Oakland Mills Blacksmith House and Shop

The Columbia Road was contracted on January 6, 1810, by the Maryland General Assembly to establish a toll road from Ellicott City to Georgetown.^[2] The property includes a 1.5-story wood-frame house, built c. 1820, a single-story blacksmithy, a smokehouse, and the remains of a spring house. The buildings are set close to the south side of the road. The house was built by the Ridgely family, who owned the original Oakland Mills flour mill complex that appeared on the Anne Arundel County tax list in 1798.^[3][4] The wood stable was used to raise Percheron workhorses for local farms. Both the house and smithy are extremely well preserved; the smithy, which ceased operation in 1950, houses one complete forge and parts of a second.^[5]

In 1878, Samuel F. Whipps (1831–1909) moved from his father William Whipps' house at "Rebecca's Lot" (now Whipps Family and Public Cemetery) to Felicity. He operated the Oakland Mills post office and blacksmith shop with his son William Whipps.^[6] Future Circuit Court Judge James A. Clark Sr. worked for a Mr. Whipps on-site in the late 1800s.^[7] The property was later purchased by a Mr. and Mrs. Frank Collins.^{[citation needed]} Most recently the property has been purchased by Genevieve Engleman, who resides there.^{[8][failed verification]}

The property was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2011.^[1] A 2001 book, Roads to Howard's Past, boasted about the Maryland Department of Transportation circumventing the historic properties, but by 2014 the historic register was changed to declare the property was not historic. County Executive Ken Ulman was part of the 2010 groundbreaking for a road-widening project in front of the historic structures. The project to increase traffic capacity and develop extra density in downtown Columbia reduced the property size, relocated Old Columbia Pike, and installed sound walls.^[10][11][12]

2016

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  Oakland Mills Blacksmith House Front
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  Oakland Mills Blacksmith Shop Front
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  Oakland Mills Blacksmith House and Shop Front Together
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  Oakland Mills Blacksmith House and Shop Behind
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  Oakland Mills Blacksmith House and Shop Behind 2

2025

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  Oakland Mills Blacksmith House in October 2025
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  Oakland Mills Blacksmith Shop in October 2025
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  Oakland Mills Blacksmith Shop in October 2025