Hammond-Harwood House Annual Garden Party 2009

On the evening of the 19th of September 2009 you are all invited to join us for the Annual Hammond-Harwood House Garden Party. This year’s party will be at historic Wye Hall on beautiful Wye Island in Queen Anne’s County, Maryland. Built in 1936 on the foundations of patriot William Paca’s country house by the well known architectural firm of Tilden, Register and Pepper of Philadelphia in the Colonial Revival style, the house is exquisitely detailed and handsomely proportioned. The actual designing architect was George Wharton Pepper Jr. The Hall was built as a residence for the former King Edward the VIII of the United Kingdom and his wife, the former Wallis Warfield of Baltimore.

In the 1790’s William Paca, signer of the Declaration of Independence, built the original Wye Hall on land he had inherited from his first wife. A wonderful design by architect Joseph Clark for this building still exists in the archives of the Maryland Historical Society. It is not known how closely William Paca’s builder followed this wonderful plan but from descriptions and one magazine picture it appears as though the design was essentially followed. Unfortunately the house that Paca built was burned in 1879. Fortunately the outstanding portrait of the signer by Charles Willson Peale was pulled out before the flames could overtake it and it hangs magnificently at the Maryland Historical Society today.

The one thing remaining from the Paca era is the fantastic terrace on which the main house sits. This has been wonderfully landscaped and it gives the Hall a serene and majestic setting.

Today Wye Hall is owned by Diane and Leland Brendsel who have acted as very good preservation stewards towards both the house and the landscape. They have created a veritable paradise in this isolated natural setting. It has been many years since any opportunity like this has come along so please check back soon for more information.

 Tickets are $115 for HHH members and $125 for non-members (this includes a introductory membership to HHH!).