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THE MORNING HERALD, HAGERSTOWN, MARYLAND,FLEISHC/3ccUJXlt;nbJU*Odds isize raSome 1not haday 9A1:cept Geo. pet-Joyd Mm. :ourt ? in 86. .shed.M.bnowii above is the most excit-iiig find to date of the current starch for old stone houses in this county, being conducted by Mrs. Mary Vernon Mish for the Washington Coupty Historical Society. The picturesque structure above is believed to be one of the oldest stone buildings in this part of Maryland, research so far indicating that it was probably built prior to 1750.The house shown here is the onlv stone structure on the old Marsh Head tract, south of Hagerstown on the Downsville Pike, now owned by S. H. Shank. Although many facts are still being verified and some details of the contention lack authentication at present, it is considered almost certain that this was the original home, of Henry Funk, Sr.; after he migrated to what: is present-day Washington County back in 1749. Every feature of its construction lends credence to . this supposition and its commanding location on the Marsh Head tract, i largest holding of Henry Funk, seems to bear out the assumption.The building itself is well con-PINE GROVEDRIVE-IN theatre. MARTINSBURG, W. VA. t miles north Martinsburs:—Roots IIitMONDAY“WHERE THERE’S LIFEBob Hope and William BendixTuesday — SUMMER HOLIDAY2 — SHOWS NIGHTLY — 2 . Starting at Dusk-Adra—11.00 Car Fnil—Plui TaxHAGERMrts4 Y/lt;i miles south on Route 11LAST TIMES TONIGHT — 2 HITS Bub Abbott and Lou Costello in“WHO DONE IT”Frances Langford in“CAREER GIRL”structed, apparently of native stone from adjoining fields. Though built in two separately integrated parts,connected by a breeze way, it was unquestionably all' erected at the same time—since there is no break or change of period evident in the masonry and because structural units are continuous through the two halves of the building and the stone roof covering the breezeway.The eastern entrance of the breezeway consists of half a dozen massive steps, of a native type of marble, which lead down from the higher level of the ground on that side of the building. Descending the steps, which are about twelve feet wide—the width of the breezeway'—one of the historic “five springs of Marsh Head” is seen directly ahead, flowing from the southwest corner of the northern part of the dual building. The bed of the spring crosses thhe breeze-way in a narrow channel carved from the rock and enters the southern portion of the building, believed to have been the original home in this county of Henry Funk. Leaving the house, the spring spreads into a miniature lake caressing the west and south, sides of the biulding. Unfortunately, despite its beauty, thelake has caused considerable damage to the masonry over the years, the moisture being responsible for the crumbling of the southwest corner of the building.The. building proper may best beconsidered as two separate, one-*• , . • • * *room buildings, even though connected by the1 breezeway. The unit on the south houses the spring which flows across the,.breezeway and is built against a hill so that part of the north and east, wails consists of an •outcropping'of natural rock. .The unit to the south• . 4 • • . . 'contains an immense chimney and hearth obviously, part ;of the original plan and indicative of, .the room’s original use as living quarters. The hearth was improvised as a forge at., a later date, however, and was used in that capacity until rather recently. Like the other.unit, this room still has. the original earthen floor and, most interesting of all the details of its construction, the walls are. covered with clay and straw mixed into a rough plastpr—ne Hfull carpin*Tax$1.00LAST - 2 - DAYSContinuous 1 To 11 P.M.similar to that found in ‘‘Hager’sFancy”. Both units have very high ceilings, small window’s placed high oh the walls, strap hinges and other characteristically colonial hardware. The south unit also has anextra wide door.Marsh Head has a long and inter-.r a 1 1 I % , * . 1esting history, though today there are many unexplained gaps in its continuity. Charles Friend’s, brother, Nicholas, is known to have beenvv.v-w.'..,;.HIWAY OPEN AIRDRIVE INTHEATREON DUAL HIGHWAYLAST TIXES TONITE Kiddie* FREEPlayground Open 7 P. M.BIO DOUBLE SHOW IRENE DUNNEI REMEMBER MAMA”. ■ .C'’ - V.olt; ..v* :'.-.y •tsMXWZS*: I:':!;-vvv'. •• V v . •:«\:'•lt;*vS.«'w • !.'t‘l:rV:;v.:• :;v*\V*• -;. .•,•; *PLUS A Big Brand New CARTOON CARNIVAL One Hour of Dlsner TECHNICOLOR CARTOONS With all your favorite characters Mickey MOUSE • Donald DUCK . PLUTO GOOFY •living on “The Great Marsh” as early as 1734. Three years later it was surveyed for Redmond Fotlen, a member of the Ranger service on our frontier. In fact, it is believed by some who have been delving into existing records that the house on the tract coutd have conceivably been built by Foilen prior to Henry Funk’s arrival here, though Funk’s occupancy after 1750is unchallenged.According to dates in the family Bible now owned by Mrs.. Carl Stouffer, this city, Henry Funk was born in 1722; died in 17S7. His wife, Susannah Simmons, was born in 1726; died iu 17S3. Both are buried on the Marsh Head tract, in the family burial ground, directly across the. Downs ville Pike from Shank’s farm, on what is now the Clarence Eldridge Farm. The burial plot, located • in • an open field at the edge of an old pear orchard, is now just a cluster ol. flelflstones— on none of which any markings are legible—identifiable only through continued family interest.Marsh Head represents the consolidation of all I-Ienry, Sr.'s property, acquired a ^iece at a time,starting with his first patent, ‘‘Shippen's Mistake,” ill 1749. Much of the tract was left to Henry Funk’s third son, David, according to his will, probated on July 21, 1787. ; David’s inheritance {forwhich he had paid his father 100 pounds during-his lifetime, according to custom observed by the family) included the house which, is the subject of this article- and 177 acres, part of Marsh Head and, on the north, Laffordy’s Lott; on the east, Addition to Laffordy's Lott and part of Shippen’s (called Ship-pey’s) Mistake; part 'of Walnut Bottom,- part of Black Oak Ridge, part of- Black Oak Bottom, to the south and southwest; part of Resurvey of Marsh Head on the west.It was oh. Marsh Head, with its surrounding acreage, that Henry, Sr. stipulated in his will, that David must kpep a “waggon road” for the use of his brothers (which later, according to family history, became Downsville Pike).T/hen Henry/ Sr. died in 1787 an! David inherited this porton of his father’s estate, a commissioner was appointed to survey the tract. The legal record of this transaction exists; today and reads, in part; “The Commissioner states that there came one Jacob Funck (Henry, Sr.’s brother) aged 62 years, who testified that about 38 years ago (1749) he came into Conoco cheigue with Henry Funck to buy land, that they came to see the Marsh. Head, and other contiguous lands, there owned by a certain red-man, Fallings {Redmond Follen), that they bought land and had Joseph Chapline survey it, that he began the survey at a White Oak Tree that stood near a Spring, the beginning of Marsh Head, where a stump of said tree now 8tands. The Commission caused a large lime stone to be planted by the stump Marked 1787 ,D.F. {David Funk) to perpetuate the beginning of the said land.”The Marsh Head area is fed by five large springs, all in the immediate vicinity of the house still standing on the tract. The springs geographically constitute the actual head of the great marsh which seemed so alluring with its promised fertility to pioneer settlers in this section.CFJJcw{BL(S\21$:iti33
Newspaper Details
Morning Herald
Hagerstown, Maryland, US
Mon, May 15, 1950
Page 14
Full Page
Clipped by
Frederick C.
MD, USA 05 Jul 2023
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