7547 Main Street
Photograph from Gate House Archive, dated 1969..
History
Although originally a private home, today, 7547 Main Street is known as the "Town House" and currently serves as the seat of Sykesville's government offices.
Built c. 1893 by local architect, J.H. Fowble, until the 1920s, this home was the only structure on this side of Main Street. The John McDonald family, who owned numerous buildings and businesses in the area, purchased and heavily renovated the property in 1881. It is unclear which parts of the mansion (if any) are original to the earlier structure.
The Town of Sykesville moved their offices to the Town House in ????, and from then until 1997, the Room of History--Sykesville's first public history museum, operated on the second floor. Later this museum became the Sykesville Gate House Museum, located today on Cooper Drive.
See the photos below to learn more!
Architectural Details
This building features a center front gable and full porch with a smaller center gable. Although for some of its history, this house had white aluminum siding, by 1999, this was restored to historical paint colors reflective of chemical paint testing.
Improvements (unspecified) completed by John McDonald to the house are listed in the Democratic Advocate Newspaper 17 January, 1885.
Awaiting updates from the SHDC.
1911 Sanborn Map
This selection from a 1911 fire map of Sykesville shows the footprint of this address as a home ("D") and one of the only structures on the East side of Main Street.
1924 Sanborn Map
This fire map of Sykesville shows the address still as a home, but with more sites joining it along the East side of Main Street
1910
This image is a blown up section of a photo from 1910 showing the McDonald House at the top of the hill overlooking the Town.
1969
This image shows the front view of the McDonald home near today's Sandusky parking lot.
1983
This image shows the staircase entrance to the Town House seen in 1983.
1986
This image of 1986 Sykesville shows updated light fixtures along the path to the Town House.
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 22, 2025:
1881: John McDonald purchases the property with a no longer standing structure from the estate of Dr. Allen C. Hammond for $3,300, and moves in with his family (The Democratic Advocate, November 19, 1881)
1893: the new 16-room mansion is built under the direction of local architect J.H. Fowble about 1893. Improvements (unspecified) completed by John McDonald to the house are listed in the Democratic Advocate Newspaper 17 January, 1885.
1913: William Melville purchases the house from the McDonald family (specifically Marie K. McDonald) as well as various tracts of land around the property between 1913 and 1925.
????-1929: James O and Josephine W. Ridgely occupy the house, passing on the property in 1929 to Somerset O. Jones Jr. and Caroline Ridgely Jones.
1949: Part of the land of this property is sold to become the new Sykesville Volunteer Fire Company building.
1968-present (2025): the building serves as government offices for the Town of Sykesville, conveyed August 27, 1968 to the Town under Mayor Horace C. Jefferson.