The Historical Society of Carroll County recently completed a major restoration of the Sherman-Fisher-Shellman House on Main Street in Westminster.

This project was selected for a 1991 Historic Preservation Project Award from the Maryland Historical Trust in recognition of the outstanding quality of the restoration. An open house in honorof receiving this award will be on Saturday, May 18.

The educational program at the house museum provides many insights about the early history of Carroll County. Research accomplished aspart of the restoration project has revealed many new findings aboutPennsylvania German culture, women's history and the African-American experience in Carroll County.

The Sherman-Fisher-Shellman House was saved from demolition by the Historical Society in 1939. A free Visitors Guide to the house museum and information about tours of the house are available by calling the Historical Society at 848-6494.

The original owner of the house was Jacob Sherman, a pre-Revolutionary War innkeeper at the Main Court Inn site (located across Main Street from the Sherman-Fisher-Shellman House). Architectural details in the Sherman-Fisher-Shellman House, some of which were restored as part of the project, provide major clues about Jacob Sherman.

When the Sherman-Fisher-Shellman House was constructed in 1807, Sherman useda design and plan closely related to a traditional style found on local farms that was popular in Carroll County throughout the 19th century.

A basic element of this style is the L-shaped plan that has aresidential main block and service wing in the ell.

Sherman used this floor plan as well as other representative characteristics that comprise the regional farmhouse style, including as a symmetrical main facade, 2 1/2-story height, gable roof with interior-end chimneys and an inset, double-tiered porch on the inner side of the ell wing.

Sherman also included a number of architectural details that made the house the most impressive along Main Street for its time.

The Sherman-Fisher-Shellman House is distinguished by its over-sized sliding sash windows, molded brick cornice on the main facade, built-in cupboards, a kitchen waste water drain and the extensive use of original paint finishes including grained and marbelized woodwork.

These features indicate that Sherman was a man of considerable affluence inthe community and the refinement in the design of the house reflectshis status in the community.

Sherman's son-in-law, David Shriver Jr., probably had a significant role in designing the house. Innovative lead sash weights, which are embossed with his name and the date 1807, suggest that he was responsible for the selection of counter-balanced windows.

A built-in clothes cupboard was installed in the front west bedchamber where the Shrivers are believed to have slept.

Both features were avant-garde in 1807 and likely derived from the well-traveled Shriver, who was familiar with trends in architecture. Clearly Sherman and Shriver sought to build a home which conveyed their high social standing and their knowledge of the latest architectural styles. In spite of the innovations and refined architectural details, the house retains some conservative ethnic traditions of the Pennsylvania German culture.

The first floor plan of the main block includes a small unheated room that traditionally was the main bedroom,or "kammer," in Pennsylvania German architecture.

Other elements of the architectural analysis led to questions about the early history of the house.

For example, the historic paint analysis revealed that the finish paints were not applied to the interior woodwork until about two years after the house was begun.

Does this indicate delays in the construction of the house?

Or is it tied to Sherman's mercantile status during the economic crisis during the trade embargoof 1807 to 1809?

The story of Sherman's life and business interests is a fascinating study of the early economic development in Westminster and Carroll County.

Documentary research that is described in the Visitors Guide shows that Sherman was a prominent businessman in Piedmont Maryland during the early 19th century.

Deed indexes atthe Frederick County Courthouse show that Sherman and his father, George Jacob Sherman (1724-1812) of Littlestown, Pa., were involved in nearly 50 land sales from 1775-1821.

These transactions provide a fairly clear picture of the Sherman's business and investment activities.

The earliest deeds refers to George as a farmer and Jacob as an innkeeper.

George Jacob Sherman purchased an improved lot (now the inn site across from the house) in the New London section of Westminster in 1775 and established Jacob as a tavern keeper.

Operating a tavern in the 18th century was a relatively lucrative occupation, especially in a growing community such as Westminster.

Over the next two decades, Jacob Sherman acquired additional land holdings near Westminster.

He purchased a small addition to his lot opposite his tavern in May 1806 from William Winchester Jr., (1750-1812), a son of the founder of Westminster.

Construction of his new residence, now known as the Sherman-Fisher-Shellman House, probably began almost immediately and was substantially completed a year later when Sherman sold the property for a token fee of five shillings to his son-in-law David Shriver Jr. (1769-1852).

Transactions other than land sales can also be found in land records.

The earliest document recorded by Jacob Sherman was a bill of sale for a slave named Sally.

Sally Key was the progenitor of several generations of black slaves and free blacks who lived in the Sherman-Fisher-Shellman House.

Jacob Sherman was taken ill in the spring of 1822 and died on July 7.

Jacob Sherman's will and estate papers recorded by the Frederick County Register of Wills provide many details about the property, household furnishings, daily life and family conflict.

Jacob Sherman also manumitted six of his eight slaves through his will, a fairly common practice by Pennsylvania Germans in this period.

The 1823 inventory of Jacob Sherman's personal property provides considerable details about room usage, household furnishings, diet and the relative wealth of the household.

Sherman's inventory lists traditional Pennsylvania German items among an extensive list of Anglo-American items.

In many ways Jacob Sherman was representative of the first generation of native-born Pennsylvania Germans who became successful in Maryland.

Provided with a lucrative tavern by his generous father, Sherman easily assimilated into the local English community.

He wiselyinvested heavily in land which provided him with dependable income and allowed for his early retirement.

Significant findings about 19th century relationships between whites and blacks were made during the research for Sherman-Fisher-Shellman House restoration project.

The free Visitors Guide provides a history of the slave and free African-Americans who lived and worked at the house.

The Sherman-Fisher-Shellman House serves as the flagship museum for the Historical Society and is recognized as one of the most accurately restored and interpreted house museums in the state.

Next door to the Sherman-Fisher-Shellman House is the Kimmey House, which houses the:

* Historical Society's administrative offices.

* Research and Genealogicallibrary.

* Shriver-Weybright Auditorium.

* Miss Carroll's Dolland Toy Exhibit.

* Uniquely Crafted Gift Shop.

* County Tourism Information Center.

The research library includes primary and secondary source materials of local interest, including the most complete collection of Carroll County newspapers.

A free guide to the library's resources is available.

The Historical Society also administers a historic property outside of Union Bridge.

This property, known as Hard Lodging, contains a Federal-style brick house built in 1790.

The house was part of a significant industrial complex that included textile and saw mills operated by the Shepherd family duringthe 19th century.

The property was donated to the Historical Society in 1983 by Thelma Walden Shriner.

Long-range plans are under way for the interpretation of this property as a rural counterpart to the Sherman-Fisher-Shellman House. Tours are available by appointmentonly.

The Historical Society also administers a wide-ranging program of educational activities about local history in Carroll County.

The Miss Lillian Shipley Heritage Education Awards program is an essay contest sponsored annually for seventh grade students.

Duringthe summer, an archaeological field school and program about CarrollCounty's historic architecture is sponsored for students entering grades 6, 7, 8 and 9.

Publications by the society are an important outreach activity; the society's most recent publication is "Carroll County Physicians of the Nineteenth and Early Twentieth Centuries."

This book was written by Dr. Theodore E. Woodward, M.D., and provides a history of the county's medical heritage.

This book and other local history items are described in a free publications brochure.

A weekly television program, "The History of Carroll County," is produced by the Historical Society for Prestige Cablevision Channel 3.

More than 40 segments describe local political history, architecture, archaeology and other topics.

Over the past year, lectures and exhibits have explored archaeology, black history and the architecture of Carroll County.

You can request a listing of these programs available on videotape as well as publications by the Historical Society.

Each year, the staff provides presentations about local history to numerous community organizations.

Staff activities and other events sponsored by the Historical Society are announced weekly on "History Notes and Events," a program that airs Sunday mornings on WTTRRadio.

The Historical Society is a private non-profit organization supported by memberships and contributions.

Members receive a quarterly newsletter and invitations to the special events and educational programs.

Information: 848-6494 or write to 210 East Main St.,Westminster, Md. 21157.

SPECIAL EVENTS

* May: Historic preservation month lecture series.

* May 11: Fabulous Forties Ball.

* June-August: Carroll County Quilt Document Project.

* November: Annual dinner meeting.

* Jan. 19, 1992: Annual Carroll County Birthday celebration.