Hagerstown in Washington County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Founder's First Home
In 1739, German immigrant Jonathan Hager paid 44 pounds for 200 acres of land purchased from future founder of Frederick, Maryland Daniel Dulany.
Hager built this limestone frontier home for his new wife Elizabeth Kirschner and operated a trading post which benefited from its proximity to the future Great Philadelphia Wagon Road. By 1745, he sold the property to Jacob Rohrer for a substantial profit.
[Caption:]
Hager's Fancy prior to the French and Indian War as imagined by American painter Augustus Vincent Tack (1870-1949).
Tack depicted Native Americans wearing Plain Indians style-clothing, as opposed to the styles of the Shawnee and Iroquoian groups whom Hager would have likely encountered in this region.
Archaeological evidence of the site indicates that Native Americans were present as early as 10,000 years ago.
Rear view of property with stone barn and fields, ca. 1905
Erected by City of Hagerstown Parks & Recreation with funding from the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Colonial Era •
this page online
Location. 39° 38.387′ N, 77° 43.783′ W. Marker is in Hagerstown, Maryland, in Washington County. It can be reached from Key Street north of Highland Avenue, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 120 Key St, Hagerstown MD 21740, United States of America. Touch for directions.
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 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 walking distance of this marker: The Springs at Hager's Fancy (within shouting distance of this marker); Pieces Left Behind (within shouting distance of this marker); Hager House Museum (within shouting distance of this marker); Hagers Fancy (within shouting distance of this
Other markers no longer nearby. Hager House and Museum (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Mt. Aetna Cannon (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
Credits. This page was last revised on January 11, 2026. It was originally submitted on January 11, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 65 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 11, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
