Ridenour House - This late 18th century brick-clad log house with rare puncheon insulation stands on a farm purchased for industrial development by the Hagerstown/Washington County Industrial Foundation.

Preserving Properties
Tax Credits

Preservation in Progress
  Seibert-Fernsler
  Ridenour House
  French Lane
  Foultz House

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Washington County Architectural & Historic Treasures Book

Architectural
& Historic Treasures of Washington County, Maryland

Ridenour House

Preservation in Progress

This late 18^th century brick-clad log house with rare puncheon insulation (an 18^th century construction feature of rock, clay or straw infill stuffed between close-set, heavy floor joists to protect the first floor level from dampness and cold) stands on a farm purchased for industrial development by the Hagerstown/Washington County Industrial Foundation (CHIEF). CHIEF was unaware of the significance and rarity of this structure until an historical assessment was made. WCHT worked with CHIEF, Maryland Historical Trust (MHT), and the Washington County Planning Department to preserve this building.

Heavily vandalized, Ridenour was particularly unattractive, filled with trash and about to be surrounded by “big box” warehouses. Representatives of CHIEF and Planning felt no one could be found to undertake the restoration of this site. WCHT insisted that 2 acres be donated with the structures in order to make it more appealing, and CHIEF spent weeks removing over 50 dumpsters of trash.

Within hours of reaching an agreement, WCHT found an interested party in Rich Bachtell, a local restoration contractor. He agreed to restore the house as a rental for one of his crew, Brian Weaver. Work has begun. Brick facing that fell from the front of the house exposing the logs to deterioration has been restored, electricity has been run to the site and settlement will soon occur. Easements, held by MHT, will preserve the house for the future.

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