Mount Pleasant c.1758 (rebuilt in 1907) This stunning Georgian Colonial Revival home was originally constructed in c.1758, but then rebuilt in 1907. Spacious and luxurious, with views of the Chesapeake Bay, terraced gardens and the amenities of a resort community, its interior detailing is extensive with "Chippendale" staircase, carved wood mantels, crown molding, high ceilings, glorious solarium and grand entry hall. Its kitchen and bathrooms have modified for conference center use but can be converted back to residential. This lovely home is located in the gated community of The Residences at Bulle Rock with a golf course, club house, pools, recreation center, restaurant, and much more.
PROPERTY/SITE FEATURES:
Bulle Rock Gated Community Amenities
Historic registery
Smoke house
Original staircase
Boxwood garden
Terraced grounds
Grand center hall
High ceilings
Four fireplaces with carved wood mantels
Sunroom with exterior French doors
Private parking for 10+ cars
View of the Chesapeake Bay
Lot Size: 3.01 Acres
VIDEO PRESENTATION (2:37 min.)
ROOMS: Living Room 18'x26'-10' ceilings, wood floor, crown molding, fire place with mantel, track lights, 3 french doors. Center Hall 15'x20'- Trim molding, stairs, wood floors, sconses, front door. Sun Room 14x14- Tile, sconces, 5 french doors. Dining Room 18'x18'- Crown molding, fireplace with mantel, chandelier, track lights. Library 11'x17'- Exterior door, built-in book cases, 1/2 bathroom with ceramic tile floor. Pantry 9'x18'- Catering kitchen, sink, cabinets. Breakfast Room 12'x16'- Cabinets, stairs to second floor. Kitchen 14x24- Linoleum floor, exposed brick wall, exterior door.
Mount Pleasant was built in 1758 by Jacob Giles on a man-made plateau above a series of terraces that cascaded down to the bay. This grand mansion with its landscaped grounds was "revolutionary" for 18th century Upper Baltimore, later Harford County, according to historian Christopher Weeks. He described Mount Pleasant as "a grand center-hall mansion with brick walls 2 feet thick, elaborate plaster cornices, window seats, double doors with lion's head knockers, and a graceful Chinese Chippendale stair railing". Also a second floor hall with a Palladian window was new and unique in 1758, though it later became a Georgian-era standard.
Not much is known about Jacob Giles, only that he was a significant economic figure in the area and sold off his landholdings down to 1,300 acres on which he built Mount Pleasant.
In 1803, Colonel Samuel Hughes, whose family owned several iron works, acquired Mount Pleasant and "spared neither money nor labor in beautifying his plantation" and making it a showplace. He installed wallpaper portraying Sir Walter Scott's poem "Lady of the Lake" and had his grass trimmed with scissors. During the War of 1812, the British fleet sailed up the Chesapeake and destroyed Hughes' Principio Ironworks and burned Havre de Grace to the ground. Because Mount Pleasant was 2 miles up hill, and even though Hughes was a target of the attack, his home was spared. He never recovered financially, however, and Mount Pleasant was sold at a Sheriff's sale in 1822.
It eventually ended up in the possession of W.B. Paca, grandson of the governor, who used Mount Pleasant for a summer retreat until 1851. During this time, Paca tried to beautify the old mansion - he "painted, papered, walled up all the closets and last but not least, painted the beautiful walnut handrail, panels and wainscoting. By some miracle, he did leave the handsome wallpaper with its many colors portraying Sir Walter Scott's poem. (Harford County Directory).
Mount Pleasant had several owners after Paca and its grounds had shrunk to 250 acres. In 1907, telephone executive Charles E. Bryan and his wife purchased the ruinous estate. He saved what he could, most importantly, the gorgeous stair railing and hired the renowned Baltimore architectural firm of Parker & Thomas to build a "new house of colonial design" on the site. They reused much of the 18th century woodwork, including the Chinese Chippendale walnut stair way, the lions head door knockers and reeded limestone keystone door and window lintels & sills. The terracing and formal gardens were rejuvenated and the fields and orchards repaired. Mount Pleasant was renewed and once again a glorious estate.
Significance The 1907 house is a wonderful example of the early 20th century Georgian Colonial Revival style of architecture used in a number of grand country estates in Harford County at this time. The house is placed on the original site to take advantage of the terraces and landscaping. The 18th century brick smoke house remains.
