Handsell House, Vienna
Dorchester County, Maryland (circa 1837)
McPherson Design Group completed field investigation and provided a Report to Nanticoke Historic Preservation Alliance that included calculations, cost estimate for list of repairs, recommendations, photographs, etc. that was then submitted to HABS for review. Handsell House, also known as “old brick house” at Chicone is on the National and State Register of Historic Places. In 1665, Thomas Taylor was granted 700 acres of land called “Handsell” along the Nanticoke River in the location of Chicone Indian Town. In 1704, this land was made a part of an Indian Reservation by an act of Maryland Assembly. In 1769, the properties were returned to the ownership of the English families who had possessed the land grants. Handsell is one of the last remaining 18th century brick dwelling houses in Dorchester County. Originally a grand, two story Georgian home, a major event, possibly a fire at Handsell, gutted most of the interior and weakened the rear exterior wall, causing a partial collapse of the structure. After a fire, Handsell was rebuilt to the one and one-half store structure we see today. The interior woodwork is all original to the period of the rebuild in 1837 by John Shehee. The brick dwelling house exhibits a unique façade with a protruding pavilion and Flemish bond brickwork.