Hickory Ridge in Highland with Reip wall oven

The country home of Nicholas Greenberry Ridgely in Highland (Rt 108 between Ellicott City and Sandy Spring) was built in 1749 with an addition in the early 1800s.  It was later bought by Samuel Hopkins (nephew of Johns Hopkins) and renamed "White Hall."


"Hickory Ridge" was built after Greenberry Ridgely (1736-1795) received the land in 1749 from his father Col. Henry Ridgely 3d (1692-1760).  When Greenberry died his son Nicholas Greenberry Ridgely (1768/70-1829), a wealthy Baltimore merchant, inherited it in 1800 and added the west wing.  His only child Eliza Ridgely (1803-1867) married John Ridgely of the huge 1790 mansion "Hampton" (now a museum north of Baltimore) in 1828.  Eliza was painted with her harp in 1818, aged 15, by Thomas Sully and the portrait, which for years was in "Hampton" and is now in the National Gallery of Art in DC.

The kitchen contains a Henry Reip (c1781-1859) metal wall oven made and sold at 8 N. Paca, Baltimore between 1816-1845.  "Hampton" has a metal wall oven built by his son and competitor Alfred Reip (1809-1895) and sold at the 337 Baltimore Street, Baltimore location from 1854 to 1867 while Eliza (Ridgely) Ridgely was the 'mistress of Hampton.'  (Hampton oven pictured below)

Samuel Hopkins (1838-1873) bought the country home in 1877 (when he married his wife Martha) and changed the name to "White Hall" after his birthplace "Whitehall".  His father Joseph inherited the home where his uncle Johns Hopkins (1795-1873) the famous wealthy Baltimore philanthropist was also born (Joseph's brother).

The private home at 13032 Highland Road is across from the Highland post office.

Photos and more information at HO-20

©2019 Patricia Bixler Reber
Forgotten history of Ellicott City & Howard County MD