7527 Main Street
Photograph of 7527 Main Street, taken by Gate House Staff, 2025.
Dr. Frank Lucas House
History
This private residence was originally constructed for local physician, Frank Lucas, who purchased the lot in 1899 and hired local architect J. H. Fowble to build this structure as his house and office around 1905-1907. The home was one of the first in Sykesville to be built with indoor plumbing, at the time powered by a windmill.
From the street, the doors on the retaining wall showing a mural of gates with a tree-lined path are to a garage embedded in the hill sometime between 1911 and 1924.
See the photos below to learn more!
Architectural Details
The original design is almost 5,000 square feet on four levels and involved removing rock from the hillside in which the home is embedded. The excavated rock is seen today as the front retaining wall.
The Sykesville fire maps by the Sanborn Company show that the concrete garage at the front of the property was built sometime between 1911 and 1924.
The home was divided into apartments in 1948 , and renovated in 1992, but returned to use as a single family home in 2000.
The brick garage behind the home (date unknown) caught fire in 1981 (Carroll County Times, 5 November 1981, p.2)
Awaiting updates from the SHDC.
1911 Sanborn Fire Map
This clipped image from the Sanborn Fire Map of Sykesville shows the home without its front garage, but also shows the location of the wind mill that provided indoor water access to the home
1924 Sanborn Fire Map
This clipped image from the Sanborn Fire Map of Sykesville shows the addition of the concrete garage feature at the front of the property.
2025
photograph by Gate House Staff, 2025
1983
This image shows 7527 Main Street in 1983 including a partial view of the garage structure along Main Street.
1996
This photograph shows 7527 Main Street in 1996. Photograph by R. Berry.
1999
This clipped image from an aerial photograph shows the home and back driveway as seen in 1999.
Site Use
Research is ongoing to confirm the historical use of this property. If you see any errors or have additional information, please contact the Museum through the methods at the bottom of the page
Confirmed Use as of October 3, 2025:
c.1905-1907: This structure is built as a home and office for Dr. Frank Lucas.
1924: The Sanborn Fire Map (see above) shows the addition of a concrete garage (still visible in 2025) sometime between the previous fire map (1911) and this date.
1948: the home is purchased by Calvin Conaway who converts it into apartments. ("Sykesville Past and Present," Linda Greenberg, 2012).
1981: A report on a fire in a nearby brick garage (date of structure origin unknown) reports that there are four apartments being rented at this address (Carroll County Times, 5 November 1981, p.2)
1985: The building is sold for $89,900. (Carroll County Times, 1 April 1985, p.5)
1987: The building is sold by Robert A. and Annette M. Polk to Richard J. Bantel for $113,000 (Carroll County Times, 15 March 1987, p.8). In 1990,
Sharilyn D. Bantel is added as an owner of this property alongside Richard J. Bantel (Carroll County Times, 24 June 1990 p. 17)
1993: The building is purchased by Bruce Greenberg (Greenberg Properties Inc.) from Richard and Sharilyn Bantel for $190,000. (Carroll County Times, 21 March, 1994, p. 24)
1999: A request for variance was placed to divide the lot in two. (Carroll County Times, 5 June 1999, p. 22)
2001-c.2012: The building is purchased by David and Cheryl Berkley (also reported as Barkley) for $225,000, who return the site to a single family residence. (Carroll County Times, 4 Feb 2001, p.17).
Present (2025): Site continues as a single family home