Folly Farm

Jan 15, 1999

Folly Farm was once part of Folly Quarter, and Folly Quarter was part of Doughoregan Manor, owned by Charles Carroll of Carrollton. The house is believed to have been built around 1730. The first alteration, by Charles Carroll around 1800, made the building into a bath house. The second alteration occurred around 1830, after Charles Carroll gave Folly Quarter, which included Folly Farm to his favorite granddaughter Emily Caton MacTavish, and adapted it to residential use. It is likely that at this time a circular room was constructed in the wing of the house to provide a chapel for the MacTavish family. The house is built over a spring which was once used for the water supply. In the first alteration a bathing pool was built into the southeast corner of the main house. There were two marble lions feeding the pool from the spring. The pool is located under the floors of the present breakfast room and kitchen. One unusual feature is that the house contains 16 rooms but no hallways. Emily MacTavish died at Folly Quarter at the age of 75.

In 1945 the house was in bad condition from years of neglect and abuse and was about to be torn down. Mr. Rodney Graves bought the building in 1945 and spent the next thirty years restoring the building while living there. Some years after Mr. Graves died his family sold Folly Farm.

Folly Farm is located at 4308 Folly Quarter Road, Ellicott City, MD. Folly Farm Is listed as a Maryland Historical Trust Property. The show house was open from September 18 to October 17. The chairman was Rick Weinkam. Approximately 5800 people attended.