The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1905-08-12
]. AN nIsroRIo COLONIAL MANSION:
Old Perry Hall-One of Baltimore Coun-
.tv,s--Hisroric Structures -


Twelve miles from Baltimore, on the Belail
road, and few hundred rods from the PIKE
near by stands one of the most interesting Colo
NAL mansions in Maryland, says the baltimore
SIN. Its historic name is Perry Hall, ana its ap'
pearance suggests baronial castle ''in ye 0lden
tyme.n
The original Perry Hall tract was first owned
by Mr.. Henry Dorsey Cough and 1t consisted OF
thousands of acres of the most fertile land, but
at present owing to fortuitous circumstances
and modern ideas. the domain has been divided
into MANY different farms. 1t still embraces,
however. about 26O acres of the most arabic and
the best cultivated land in Maryland. The pres
ent occupant and owner of the estate is Mr..
William Dunty. who always takes the greatest
pleasure in showing visitors the relics and curl
osities about the place.
+ representative of the Sun, knowing the
growing interest in Colonial Maryland history.
visited Perry Hall one day this week, and after
having heen received with the proverbial Mary
land hospitality. was most courteously shown
through the mansion. Mr.. Dunty was asked
how many rooms there were, but was himself
little puzzled and said: "Well 1 guess about
2On The writer in his peregrinations counted rs.
The main entrance to the house is from the
south by a broad flight of steps to wide We
randa from which ponderous old oaken double
doors open into spacious hallway. Then comes
an Eastlake stairway as old as it Is, made in the
style of today. Then followed thorough tour
of the mansion, which embraced a view of the
many rooms, with their high ceilings, spacious
dimensions, wainscoted walls and mantels and
altogetherantique surroundings, making situa-
ton in which an antiquarian would revel. Spa
cious parlors side rooms, sitting rooms, kitchen
big enough for hotel, all combine to show what
Maryland hospitality was in the old times.
Ia the cellar of the mansion are many vaulted
inches, and the timbers and the masonry of the
wallsiwell attest the faithfulness with which
our ancestors did their work, lesson which
could we'll be taken advantage of by their sue
cessors, and then Inspector Preston would not
have occasion to condemn SO many buildings.
In 1850, wien this mansion was built, there were
no inspectors, but the builders used the best
material, employed the best help attainable and
the result o. their skill and integrity and enter
prise is shown in the many mansions which still
survive throughout Maryland as monuments to
their ability.
Mr.. Cough, the first owner of the plantation.
was the owner of 800 negro slaves, and the old
Jail, a few hundred yards from the ''home place."
still stands as nemento of by-gone times. 1t
is a vertable ''Dg cabin" built in primitive
style, with rough-hewn logs, the ends dovetailed
together and the ipterstices chinked with NOR
tar. Despite its age, it is in good condition now,
and from its appearance, will last more than
century more.
Perry Hall and its adjacent territory is espe-
cially dear to Methodists, for the reason that
Mr.. Cough was a Church of England man, but
his wife was SO impressed by the preaching of
the Methodist ministers in those days that he,
influenced by her, embraced that faith himself.
after first having prevented his wife from at
tending the Methodist meetings. After Coughs
conversion to Methodism he erected Methodist
chapel and their house became the stopping
place of Methodist ministers in those days.
Under the hospital roof of Perry Hall those
we'll known names in Methodism, Bishops AS
bury, Coke, Black and vasey, found shelter, and
the organization of the Methodist Episcopal
Church was planned at this place prior to the
conference held in Baltimore in 1874.
When Cough erected his chapel he built
steeple and in it he put bell, that being the
first Methodist place of worship in the United
States that had one. At that time it was con-
sidered an innovation and as indicating a lean
ing toward Papacy, and much indignation was
excited.
Under the roof of Perry Hall House the Metho-
dist preachers of the United States assembled
in December, 17S4. They rode on horseback
from Perry Hall to Baltimore and held the
Christmas conference in Lovely Lane Chapel,
when the constitution and book of discipline of
the Methodist Episcopal Church in America was
adopted and when Francis Asbury, who had been
sent from England by Wesley, was chosen as
bishop.