Phantom Photography

I had the wonderful privilege of photographing a friends property in Maryland a few months back.

John Keefauver, an immigrant from Germany, took the oath of citizenship in 1798, listing his occupation as stone mason. A year later he bought this land. Subsequently in 1803, John Keefauver passed away, leaving his assets to his wife and children. John’s eldest son also named John remained at his fathers farm with his mother, Barbara. Barbara Keefauver must have died before 1827, because six of her children (or their heirs) each sold his one-seventh interest in the original six-acre Keefauver farm to John, the son, following that year.

John Keefauver, the son, died in 1870, aged 83. The next year Ruanna and Mariah Keefauver, his unmarried daughters, purchased the home farm from the other heirs for $1,400. At the public sale of her father’s personal possessions, Ruanna, already 52, bought …a cow, mowing scythe, mattock, rakes, 1 forke, shovel, reel, axe, chairs, chest, stove, cupboard, cook stove, ladder, meat tub, churn, tubs, iron kettles, bag, bench, two pigs, and a lot of corn. It would seem that she and Mariah, then 39, intended to be active farmers. They were frugal ladies, for several small loans to their father also had been recorded.

The property remained in the family until 1903, when the last living daughter Mariah passed away.

The log cabin originally consisted of the kitchen on the ground level, a single room with whitewashed log walls above, and a loft accessed by ladder. Paint, plaster and mortises indicate that wings were added on both the west and south sides to accommodate John’s (the son) growing family. The basement has stone walls and a channel for the springs to flow through, cooling crocks sitting in it. In the cellar are a summer beam held by chamfered posts and a fireplace used both for washing and butchering. A ground-level door opens to the north, with the southern side of the room built into the hill. The first floor is entered through a door on the south.

It is likely that the sisters built the brick house sometime in the last quarter of the 19th century shortly after their father’s death. The original locks in the house were patented in 1868, indicating a construction date after that.

Among the several outbuildings were a small log barn with post and beam wings on either side, and a little corn crib with post and beam framing held together with pegs. The small chestnut hog pen was probably there as well. Nothing was done on a large scale, there was enough to sustain the family, but little more.

***This is a private residence, trespassing prohibited***

Stumbled across this Western Maryland property over the summer. Early 1900’s store that was built alongside the main house, I believe to be roughly 1860’s. Wasn’t able to gain access to the main house which had a “condemned” government sign on it. Seemed someone was in the process of fixing it up a couple years back.

Somewhere off of 81 in Virginia lies a beautiful home with original outbuildings, including a hewn cabin/workshop. The property seems to remain as a memorial to the families relatives who once inhabited it. Most everything was locked up, access was limited. Based on the size of the trees growing alongside the hewn cabin, I believe it’s been a long time since the elders passed on.

The hewn cabin/workshop seems to have been left as it was decades ago. So many antique goodies lie in wait, in there own time capsule....

I’m not posting a picture of the main house due to its location and visibility.

I had the wonderful experience of touring this historic home, located in the Northern Neck region of Virginia over the summer with my youngest son. The Menokin is a great example of the NEO-PALLADIAN DESIGN, one of the few 18th-century Virginia homes for which the original architectural drawings still exist. There’s also a presentation design for the Menokin dated 1768. This site is a one of a kind project. Instead of restoring it to its former glory the decision has been made to use structural glass to recreate an abstract memory of an 18th-century house as it once stood while protecting what remains of it today. By doing this, it will allow you to see the integral construction methods of the property. While on our tour, it was explained to us that this house was built primarily through slave labor. Currently this is a multi million dollar project, with hopes in the future to fundraise excavations where the original slave quarters are as well as other known areas of interest that have been located by lidar detection.

FRANCIS LIGHTFOOT LEE (1734–1797)
“Francis Lightfoot Lee was an early, zealous, and active friend to the revolution, which established the Independence of the United States of America. He was a firm, calm, and enlightened patriot and a most unequaled social companion.” – From the obituary of Francis Lightfoot Lee in the Republican Citizen

LIke many founding fathers, however, his enlightenment was contradicted by his status as a slave owner.

Francis Lightfoot Lee was signer of both the Westmoreland Resolves (Feb. 27, 1766) and the Declaration of Independence (1776).

REBECCA TAYLOE LEE
(1753 – 1797)
Her marriage to Francis Lee bonded two powerful colonial families. A fact not overlooked by her father, John Tayloe II, “…for and in Consideration of the Natural love and affection which he bears to the said Rebecca Lee Hath…Doth give grant and a lien and Confirm unto the said Rebecca Lee and her heirs All that tract or parcel of land Commonly known by the name of Menokin Containing by Estimation one thousand acres…
…Also the following Twenty Negro Slaves (to wit) Old Will. James. Aaron. Harry. Ben. Little Will. Old Winny. Old Nan Cate. Dinah. Young Cate. Abraham. Charles. Sarah. Milly. Eve. Venus. Poress. George. and Criss. Together with their increase since the twenty fourth day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty nine it being the day on which the said Rebecca was possessed with the said Land and slaves…” [Deed of gift, October 5, 1778]

https://www.menokin.org/our-vision/

I want to take a moment and say THANK YOU for your support on my page! I’m overwhelmed with happiness by all of your amazing compliments, input and questions. I absolutely love photographing old properties, though I am especially passionate to explore the beauty in there decay. I’m grateful that my passion is shared in by all of you!

My next post will be dictated by all of you so let me know what you’d like to see next! A barn, historic house or hewn cabin??

~~~The majority vote wins and will be posted this Thursday~~~

Again, I’m truly honored to be able to take you all on a journey through my lens!

Found this extremely creepy property while out roaming in Virginia over the summer. When I walked up to this house I had a real uneasy feeling. There’s a board screwed over the front door that says condemned. I made the decision to photograph from the outside only. As I was finishing up I noticed what seemed to be another structure, roughly 100 feet away. It was hard to tell with all the overgrowth of trees. On further inspection, it was another house! I was feeling more comfortable with this house so I ventured in.... I haven’t a clue why the owners just seemed to up and leave one day, leaving all of there personal belongings behind in both houses. Clearly these properties have fallen victim too looters and kids over time. Based on the clapboard, trim work and other details I noticed, I’d date this homesite to be the late 1880’s to early 1900.

Who’s ready for a little creepy??? 👇🏼

I’ll post the full tour of this home and the bonus I came across on the same property this Saturday....

PS- I want to extend my gratitude to all
of you. I’m feeling very lucky to have your support! The amount of interest and comments alone, leaves me speechless. Thank you for supporting my vision and being so involved on my page 💛

1850’s 5:1 brick & bond house that was updated very well in the 60’s. This home was clearly loved till sadly, the owners passed away and the daughters were left responsible. I was told they wanted to sell out for big money to a quarry however, were stopped by the town. Property has sat unattended since then. The property is NOT listed for sale.

This property includes the main house, summer kitchen, barn and garage. The basement still has the coal room and canned goods. And of course my favorite, Roman numerals on the post and beam in the attic!!

I do believe the barn predates this brick home. Roughly 250 feet away is a log cabin that has been added onto over the years and re-faced. I’m sure that both properties were connected at one time and later divided and sold separately.

~~~Stay tuned~~~

I’ll be posting a full tour on this circa 1850’s gem tomorrow!!

Bealer Farm, Washington County, circa 1800’s. Bank barn with an added stanchion/dairy house in the 1940/50’s plus wagon barn.

*** this farm is private property, trespassing prohibited***

Bealer Farm, Washington County. Circa 1800’s slave/servant quarters mixed in the spring house and the summer kitchen. The main house has been torn down sadly.

There is also an original bank barn with an added stanchion/dairy house in the 1940/50’s on the premises. I will post those photographs tomorrow.

***this is located on private property, trespassing prohibited***

After much research and many scouting trips in the woods (with the help of Dale Marshall), I’ve finally located the old Slifer Cemetery. This is one of the oldest (lost and found again) cemeteries with huge historical importance for the village of Burkittsville. Not only are many of the Slifer members buried here, it is also the final resting place for Henry Burkitt; wife and family. Subsequently many of the tombstones have been relocated to other cemeteries in the area over time.

This cemetery is the final resting place for children and adults, some as young a 1 years old. Tombstones come in a verity of styles with primitive hand chiseled writing as well as more professional inscriptions. Some even appear to be written in German.

https://www.southmountainheritage.org/burkittsville-maryland.html

***this is located on private property, trespassing prohibited***

Came across this homestead today, circa 1850’s. The main house had suffered a major fire sadly.
Property includes a summer kitchen/spring house, smokehouse, original bank barn (seemed to had been modified after being neglected in the last decade), dairy house and stanchion barn (circa 1950’s), corn crib and hog barn.

***this is located on private property, trespassing prohibited***

This amazing brick and frame bank barn was most likely built about 1855/56 due to a wall inscription inside with the initials “B H 1855”. I found so many amazing details I hope you will enjoy including Roman numerals, hand forged spikes and historic graffiti!!! 

This structure was part of an existing farm that suffered a major fire. It’s not clear when the homesite burnt but should be noted it’s association with the Old Needwood tract (please reference my previous post of the “Old Needwood Mansion”). 

The bond pattern is 5:1 with rectangular vents on the east gable elevation. The walls are deteriorated, but were originally plastered and whitewashed (which you can see some remanence of).

***this is located on private property, trespassing prohibited***

I’m fascinated by antique door hardware 💛 which one do you like the most?

Peekaboo...
Loudoun, Virginia

“D. Ahalt was born in 1848 in Burkittsville, the grandson of German immigrants who had migrated to the area and settled. At age thirty, Ahalt purchased an old flour mill, originally built by John Lee around 1848, located near the head of Samuels Run southeast of Burkittsville.
The distillation of rye whiskey in Maryland began shortly before the American Revolutionary War and remained a significant industry in the state until the passage of the Volstead Act in 1919 (prohibition). Likely inspired by the success of Horsey’s distillery which by this time had been in operation for nearly thirty years, Ahalt set out to build his own whiskey business, taking advantage of the same mountain spring water and locally-grown grain that made Horsey’s Old Maryland Rye such a successful product. He dismantled part of the mill in order to install a still and began production around 1880, slowly growing his output over the next decade. Historians who have examined distilling in Maryland point to Ahalt as an innovator in the industry. Like Horsey’s, Ahalt believed in the importance of “sloshing” his whiskey as part of the aging process. His whiskey was shipped from the port of Baltimore to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and back, a practice which produced “a unique and most agreeable softness” to the whiskey. Ahalt also implemented the “triple distillation process” at Mountain Spring, a technique for production widely used in Ireland but which had never been largely used in the United States.
The Mountain Spring Distilling Company grew quickly throughout the 1880s thanks to Ahalt’s innovative experimentation. In April 1890, Ahalt began construction of a 5-story warehouse at the distillery which was completed in the summer of 1891. An examination of Maryland State Tax Commissioner records illuminates the output of Mountain Spring from the mid-1890s through the opening years of the twentieth century. In 1897, the company’s output was assessed at $5,086.00. Ten years later in 1907, this value had doubled to $10,680.00. In 1910, the company was producing 120 bushels of mash every day.
Despite this significant growth, the company never approached the output of the neighboring Horsey’s Distillery (in the same 1910 listing, Horsey’s was outproducing Ahalt’s by 3 times as many bushels of mash per day.)In 1907, Ahalt reorganized his business, incorporating it as the Pure Rye Distilling Company and taking on four additional partners: John Hilleary Ahalt (his son), William Mahoney, C.H. Eckstein, and Frank J. Collins. The new Pure Rye Distilling Company was incorporated with $100,000.00 in stock. Under this new name, the distillery continued producing whiskey until the effects of prohibition finally forced the closure of the business. John D. Ahalt did not live to see this happen. He suffered a stroke and died at his home on January 9, 1916.”

***this is located on private property, trespassing prohibited***

I’m proud to say this 22 roomed mansion is currently being renovated by good friends of mine. As promised Wednesday, here’s the tour from my history buff question! The picture was taken inside the attic, great guesses everyone!

The Old Needwood is not only significant for its late Georgian architectural style, also significant for its association with Thomas Sim Lee, the second elected governor of Maryland, who served 1779-1782 and 1792-1794. The exact date of Lee's acquisition of the Needwood property is not yet known, may have been about 1779. Lee was a prominent patriot in the Revolutionary period, being an important supplier of men and materials for George Washington's army. Governor Lee died at Needwood in 1819. The Old Needwood farm remained in the Lee family until about 1862. Three other Lee family properties located on the original •forest of Needwood• tract are Needwood Forest, built in 1808 by Governor Lee's son William; the Needwood-Thomas Lee Farmstead, built about 1850 with alterations in about 1870; and the Outerbridge Horsey House and Distillery Site, built about 1840 with additions in about 1870.

***this is located on private property, trespassing prohibited***

Suspended in time...

Calling all history buffs and lovers of the old, It’s game time.... Can you identify what kind/part of a structure this is, give it your best guess!! I’ll post the answer and the photo collection this Sunday on my page. Good luck!!!!

This property is amazing, the history of one of the residents really attributes to its historical value!

“James Madison Downey (12 December 1809–28 March 1884), Speaker of the Restored House of Delegates and member of the Convention of 1864, was born in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, and was the son of William Downey, a farmer, and Maria Dorothy Hartman Downey. Nothing is known of his education. On 16 October 1834 he married Ann Eliza Funk. Six of their seven daughters and four of their five sons survived childhood. About 1847 Downey moved across the state line to Washington County, Maryland, where he farmed and cared for his aging father. On 15 March 1858 Downey paid $12,000 for Loudoun Mills, a sixty-five-acre tract in Loudoun County, and soon thereafter moved to Virginia. He sold the contents of his mill, distillery, store, and farm in September 1859. The following February he advertised the sale of the rest of his property, but he continued to reside there and in August 1860 employed four men at the mill. Census and tax records for that year indicate that he owned no slaves.

Civil War
Downey opposed secession in 1861, but because his property was in a contested area, during the Civil War armies and raiding parties on both sides seized grain, fodder, and many thousands of fence rails and bricks for campfires and shelters. Downey attempted to mitigate the harsh treatment of loyal Loudoun County residents by United States authorities who, among other things, cut off travel and trade to markets in Maryland and elsewhere in the United States. In 1864 he asked that the Union regional military commander send cavalry troops to Loudoun to protect loyal citizens and their crops. The shortages were made more severe by unscrupulous military officials and speculators, one of whom tried to recruit Downey. Three of Downey's daughters died during the Civil War. Confederates killed one of his sons while he was guiding Union troops, hanged one of his sons-in-law, and arrested Downey three times. A Confederate guerilla threatened his life in October 1863, after which Downey hid out in Maryland and Washington, D.C., until the end of the war.”

Resurvey of Three Springs in Maryland has amazing history, I have certainly enjoyed researching it! The upper room of the summer kitchen/spring house, with its small fireplace, was once a schoolroom for Daniel Wolf’s eleven children, for the children of neighbors and also for the children of slaves whose masters would allow them to attend. Wolf was pastor of the Manor Church of the Brethren for 39 years and was a devout man who did not believe in slavery. He did, however, buy slaves and let them work on his farm to earn their purchase price, then set them free. Through a ton of research, I was able to identify what was a freed slaves home today on the property.

The first portion of these photos are from the spring house/summer kitchen with the school room above. Circa 1794

The second portion of photos are of the hewn log cabin, covered with clapboard; freed salves house.

Through a ton of research I was able to identify what was a freed slaves home today on the property.

This Property is currently owned and the original homestead is lived in, I was granted special permission to have access to the property.

A few more pictures taken today from the 11 roomed house I photographed the other day. The bank barn is a mess so I’m not including those pics. Made it into the attic and the log cabins basement, was shocked to find what the craftsmanship there.

Here she is, all 11 rooms! Original late 1700’s hewn log cabin (refaced) with a brick and clapboard additions added later. The original ice house and summer kitchen with slave/cooks living quarters above.

***this is located on private property, trespassing prohibited***

Calling all history buffs and fans of the old houses! Take a guess at how many rooms in total this old farmhouse has.... GOOD LUCK!!!

Original house dates back to the late 1700’s with 3 additions added on later.

***Stay tuned, remainder of photos will be posted tomorrow and there’s a bunch!***

Some things I came across in my travels.

Built in 1884 the Winderbourne was known as the only grand and elegant structure in the rural town of Boyd’s Maryland. The Tottens were part of a wealthy, gracious aristocracy.

The Tottens built this as their summer home, sparing no expense. Fittingly enough, the place was dubbed the Winderbourne, a nod towards the fortunate invention of Elias Howe.

“The house was painted pale pink, with rose trim. The shutters were a deeper rose, almost purple. Gardeners were employed ~ a small, year-round staff, with increased summer help. House servants were kept on a yearly basis, also, although the winter residence of the Tottens was in Washington D.C.”

“Three children were born to Enoch and Mary Totten. But tragedy befell them, and their residence in Boyds ended on a sour note. The children were stricken with tiphoid fever. A son died, and the remaining two were deafened as a result of the illness. The daughter, Edith, became a medical professor at Johns Hopkins University. She adopted
a child. This child was killed in a fall, sliding down the bannisters of the enormous staircase at Winderbourne.”

Hoke-Hahn Farm ~Circa 1815~ part 1

“Thomas Scharf in his History of Western Maryland (1882) on page 624, states that "the Ceresvile mills and estate consisted of about 600 acres of choice limestone land, situated about three and one-third miles NE of Frederick on the east bank of the Monocacy, where waters of the Israel Creek empty into the river. At about 1800 the estate was owned by General Williams, and between 1812 and 1826 he built the mansion house in which Samuel Hoke, Jr. now resides, a saw-mill, and present Ceresville flouring and grist mills. The mansion house was subsequently the home of Major Daniel Hughes, who distinguished himself in the Indian War of Florida and Charles Johnson, father of General Bradley T. Johnson.
T. J. C. Williams, in History of Frederick County Maryland (1960 reprint, p. 814) recounts that the "Hoke family is of German lineage and was among the early families of York County Pennsylvania. Samuel, grandfather of Bradley H. Hoke, was a native of Hanover York County. About 1850 he settled in Frederick County where he introduced lime burning for agricultural purposes. Farmer by vocation, [he is] industrious, Republican and a member of the German Reformed Church". Despite the accolades of Williams, it is highly unlikely that Hoke introduced lime burning for agricultural purposes. In Sources of Changes in Farming in Frederick County. 1790-1840 (1985), Martin Paul Schipper notes that in the early nineteenth century farming prospered [in Frederick County]. Concern for agricultural productivity led to interest in crop rotation, liming, agricultural societies, cattle shows and farm journals. In Thomas Scharf's History of Western Maryland (1882) there is reference to the large lime operation started by M. J. Grove located in Buckeystown, and Jacob Grove is noted as a limeburner as early as 1821. By the time Hoke arrived in Frederick County in 1850 the use of lime for field fertilization was very well established in Frederick County.”
***This property is private owned and restricted to the public***

Seen better days...

Hilleary Farm, circa 1850’s. Part of the original Merry Peep O’Day land tract. The Hilleary’s were a very prominent and prosperous family in the Frederick Maryland area. Moving to Western Frederick in the early 1800’s, settling many homesteads grouped closely together. This is one of 4 homesteads built in close proximity on the same Merry Peep O’Day tract, with neighboring family homes on small acreage close by.

Found a child’s shoe as well as a women’s shoe plus a Blatz 1895 match safe in the attic along with the Roman numerals carved into the rafters... and an old coal rake.

The land this home was built on was purchased from the father of the wife who had our home built. Through tons of research I’ve located the burial site of both families which are buried side-by-side. My imagination wanders with thoughts that the wife of the home we live in may have babysat the children in this home.

There is documentation that at least one of the 5 children were born in this house as well as the first wife and one child passed away in it.
Maryland

For nearly 30 years this home sat vacant and boarded up while the land was still being farmed.  The property sold a year ago, the new owner has not yet decided whether they’re going to restore this home or build a new one. I will tell you, I am doing my best to convince him to restore!!!

***this is located on private property, trespassing prohibited***

Tucked away in Western Maryland lies this homestead which served as a makeshift hospital for Colonel Wilder Dwight, serving in the Massachusetts 2ND Reg’t Infantry. The soldiers who carried him here, camped there until the Colonel died 2 days later. Colonel Wilder Dwight was wounded at Antietam. The house now sits in despair. The farm still has the summer kitchen/tenant house as well as the bank barn, which is being used for livestock.
Circa 1830’s

***this is located on private property, trespassing prohibited***

Phantom Photography's cover photo

Phantom Photography