Gambrill Mansion
by Lianne Schneider
Title
Gambrill Mansion
Artist
Lianne Schneider
Medium
Photograph - Digital Painting/photographic Art
Description
copyright - MCN :: CC1FF-GXSQ2-KKGS3
Derivative - (the original image remains in the public domain).
The second in a Plantation House/Estate architecture series of images done in various techniques of digital painting or manipulation. This piece is a derivative art work based on a small public domain image.
Gambrill House � Frederick, Maryland
The main block of the house was richly ornamented and constructed on a double-pile center-passage plan. A broad porch spanned the length of the northwest front facade, and upper-story balconies projected from the second and third floors. A long three-story service wing was integrated into the rear of the house, forming an ell. Gambrill later added an enclosed rear porch, divided into a lower level summer dining room and an upper level solarium.
Gambrill Family, ca. 1890
The house was elaborately furnished and designed with spacious and elegantly detailed rooms. It was suited to both the functional domestic requirements of the Gambrills' large family and their fondness for entertaining guests in grand style on special social occasions. A double parlor, a library, and a dining room were on the first floor, while large-scale entertaining was accommodated by the third floor ballroom and built-in stage. Seven fireplaces were built in the house, with imported Italian marble used for the mantels and hearths of those on the first floor. A continuous balustrade complemented the central walnut staircase extending in an open stairwell from the first to third floors.
The architectural sophistication of the mansion was supported by mechanical features considered highly progressive at the time. These included a coal-burning furnace, gas wall-mounted lamps throughout the house, a gas cooking range, and an innovative plumbing system providing hot and cold running water and sewage disposal. A large cistern remains behind the mansion where water, pumped from a spring several hundred yards to the north, was stored and delivered to the house by gravity for domestic use.
n 1897, however, during a period of national recession, Gambrill was forced to surrender title to his estate and mills. Gambrill's finances had been strained by the costs of rebuilding his mill in Frederick after it was destroyed by fire in 1893 and by fierce competition from more technologically advanced milling operations in the Upper Midwest. The properties were conveyed to his daughter and son-in-law, and shortly thereafter sold out of the family. Gambrill retired to Frederick, where he lived until his death in 1932 at the age of 102. Araby Mill was never reactivated after his ownership.
The National Park Service acquired the Gambrill House in the 1980s. It currently serves as the headquarters for the Historic Preservation Training Center (HPTC), an organization dedicated to training maintenance workers in historic preservation skills and preserving historic structures throughout the National Park Service system.
Significance: The Gambrill House was built ca. 1872 for James H. Gambrill, a successful Frederick County miller. Gambrill built the Second-Empire style mansion on high ground overlooking Araby Mill, a gristmill and the source of his prosperity. At the time it was one of the county's largest and grandest residences. The mansard-roofed building was one of the few full expressions of the Second-Empire style built in the Frederick County countryside. The National Park Service acquired the Gambrill property in 1981, to be part of Monocacy National Battlefield. The Battle of Monocacy (July 9, 1864) was fought on this and neighboring farms. Though the Confederacy won a nominal victory, Union commander Lew Wallace succeeded in delaying Confederate Jubal A. Early long enough to prevent the latter's seizure of Washington. The Gambrill House had yet to be built at the time of the battle. The mansion relates to the Civil War-period of the community, however, in that it is representative of rebuilding and improvement that took place locally during the immediate post-war years.
Uploaded
April 23rd, 2012
Statistics
Viewed 2,283 Times - Last Visitor from Fairfield, CT on 04/23/2024 at 8:21 PM
Embed
Share
Sales Sheet
Comments (79)
Lisa Knechtel
This is magnificent. Your PoV and the textures add a really haunted feel. Well shot and processed. v
Ramon Martinez
Powerful image, Lianne! The old mansion, the warm tones and textures make this work a magical invitation to walking into a fantasy world. V/F
Michael Durst
This is a beautiful work of art, Lianne! I marvel at how you use your skill to transform an original image into a breathtaking art form. Bravo!
Lianne Schneider replied:
What an incredibly lovely thing for you to say Michael. I'm terribly sorry it's taken me so long to say thank you. I'll be by to visit your pages as soon as I can.
Guy Ricketts
Such a beautiful house and capture! That house has real character! vf
Lianne Schneider replied:
It does, doesn't it? I love these marvelous old homes and all their nooks and crannies. So glad you do too. Thank you so much Guy.
Kym Backland
Lianne, Wow this is quite the place isn't it? I really appreciate your descriptions, and history of the Gambrill House, and it's family! It's so nice to read about what we are looking at. You write beautifully Lianne, which is an added bonus for all of us, that look at your photos! F/V
Lianne Schneider replied:
My what a lovely compliment - I'm so touched and so pleased. You just can't imagine how much that matters to me. Thank you!!
Marsha Heiken
Lianne,This is Marvelous.Your Photos and write ups are great. Love very much and you are so kind to me,Hugs and thanks for comment on Rose Plate still life. Hugs,Marsha F/V
Lianne Schneider replied:
Thank you so much Marsha - fighting this disease again so I'll be by to catch up with you as soon as I can. xoxo
Demeter Gui
Wonderful picture, artistic composition!
Lianne Schneider replied:
How very kind of you to visit Demeter and to leave such a lovely comment. Thank you!
Bonnie Bruno
Oh my...I adore this image. You really have an eye for processing these historic images. Lovely rendition!
Lianne Schneider replied:
What an incredibly lovely thing to say Bonnie - thank you so much. These places have such charm...I'm just so glad they've been preserved.
Carol Senske
The description is topped only by this unbelievably beautiful work of art. As I read I thought "It must take a whole lot of work getting firewood for 7 fireplaces!". We sweat and strain to feed one wood stove:>). The architectural details in the picture are a lot like many upper class homes on the New England coast, and your processing is exquisite, as always. V/F
Lianne Schneider replied:
These beautiful homes so fascinate me and I'm delighted that you liked it so much Carol. Thank you.
Peri Craig
Beautiful work, Lianne ... Very evocative. Looks like the sort of place I'd like to visit at night ... but not alone!
Lianne Schneider replied:
Actually this one's not really scary at all Peri - but it has been beautifully maintained and restored. I just love the uniqueness of it. Thank you so much!