The "A House looking for A Home: Part II" Story

It was an ordinary day.  If you read my story yesterday you might be picturing me standing in front of the historical Landon House in Urbana, Maryland.  That would be a good observation on your part, but I must admit I am not unaccompanied in my investigative reporting with my trusty Sony Alpha DSLR, for you see my granddaughter Camille is standing beside me giving me encouragement and support.  At least as much as a nine-year-old can give to her aging tampah.  Yes, I still feel the electricity in the air and swear I can hear voices talking to me, but Camille and I are not alone.  Parked directly in front of the old historic mansion is a red sedan.  

Front steps of the Landon House.  There are two entrances to the mansion.

And the owner of the car is standing on a ladder with a set of blueprints in his hands directly in front of us.  Knowing that we parked the car and walked around a chained gate with a PRIVATE sign on it, I was not sure how to approach the guy.  He led the way with, "How can I help you?"  "I was wondering if I could take some photos of the place for a story I would like to write about the Landon House?  Also was wondering if I could take a photo of the charcoal drawings that are on the wall above one of the fireplaces inside the house?"  He studied Camille and me, holding the camera by my side, and said, "Come in and I'll show you were the drawings are located."  He introduced himself as Alan, an architect who is working on the property to prepare it for renovation.  I introduced Camille and me and handed him a card with the e-address for my blog.  He looked at it and said, "Love the name."  Camille and I followed him into the house and through a maze of rooms to the rear where we immediately saw the drawings on the wall.  He told us that the drawings had been wallpapered over years ago, but were found later when the wallpaper was removed.  They are in remarkable condition, but covered with a large piece of plexiglas.  Grabbed my camera and snapped a shot.  Reflections abounded.  Wow, I'm not sure I can take that through the plexiglas.  He grabbed a hammer and took the moulding off the plexiglas and removed it from the drawings.  Snapped a few photos and helped him return the plexiglas and moldings to their original position.  

Charcoal from the fireplace was used to make these drawings.  The drawings on the right were done by the Confederate soldiers of General Lee and ........ while the drawing on the left of Lincoln was done by Union soldiers.  Larger versions can be found at the end of my story.

Camille and I walked through a few of the first floor rooms to view the old built-in cabinets and pocket doors.  Alan told us that there are 10 fireplaces in the house that would help heat the house before the furnace was installed.  

Some of the built-ins that were in every room.

One of the 10 fireplaces in the building.

At the rear of one of the larger rooms we could see damage that had occurred from years of neglect.  Large beams were supporting the upper floors at the rear of the home.

Supporting beams in the rear of the home hold the upper floors in place.

We entered one of the two main staircases that would have greeted the visitors to the house years ago.  The wooden floors were in remarkably good condition.

Grand staircase leading to the second floor.

Then I asked him if I could visit the cellar and see if I can find any traces of the slaves, dogs or ghosts that I had read about.  Handed me his flashlight and said, "Help yourself."  "Come on Camille," I said to my sidekick.  I headed down the stairs, but didn't hear footsteps behind me.  "I think I'll wait here," she responded sheepishly.  I continued on.  

Stairs leading to the cellar where the slaves and perhaps a few dogs were kept.

Dampness and darkness appeared before me and I wasn't sure if I should continue.  Alan yelled, "I don't think you'll see anybody down there, but there is a skeleton by the one door.  Part of a Halloween tour a few years ago."  

One of the rooms in cellar which has a window in it.  I did not see the white streak of light on the far wall when I was taking the photo.  Not sure what it may be, but I felt as if someone was watching me as I wondered through the cellar.  The blurry photo is because of the darkness and my choice not to use the flash.

Exiting the cellar, I saw an image on the steps.  I carefully approached and found it was a veil from a past wedding that was held in the house.  Scared the crap out of me at first.

I stood still in the darkness with the flashlight and was sure I could feel eyes watching me.  I heard scratching noises coming from another room that was casting a streak of light in front of me.  Headed in that direction and saw where the slaves would bed down along the stone walls.  I had just enough light to take a photo with my camera as I walked towards the light.  Stuck my head in a few other rooms and had enough of the cellar.  

Bathrooms on 2nd and 3rd floors looked identical. 

Rooms with closets were the same on 2nd and 3rd floors.   

Looking down the hall, Camille and I saw an arm chair at the far end in the last room.

Found my granddaughter at the top of the stairs and we headed for the second and third floors.  Plenty of rooms that would have been the rooms for the boarders of the girl's school and military school that occupied this building at one time, but only one bathroom per floor.  

In the room with the chair we saw an old poster on the floor which was advertising Abraham Lincoln for President and Andrew Johnson for Vice-President.  More than likely a reproduction of an old poster.

Staircase from the 3rd floor.  The flooring and banisters were in remarkably good shape.

Finished my picture taking, thanked our host and headed back to the car.  Camille and I  returned later in the day for outdoor shots when the car was no longer in front of the house.  

Doorknob on one of the two front doors.  I can't imagine how many famous people passed through this door and touched the doorknob.  I can now add my name to the list. 

Overall shot of the Landon House.  Supposed to have approximately 1000 square feet of floor space on each of the four floors.

This is said to be a small chapel in the backyard, where two of the owners of the house were laid out when they died.  The chapel contains a picture of the Blessed VIrgin Mary that was shipped from Albania some time ago.  It also contains the words in latin: "Magnificat Anima Mea Dominum" which roughly means "The Lord Magnifies My Spirit".  I was not able to gain entrance into the chapel.  Kinda glad I didn't.

We took a few photos in the front and worked our way around to the rear of the house where we found an old stone building.  Interesting place that I found was a chapel.  I believe that Camille enjoyed reliving history as much as I did today.  We will find other interesting places near her house in the future.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

Left side of the wall with drawings.

Right side of the wall.