Civil War to an end. Many Civil War Historians have claimed that the Civil War should have ended right here in Williamsport and near Elmwood., (captions) , General Lee leading the Confederates over the Potomac in Williamsport. Painting of Williamsport Crossing by John Paul Strain. , Elmwood in 1960 , Roy Kendle and family with their hired man at Elmwood. , John M. Kendle's son Roy and his family at Elmwood Farm.

In 1855, carpenter, John Corby built Elmwood, a Greek Revival and Italianate style mansion on Colonel John Dall's property for James Downey, a rising canal merchant and money lender from Baltimore. The Elmwood mansion house is an elegant representation of the still-popular Greek Revival architectural style. The Italianate style front windows were added during the 1880's. Not long after Elmwood was built, it was sold and changed ownership twice before John M. Kendle and his family settled at Elmwood. Descendants of John M. Kendle currently own and reside at Elmwood Farm today. After complete restoration, Elmwood Farm serves as a bed and breakfast and private residence to the owner/innkeeper. In 2011, Elmwood Farm was placed on the National Historical Register of Places.

The C&O Canal and B&O Railroad arrived in the Western Maryland region in 1830s as alternate forms of transportation. In addition to the National Pike and the C&O Canal along the Potomac River in Williamsport, the lands and roads in the area served as a primary route during the Civil War for the invading Confederate army of General Robert E. Lee in 1862 and 1863, as well as the Union defenders throughout the war.

Within miles from Antietam Battlefield and the Potomac River, Elmwood Farm and its land served as a protected resting spot for General Robert

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

E. Lee and the Confederates as they eagerly waited five days for the swelling banks of the Potomac River to descend, allowing them to safely cross into Virginia (WV today). In the meantime, the Union soldiers were camping in the town of Williamsport (2.3 mi away from Elmwood). General Lee and his soldiers were prepared to march quickly; therefore, they did not take possession of Elmwood. On the other hand, General George McClellan and the Union failed strategically to confront and bring the Civil War to an end. Many Civil War Historians have claimed that the Civil War should have ended right here in Williamsport and near Elmwood.

(captions)
General Lee leading the Confederates over the Potomac in Williamsport. Painting of Williamsport Crossing by John Paul Strain.
Elmwood in 1960
Roy Kendle and family with their hired man at Elmwood.
John M. Kendle's son Roy and his family at Elmwood Farm.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • War, US Civil • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1855.

Location. 39° 35.224′ N, 77° 48.074′ W. Marker is in Williamsport, Maryland, in Washington County. It is on Kendle Road 0.3 miles west of Prosperity Lane, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 16311 Kendle Road, Williamsport MD 21795, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Photographed by Evan Dwyer, June 7, 2025

2. Elmwood Farm circa 1855 Marker

View of Elmwood Farm from the marker. The house is ca. 1855, and the pointed white smokehouse to its immediate left is from the same vintage. The white gable-roofed structure is a Milking House for cattle from the 1960s, and the big red barn dates to the last quarter of the 19th century. The long, low red barn with metal roof at left is an early 20th century Milking House that was supplanted by the gable-roofed white building, and thereafter used as a hog barn.

Regionally, this marker is in the Baltimore Metro Region

and in Western Maryland.

It is also in the American Mid-Atlantic,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: The Wagoners’ Fight (approx. 0.6 miles away); Rose Hill (approx. one mile away); The Springfield Farm (approx. 1.1 miles away); The Wagoner's Fight - July 6, 1863 (approx. 1.1 miles away); WWII (approx. 1.2 miles away); Honor Roll (approx. 1.2 miles away); a different marker also named Springfield Farm (approx. 1.2 miles away); Boy Scout Troop 17, 100 Years Old (approx. 1.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Williamsport.

Regarding Elmwood Farm circa 1855. The evidence for Elmwood being used as a campground for Confederates stems from military items found by the Kendle family during cultivation. There are some errors on this marker regarding the Civil War that impact the reliability of its information overall; firstly, Williamsport was occupied by Confederates after Gettysburg, not Federal forces, and secondly, General George Meade was leading the US Army at that juncture, not McClellan.

Elmwood Farm circa 1855 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Evan Dwyer, June 7, 2025

3. Elmwood Farm circa 1855

Farm House, taken during Maryland Home & Garden Pilgrimage 2025.

Elmwood Farm Maryland Home & Garden Pilgrimage Sign image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Evan Dwyer, June 7, 2025

4. Elmwood Farm Maryland Home & Garden Pilgrimage Sign

This placard about Elmwood Farm was displayed on the porch during Maryland Home & Garden Pilgrimage 2025. The pilgrimage is a special annual event that features different properties each year; this placard is therefore not a permanent marker and is not on display at the property. It is uploaded here for additional information on the subject matter only.

Map of Williamsport Vicinity, July 1863 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Evan Dwyer

5. Map of Williamsport Vicinity, July 1863

This 1863 map made for General Meade illustrates where the Confederate defensive lines were (red "squiggles" running along the high ground beginning at left center and angling diagonally towards the lower right) in relation to Elmwood Farm & Williamsport. Elmwood is marked with an orange highlight as "J.R. Dall" - clearly behind Confederate lines, like the town of Williamsport. The map shows that Meade's forces could not possibly have been in Williamsport as that would put them behind the Confederate defensive lines.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 30, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 27, 2025, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 77 times since then and 40 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on September 27, 2025, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.