Poplar Hill Mansion | |
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| Location | 117 Elizabeth St., Salisbury, Maryland |
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| Coordinates | 38°22′17″N 75°35′43″W / 38.37139°N 75.59528°W |
| Area | 0 acres (0 ha) |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 71000380[1] |
| Added to NRHP | October 7, 1971 |
The Poplar Hill Mansion is a historic U.S. mansion located at 117 Elizabeth Street, Salisbury, Maryland and is open to the public as a house museum.[2][3]
Major Levin Handy purchased 357 acres (1.44 km2) of land outside of Salisbury in 1795 and began construction of this Federal-style building later that year.[2] Due to lack of funds stemming from severe medical problems, Major Handy discontinued construction of the mansion and put it up for sale in 1803.[2] In 1805, Dr. John D. Huston purchased the incomplete house and continued its construction.[3] Sarah Huston, Dr. Huston's widow inherited the estate, which included eighteen enslaved people and $110. She sold some of the property for development in the late 1840s to early 1850s.[2] In 1881, George Waller purchased the estate and his family lived there until 1945.[2] In 1945, Fred A. Adkins purchased the property and renovated the house, modernizing it.[2] In 1948, Mr. & Mrs. Ward A Garber purchased the estate.[2] In 1970, Wicomico County purchased the estate and the mansion was placed in public trust in 1974 under the ownership of the City of Salisbury.[3] In 1971, Poplar Hill Mansion was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.[1]
Some of the architectural features of the mansion include:[3]
According to legend, a slave girl named Sara perished in the house after her dress caught on fire in the second floor rear bedroom during the Huston period.[3] Since that time, there have been reports of a "consoling" spirit.[3]
