Brookeville in Montgomery County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Oakley Cabin

Photographed by Craig Swain, July 7, 2007

1. Oakley Cabin Marker

Inscription.
This log structure, acquired as part of Reddy Branch Stream Valley Park, was once part of Oakley Farm. Built before or just after emancipation, the cabin is representative of slave or tenant housing and is a rare surviving example. Reddy Branch, which flows through the parkland to the rear of the cabin, once provided water power for a mill in nearby Brookeville. The mill race, a trench engineered to carry water to the mill, still flows the contour of Brookeville Road.

Erected by Montgomery County Department of Parks.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Notable Buildings. In addition, it is included in the Maryland, Montgomery Parks series list.

Location. 39° 10.739′ N, 77° 4.313′ W. Marker is in Brookeville, Maryland, in Montgomery County. It is on Brookeville Road 0.3 miles east of Grayhaven Manor Road, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3610 Brookeville Road, Olney MD 20832, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker

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is in the Washington Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American Mid-Atlantic.

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

and also the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Freedmen during Reconstruction in Montgomery County (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Newlin’s Mill (approx. 0.6 miles away); Valley Mill House (approx. 0.6 miles away); The Moore Cottage (approx. 0.6 miles away); Murphy House (approx. 0.7 miles away); Margaret Brooke House (approx. 0.7 miles away); Brookeville (approx. 0.7 miles away); August 26, 1814 (approx. 0.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Brookeville.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Brookeville Schoolhouse (was approx. 0.7 miles away but has been permanently removed).

Also see . . .
1. Oakley Cabin African American Museum and Park. Montgomery Parks website entry (Submitted on July 15, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)

2. Oakley Log House.

The Marker Beside the Cabin image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Swain, July 7, 2007

2. The Marker Beside the Cabin

The mill race is behind the cabin.

National Register Nomination Form, Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties (Submitted on October 1, 2013, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland.)

Additional commentary.
1. Additional Notes on the Cabin
Based on a brochure from the Maryland-National Capital Parks and Planning Commission, the cabin was probably built around 1820 as part of Oakley Farm, run by Richard B. Dorsey. The occupants probably worked in nearby Newlin's Mill.

— Submitted July 15, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, October 24, 2009

3. Oakley Cabin Marker

Photographed by Craig Swain, July 7, 2007

4. The Cabin

Oakley Cabin image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, October 24, 2009

5. Oakley Cabin

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, October 24, 2009

6. Oakley Cabin

Credits. This page was last revised on March 15, 2022. It was originally submitted on July 15, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 2,327 times since then and 55 times this year. Last updated on February 15, 2008, by Christopher Busta-Peck of Shaker Heights, Ohio. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 15, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 3. submitted on October 1, 2013, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 4. submitted on July 15, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 5, 6. submitted on October 1, 2013, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland.