The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1913-06-13
DWELLING 'D|sMANTLEO.
Colonial Dwelling to be Replaced
BY Modern Sructure-Cambrid
In Ye Olden Time.

street, row being demotSned 10
make room for an up-to-date and
more utilitarian structure-an opera
house-removes one of the few re-
naming landmarks of Colonial Cam
bridge.
Mr.. Thomas Nevett, Jr.,the lead
ing merchant of Cambridge, and per-
.baps the owner Of more land in
Cambridge, in his day, or since, oc-
cupied this dwelling certainly part
of it, as his home, as early as 1892.
In fact, he owned all the southern
part of the town in the first half
of the eighteenth century, as well
as that part to the south and north
of the Choptank Parish lands, hav-
ing acquired same by patents and
purchase. Indeed, it can be reason
ably assumed that he made this
building, or a part Of it, his resi-
dence, at even an earlier date than
1882, at which time he made addi-
tons to the dwelling, in all proba-
billy making it largely as it stood
before having been torn down, eX-
cept the long front porch, which
was erected by Mr. Thomas White.
Before the long porch was erected,
there was only platform, with ben
ches on each side, little more
than the width of the front door,
but without roof.
Veneration for historic houses,ev-
en- though associated with famous
men and events, seems to have lit
tie influence in their preservation
in this age, a condition so aptly
demonstrated in the demolition of
the famous "House in st. Martins
ST. London, which was built for,
and occupied by, Sir Isaac Newton,
the discoverer of the law of gravita-
ton, from 1712 to 1920.
In 174S Mr.. Nevett gave his dau-
ghter, Sarah, very large part OF
his real estate, and refers in this
gift, conveying part of his town
property, as "beginning at the
northwest corner of the garden
where he now dwells,' the location
being now Gay alley. between Race
and High streets.
Mr.. Nevett's first purchase of
land in Cambridge was in 1719,from
Arthur Whitley, whose wife was
Elizabeth, widow of DR.. William
Eich, OF Talbot county, and whose
granddaughter, Elizabeth, became
the wife of Col. Stevens Woolford.
This purchase is convincing of his
early residence and confirms the
presumption that he likely built his
home very early in the eighteenth
century.
In order that we may appreciate
what Cambridge looked like in the
early period mentioned, 1925, let
US draw upon our Imagination.
There were only a few dwellings
and, perhaps, not more than one
store, Mr.. Nevett's, on the ROAD
leading through the town from the
river to the southern limits, at what,
s now Easl1in gto7l sfreee-
This road was crossed at several
points by branches leading to the
creek, like those we find on our
country roads. One where stands
the white House" of Keene &
Sherman, another opposite the old
building-the subject of this article
and the third about the site of
A. J. Dunn's store, and on each side
of the road were vacant lots-in-
deed, fields-cultivated in corn, to-
bacco, etc.
Picture in your mind, if you can,
the conditions and surroundings
then existing in the hamlet of Cam
bridge, contrasted with those now,
in what our citizens proudly claim
the prettiest town in Maryland.
Looking, then, upon the waters of
the Choptank, from the foot of High
street, the few English settlers saw
lOl SSlS upOu DOJI uo lal 90
the eye could reach, and Indians
lazily padding their canoes upon
the waters of the river. Then it
was the Ababsco tribe, under Chief
Ababsco, who died about 1905, had
their settlement on the site of what
is soon to be the State Insane
Hospital. Then, too, instead of see
ing, as we do now, our farmers and
citizens from nearby towns and en-
virons, coming here in automobiles,
carriages and wagons, the settlers
would rarely see planter enter the
kIge, but frequently Indians came
in to barter and trade their beaded
work for tobacco, etc.
The principal roads, following In
dian trails, led from Cambridge to
Cabin Greek and Vienna, the latter
diverging at the fork, or road, near
the home of Mr. William w. Byrn.
Our Indians, the Ababscoes, Wiwash
and Ahatchswoops, allied tribes of
the Choptank Indians, from tradi-
ton, were among the most peace
able in the colony. Not so, how
ever, were the Nanticokes, who were
considered the most menacing tribe
in this county. One can, therefore,
appreciate the feelings of our early
countrymen, who spent their lives
practically surrounded by Indians,
clus:vely confined to growing tobac-
co for shipment to England.
In 1911 when our streets were