Lanterns / cupolas on roofs in Howard County MD for light and ventilation

One way to cool buildings was to have a 'lantern' or cupola on the roof that would draw the warm air up stairs, or through vents or ductwork then out the slat openings or open the windows of the lantern. Cooler air would be sucked in from below. Lantern on Linwood.

The interior view (next photo) of Linwood's lantern c1865, shows the ropes that opened the windows and the black square vents below each window.

Ruthless, winner of first Belmont Stakes, killed by a hunter at "Oakland Manor"

In 1867 the first Belmont Stakes race was held at the new Jerome Park racecourse.  A filly won. Ruthless was raised by Francis Morris (1811-1886) at Throggs Neck, now part of NYC.  Morris also owned farms in Texas and "Oakland Manor" near Ellicott City where Ruthless was shot in 1876.  In her short career, Ruthless ran in 11 races: won 7 and second in 4, before an injury.  Her first foal Battle Axe, won the Kentucky Stakes at Saratoga in 1873.

Bleak House - historic home ruin becomes a tot slide

On a hill off the east side of Rain Dream Hill near Wilde lake sits the shell of a stone house - "Bleak House" - once part of "Oakland." The wealthy George Riggs Gaither built the home for his newly married son George (who became a Confederate cavalry officer) and his wife Rebecca Dorsey.  As the home of a confederate, Bleak House was sold during the Civil War in 1863 and the family moved to a safer Baltimore.  During the Depression the home was deserted and was just a few wall fragments by 1960.  The ruins form a creative play space with a slide, a ramp and a few levels to practice stairs.  A small outbuilding, probably the dairy, is beyond the slide in the photo to the left.

Oakland Mills blacksmith shop in danger

The blacksmith shop is literally falling down. Colonial Williamsburg staff called it "unparalleled by anything we have seen elsewhere on the East Coast."  Built in 1820 on the Columbia to Georgetown Turnpike, the house "Felicity" and shop is at 5471 Old Columbia Road next to Rt 29.  It remained a working forge until 1950.

"Wilde Lake" - Laura Littman's Columbia sites photos: Old Oakland Farm, People's Tree and Wilde Lake

Once part of the vast lands of Charles Sterrett Ridgely's Oakland mansion HERE , the stone home "Old Oakland" was the farm complex for the estate. It is extremely close to the stone slave house, blacksmith building and other outbuildings HERE .  It must be the inspiration for the Laura Littman mystery "Wilde Lake"

Oakland's outbuildings repurposed

A previous post HERE described Oakland. Next to the mansion is a stone wash house (left) which connects to the underground ice house holding 1200 bushels of ice. Nearby is the fancy carriage house.  In the farm section, now next to the man-made Wilde Lake on Hyla Point Road, is the old Oakland house, stone slave and blacksmith buildings, a sheep house, a spring house and a later-built barn.

Charles Sterrett Ridgely's name change and Oakland

Charles Ridgely Sterrett (1782-1847) legally changed his surname as requested by his mother's uncle Capt. Charles Ridgely, the builder of "Hampton" when he died in 1790.  Another heir of the childless Ridgely, Charles Carnan also added Ridgely to his name and inherited Hampton.  Built in 1811, Oakland underwent changes during its years of many owners. It is at 5430 Vantage Point Road, Columbia.