View of Annapolis from the State House

Original lithograph owned by Maryland Historical Society

This 1850 drawing from the State House dome by the E. Sachse Co. (circa 1855) is a fascinating portrait of Annapolis. Near the center of the drawing is East Street. To the right of East Street is a densely packed assembly of small buildings crammed toward the bustling activity of the harbor. To the left of East Street the scene is quite different. Large homes surrounded by gardens with massive yards fenced and gated. The Paca House (1763-65) and the James Brice House (1767-73) are identifiable by their towering chimneys. They share one large city block exclusively with the Hammond Harwood House (1774). The Judge John Brice House (1739) and the John Brice III House (1766-75) control a large swath of the block defined by East Street, Prince George Street (which they front), Maryland Avenue and State Circle. The Chase Lloyd House (1769-74) and Ogle Hall (1739-42) own the entire city block north of the Hammond Harwood House. In the upper left hand corner of the drawing is McDowell Hall (1744-46) of St. John’s College, originally conceived as the colonial governor’s house.

This is an excerpt from an article on The Bordley-Randall House, part of series by Chip Bohl published in Annapolis Home Vol. 2, No. 3.