The Blue House

36929 Gaver Mill Road

“The City House in the Country”

Built in Washington, D.C., circa 1850’s where Union Station stands today, purchased in 1910 and transported in pieces by railway and then horse carriage to Hillsboro, reconstructed 1910-1911. Owned originally by the Hammerly family.

When you enter:

As you walk through the original front doors into the foyer, you’ll be tranported in time. The wainscot in the foyer and staircase, along with the wide molding throughout the house, showcase the craftmanship of the Victorian era. Most of the light fixtures in the home have been replaced with period lighting to reinstate the historic feel.

Farwell Cottage 

36982 Charles Town Pike

(Circa 1785 by Edward Cunard Sr.)

Stone construction – A tavern in the early 1800’s then the home 

of a saddle maker (1853-1903)

When you enter:

The front door looks back onto the front porch. This porch, though recently remodeled, was made to match the original porch. The unique “A-Frame” staircase going up the front was likely made as a space saving method to allow access to the front, because of the house’s close proximity to the thoroughfare. Though some hypothesize the staircase was made this way to allow for separate entrances for men and women, there is no historical evidence to confirm this. The porch ceiling was painted the traditional sky blue. This color is found in some African American traditions and it is said to be good luck, keeping evil spirits away or simply acting as a bug repellant. The planking of the deck slightly slopes away from the house to prevent any water damage. The wide original windows allow for ample light to enter the first floor. 

Hooe’s Spring House

37055 Charles Town Pike 

“If there are no bullfrogs in the spring house, the water is no good.”

(Circa 1860 restored in 2019 by the current owner)

When you enter:

The primary function of a spring house was to protect the spring from leaves and debris.

Go down the steps and look in the right corner for the place where the spring still bubbles from the ground. The small channel around the structure was designed to direct the flow around the building and maintain a cool internal temperature, making it the perfect storage location for dairy products, cider, vinegar, fruits, vegetable, and meat (some placed directly in the stream in crocks or jars, some hanging from the ceiling).

This spring house has a second floor that you can access by the wooden staircase. This second floor is dryer and was ideal for items that wouldn’t do well with too much dampness. Enter and notice the ledge that runs all around the room. This would have been used as a shelf for produce and eggs, and it’s possible that butter would have been made here also. 

The Jewelry box 

36997 Charles Town Pike

Shop of Manly Hammerly, Tailor (circa late 1700s)

Stone (random rubble) Originally a story and a half. 

When you enter:

Coming through the front door, you’ll notice the open floor plan that makes the small home feel almost spacious.

The large fireplace has been converted from wood burning, then to a pellet stove, and finally to a small wood stove recently.

Crossing the room towards the back door, you may notice the change in floorboards just under the kitchen bar. This is where the single dentist chair was bolted to the floor when the house was a dentist’s office.

Turning to the left, you’ll see evidence of the home’s first job, which was a tailor’s shop. The large window in the east wall of the kitchen, which is an unusually large window for 1804, was originally built in order to showcase women’s dresses toward the street. The tailor actually lived next door in the blue-green house.

Matthews Cottage

37004 Charles Town Pike

Circa 1800s – Log covered in pebbledash in 1912 

Shoemaker shop 

NOTE: THIS STOP IS JUST AN OUTDOOR STOP TO HIGHLIGHT THE USE OF FRONT PORCHES.  The interior of the house itself is not part of the tour.

The concept of a covered front porch is a unique North American architectural feature. With access to mass-produced architectural pattern books, front porch additions became fashionable in the mid-1800s.

In addition to serving as an outdoor shelter, the covered porch provided shade to the building, giving a cooling effect to the interior and offering a protected space to do some chores such as shucking peas or mending laundry—or to just sit and relax in the cool of an evening In the 19th century small town,  the front porch was a great place to see, be seen, and to be courted.