Schifferstadt

In 1756 Joseph Bruner and his son Elias built a house on the land they purchased for 10 English pounds, equivalent to about $40. They named their home Schifferstadt, after their ancestral home near Mannheim, Germany. The interior oak beans are hand hewn and held together with wooden pegs. The sandstone exterior walls are two and half feet think. Great care was taken to lay the stones facing the street uniformly, while the back wall stones are haphazardly arranged. The two interior fireplaces rise in a wishbone shape forming a single chimney at the roof. Today it still stands and is the oldest building in Frederick County. Tours conducted through the building show off the attic, vaulted cellar, and the original five-plate jamb stove, cast in Germany. It is considered one of the finest existing examples of German colonial architecture.

Facts and Figures

Directions

Address:
1110 Rosemount Ave.
Frederick, MD 21701

Phone: 301-663-3885

Hours: April - December: Tues-Sat 10-4 p.m.; Sun 12-4

Take I-70 to Frederick and exit to US 15 north
Exit to Rosemount Ave. Follow signs to the Schifferstadt

Map

References:

MD One Day Trip books; Schifferstadt museum pamphlet
www.wam.umd.edu/~marystev/index.html