Directions: To reach this property in Washington County, take Interstate 70 to Big Pool (exit 12). Turn left onto Big Pool Road (Route 56) and follow this road about a mile. The house is on the right just past the entrance to Fort Frederick State Park at 11347 Big Pool Road. Approximate distances from major cities in the area are: 72 miles from the Baltimore city line, 68 miles from the Washington D.C. city line, and 13 miles from the Hagerstown city line.
photo collage header for Maryland's Resident Curatorship Program

Hornbaker Property
Fort Frederick State Park, Big Pool

Front view of the Hornbaker curatorship

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announces the availability of the historic property known as the Hornbaker Property for restoration under the Resident-Curatorship Program.

The Hornbaker Property, which dates from circa 1899, was once known as the Ft. Frederick "Colored" school house. This small school was built in order to provide for the education of the black children of the Big Pool area during a time of racial segregation in Washington County. It operated on and off for a few years, then closed permanently in April 1909 and the children who attended were sent to other “colored” schools in either Clear Spring or Williamsport. The Washington County school board sold the property in 1914 and it was enlarged and turned into a residence.

This "T" shaped Victorian has a one-story section containing the original schoolroom, and a two-story section with the kitchen, bathroom, and bedrooms. Surprisingly much of the historic schoolroom fabric still survives, such as the room arrangement, beaded waist high wainscoting, and a wooden hat and coat rack.

[Back view of the Hornbaker curatorship]The Hornbaker Property is located at Fort Frederick State Park, a site of national historic significance. During the French and Indian war in the 18th century the Fort was used as a means of defense and protection for the local settlers from attack. The last war the Fort played a role in was the Civil War, during the 19th century, when the First Maryland Regiment U.S.A. took up residence in the Fort to protect the Potomac River Boundary.

Nathan Williams, a free black, farmed the land surrounding the Fort in between its usage as a military post during the Civil War. His family sold the one fourth of an acre of land to the Washington County School Board so that this schoolhouse could be built and some members of the family were also teachers at the school.

While potential curators will need to maintain the historic fabric and character of the schoolhouse, it is acceptable however to retain the structure as a residence. As part of the restoration the curators are responsible for drilling a well and possibly the installation of a new septic system. In addition, the property borders the maintenance shop of the park and a fence or landscaping will need to be installed to screen the view.

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