Sweet Caroline Historic Homes Tour

POTTER HALL A testament to our area’s roots in agricultural exportation, the original portion of Potter Hall was built at Potter’s Landing along the Choptank River in Williston in 1750 by Captain Zabdiel Potter. The Federal-period home was finished by Zabdiel’s grandson William, a War of 1812 Brigadier General, in 1808.

CASTLE HALL Built circa 1781, Castle Hall is one of the rare Revolutionary-period homes in Caroline County. Constructed by one of the county’s most prominent citizens, Thomas Hardcastle, it stands in Goldsboro on MD 311. The current owners have prioritized restoring the home to its original glory and are excited to share the updates.

MARBLE HEAD Marble Head, a three-part brick home in Ridgely, dates back to 1803. Built over the course of 17 years in a Federal style popular for Caroline County farmhouses, it reflects a different era of Caroline County. The home was meticulously restored after being saved from demolition.

MEMORY LANE Memory Lane in Williston is best know for its exquisite Italianate architecture. Built in 1864 by Wharf Master A.J. Willis – reportedly as a wedding gift for his daughter – it boasts wrap-around porches and an octangle cupola. The home served as the Williston community’s primary social hub for generations.

KNOTTS WALSH Prominently on display in Denton’s downtown historic district, Knotts Walsh is a large multi-style home built by Judge Owen Knotts and his wife Margaret after the home originally occupying the space burned down in 1935. The home belonged to the late Caroline County historian JOK Walsh.

Posted Thursday, April 17, 2025 12:01 am

By Kennedy Thomason

The Caroline County Historical Society is hosting the first-ever Sweet Caroline Historic Homes Tour on Saturday, May 17, 2025.

This self-driven tour will include five sites with seven historic buildings, including five homes, an 1800s log cabin, and a Black school. Each location will have various dedicated historians and volunteers to lead information sessions, answer questions, and promote discussion.

In addition to the beauty of the homes themselves, the Caroline County Garden Club and the Fiber Arts Center of the Eastern Shore are partnering with the Historical Society to combine nature, art, and history - reminiscent of the many ways Caroline County history intertwines with our landscape.

Proceeds from the tour benefit the restoration and repurposing of the old Denton Volunteer Firehouse on 3rd and Gay Streets into a museum space.

This event is rain or shine.

Sweet Caroline Historic Homes Tour

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