Bethesda (Ellicott City, Maryland)

The Bethesda slave plantation house is located in Ellicott City, Maryland within Howard County, Maryland, United States.

The Bethesda plantation, also known as "Dower House" is a stone house built in progressively larger sections. It resides on a collection of surveyed properties totaling 1000 acres named "Long Reach", "Chews Resolution Manor", "Search Enlarged", "Search", and "Dorsey's Search" (448 Acres). The summer home for Maj Edward Dorsey was started in 1682. In 1769, the "Bethesda Old Place Farm" home was expanded on the property and run as a tobacco-producing plantation with 26 slave workers. The original house was built of granite block. In 1832, a larger stone rubble addition was added. In 1840, the house was owned by a Captain Thomas Lishear, who added an 80-ft extension to the building. The property was struck by a tornado in 1858, and stayed in the Pue family until 1859. It was later owned by George B. Sybert. By 1943, the property had been subdivided to 237 remaining acres. In 1954, the Columbia Hills Corporation developed the land leaving just 7.3 acres surrounding the house. A family and laundry room were added in 1960 by owner John M DeBoy. By 1965, the land was subdivided down to three acres. Howard Research and Development purchased most of the original Long Reach property between 1963 and 1966 for the development of Columbia. Outbuildings included a carriage house and a stone structure, the "Dower House" built in the early 1830s served as a summer kitchen.