11747 Park Heights Ave
Owings Mills, MD 21117, USA

Blendon Estate, 11747 Park Heights Ave Owings Mills, Baltimore County, MD

The Blendon Estate has been cited by registration form for the Caves Valley National Register Historic District as "a contributing resource with a high level of integrity and historic and architectural significance to the nomination." The significance of the 110-acre tract lies in its origins as part of "The Caves" estate of the Carroll family. Dr. Charles Carroll acquired the land in the early 18th century, and his descendants operated a 2,500-acre farm in the Caves Valley until the 1890`s. Despite the subdivision of the Caves property into smaller country estates in the early 20th century, the open, rural character of the 19th century farm has continued. Operation of the Blendon Estate, created by Richard E. Breed, 3rd, in the 1930`s, has centered on the Breed-Krongard house, which stands at the top of a hill overlooking the former Caves tract, and on the hay barn and tenant house. The latter two buildings represent uses that have continued on the Blendon tract since the mid-19th century.

Blendon Estate, Tenant House, 11747 Park Heights Ave Owings Mills, Baltimore County, MD

The Blendon Estate tenant house has been cited by registration form for the Caves Valley National Register Historic District as "a contributing resource with a high level of integrity and historic and architectural significance to the nomination." Apparently built as a dwelling for tenant farmers working on the northeast portion of "The Caves" estate of the Carroll family, the original, south section of the tenant house was constructed in the 19th century, possibly before 1850. The tenant house was associated with the nearby vernacular bank barn from the time that the barn was constructed in the middle to late 19th century. The tenants of the house were responsible for the livestock and hay-raising operations of John Henry Carroll, and his son, John Nicholas Carroll, on the northeast section of their estate. Although substantially rebuilt and remodeled in the 20th century, the dwelling continued with a similar function after the 1930`s, serving as a home for employees of the families who lived in the Breed-Krongard House on the hill above.

Blendon Estate, Barn, 11747 Park Heights Ave Owings Mills, Baltimore County, MD

The Blendon estate barn contributes to the significance of the Caves Valley National Register Historic District. The Register district nomination cites the barn as "a contributing resource with a high level of integrity and historic and agricultural significance to the nomination." Built as an outlying hay barn on the large "Caves" estate by the Carroll family, the structure recalls the system of satellite fields and outbuildings created by the farming gentry of Baltimore County during the 19th century. The barn architecturally is significant in Baltimore County as a largely unaltered bank barn with Tuscan Villa cupola and arched Italianate louvered vents.