The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1886-06-12
FARMS OF CARROLL.
Written for the Democratic Advocate.
PARIS RIDGE.
The Residence of Jacob Myerly.

This farm is situated in the 18th election
district of Carroll county, within three
quarters of mile of the city of Westmin-
ster, on the road leading towards Warfelds-
burg. 1t derives its name from PARIS
Ridge, the name given to the heights around
Westminster, on portion Of which it Is
situated 1t comprises 1154 acres, twenty
of which is in timber, and has grown by
accretion, like stones increase, by the ad-
hesion of particles in contact with them
from time to time The original purchase
was of 20 acres, from james Blizzard, in
1851. In 1867 he added so acres, pur
chased of his father, Solomon Myerly, for
the sum of S85 per acre, making $4,000.
In 1884 he added twelve acres more, which
he purchased of DR.. John Matthias at $50
Der acre, and one year after two and half
acres from the same gentleman, at Sl2l 80
per acre, making the farm to contain, in
Guiding lot of three-quarters of an acre,
the quantity of 115f acres, as previously
stated.
The farm is divided into eleven fields,
all well fenced with substantial post and
rail and worm fence. The land is partly
limestone and partly honey-comb soil,
There is honey-comb stone quarry on the
farm, which supplies some of the best build
ing stone in this region. There are. also
two limestone quarries, which have been
extensively worked with profit, the proceeds
of the sales of which paid the price of the
farm. These quarries are still worked with
profitable results, affording the best of stone.
The twenty acres purchased Of james
Blizzard was covered with stones, briars,
wild grape vines and other distractions to
profitable cultivation, all of which were re-
moved and the land cleared up and put in
good order, by the use Of lime, stable ma
nure and Peruvian guano. Mr.. Myerly
was not actively engaged in farming him
self, but directed the operations while he
was personally engaged in the Office of the
Register of Wills
There are three dwelling houses on the
farm. The dwelling house on this portion
of the farm, the original twenty acres pur-
chased of Mr.. Blizzard, is log house,
weatherboarded, built by Mr.. Jacob Myerly
in 1855. 1t is % feet by 20, two stories
high, with a bodybuilding II by 81 feet,
the whole containing ten rooms. The
building is surrounded with lawn, in
which is variety of shade trees, shrubbery
and flowers. Among the trees stands
giant willow, ten feet two inches in circum-
ference, which has made its immense
growth since 1863 At the time of the
battle of Gettysburg, which was fought
July l, 2 and 3, 1868, it was but small
twig, not much thicker than mans thumb.
A captain of the Union army, who stopped
at the house temporarily at the time of that
battle, hitched his horse to the willow, and
the animal bit off the top. No other
damage was done to it, and it continued to
grow rapidly, is still Aourishing, and will
no doubt continue to grow for years to
come. The secret of its rapid growth is
probably to be found in fine never-failing
spring of water which flows close to its
roots. The dwelling is adorned with
handsome porch supported by large turned
pillars. The bodybuilding is adorned by a
double porch, supported by four large
turned pillars, giving it an imposing ap-
pearance and handsome finish. 1t is oc-
cupied by Mr.. Calvin Myerly, son of the
proprietor, who farms the entire place.
The barn on this part of the farm was
built by Mr.. Myerly in 1856. It's bank
barn, 81 by 40 feet, with broad drive
into the main door, threshing floor, two
hay mows, and stabling for four horses and
six COWS.
The dairy is built of concrete-lime, sand
and gravel 1t is twelve feet square, with
large cement trough, through which flows
the water from a superb spring, conducted
in iron pipes, distance of about one hun
bred yards Thence it is piped to the barn
yard for the cattle and other stock.
The homestead Of Mr.. Jacob Myerly is
that portion of the farm bought of his
father. The house is built of the best
honey-comb stone, and was erected by his
father, Mr.. Solomon Myerly, about 1916,
the stone being taken from quarry on the
farm. 1t is "a feet front by 20 feet, two
stories high The bodybuilding is two
stories also, 81 feet in length by II feet in
width, the whole containing eight rooms and
a hall. The front building is adorned with
handsome porch, and the bodybuilding
with a porch and pantry. The whole
building is piece of superb masonry still
in an excellent state of preservation. The
interior of the building is also well finished.
The parlor and the dining-room walls and
ceilings, are painted in oil, and laid off in
patchwork, presenting an ornate appear
ance A handsome lawn studded with
shade trees and flowers and adorned with a
neat lattice summer-house, slopes gradually
down to the meadow, through which flows
the Little Pipe Creek, which takes its rise
at Westminster, and runs southwark to the
Potomac; while on the opposite side of
Westminster the Patapsco takes its rise
and flows towards Baltimore and empties
itself into the Chesapeake bay.
The barn is bank barn, 80 by go feet,
affording stable room for eight head of
horses and ten COWS. Ithas two floors and
two hay mows. It was built in 1876 by
Solomon Myerly, the father of the present
proprietor There is large corn crib and
carriage house under one roof, the latter
capable of holding three carriages or other
vehicles, and the former capable of holding
one hundred barrels ofcorn. Also wheel
right shop and blacksmith shop; large
piggery, with loft above, twenty-one feet
square, and shed to the piggery for wag-
ons, carts and farm machinery; a hen house,
sixteen feet square; smoke house, wood
house, and bake oven.