As guests enter the double parlor of an 1830’s neoclassical manor house, it’s hard not to marvel at the beauty of the space designed to entertain. From the detailed woodwork to the high ceilings and grand windows, it’s easy to imagine why members of one of the wealthiest families of early America commissioned the building of such an elegant home.
But guests in Carrollton Hall in Ellicott City, Maryland are also reminded as they walk through the halls how the grand house and the impressive retaining wall keeping it on elevated earth were built with slave labor.
“Public history sites should be places where we are caring for people,” said Elisabeth Mallin, Director of Carrollton Hall. “And one group should not be cared for at the expense of another.”
In line with the Franciscan Friars Conventual commitment to honoring the dignity of all people, the historic site stewarded by the friars is interpreted in a way that includes all who lived there. This includes not only the story of Emily Caton McTavish – a granddaughter of Charles Carroll of Carrollton, the only Catholic signer of the Declaration of Independence – for whom the house was built, but also the enslaved people who lived and worked on the property.
“There’s a lot of damage that comes from the complex history of a site like Carrollton Hall,” Elisabeth said. “Hopefully, the job we do here equips everyone to reckon with that history.”
Stewardship of an Historic Building
Carrollton Hall was the epicenter of more than 200 acres of property the Franciscan Friars Conventual purchased in 1928 and thus became a hub of friar activity for many decades. The house served as a novitiate – a place where formation of young friars was taking place. Friars in residence at Carrollton Hall also preached in the surrounding community or prepared for missions further away.
As other infrastructure has been developed on the Ellicott City property, the use of Carrollton Hall has changed. Ellicott City is now also home to the Shrine of St. Anthony, the Companions of St. Anthony, Little Portion Farm, the Franciscan Mission Association, and the Provincialate of the Our Lady of the Angels Province.
The friars, with immense support from the community, were able to renovate Carrollton Hall from 2016 to 2021 and begin preparations to open it as an historic site to the public for tours, meetings, and events. The future of Carrollton Hall allows the building to continue to be the space of education and exploration it has always been under the stewardship of the friars.
“For us, opening Carrollton Hall is about extending a hand in welcome to the surrounding community, especially those interested in history, social justice, and advocacy,” said Fr. Michael Heine, OFM Conv., Minister Provincial of Our Lady of the Angels Province. “Every time we open the doors, we may be introducing someone new to the powerful, though sometimes painful, history of our region, with an eye towards a hopeful future.”
An Inclusive History
While open to the public, research on the site and its inhabitants is ongoing. We know from the historical record that the house was built on what was once known as Folly Quarter Farm, a 1,000-acre gift from Charles Carroll of Carrollton to his granddaughter, Emily, towards the end of his life.
As Elisabeth seeks to fully uncover and understand how Emily engaged with the property throughout her life, she’s simultaneously seeking to learn about the lives of the enslaved people who lived and worked at Folly Quarter Farm before and after Emily built Carrollton Hall. She collaborates with descendants of inhabitants of the property, including those who were enslaved there. Collecting oral histories is particularly important as they help fill in the gaps of surviving written records, particularly for enslaved communities, Elisabeth said.
“We have to remember that historical tellings have disproportionately told white stories,” she said. “We’re telling an interwoven story that gives equal weight and equal humanity to everyone involved.”
In addition to ongoing research on the site, Carrollton Hall serves as a space where visitors can reckon with difficult pasts and explore ways to build a more just and equitable future.
“This peaceful, tranquil, historically rich site invites others to be rejuvenated to share the peace, healing, and love that Christ gave and Francis and the friars have sought to embody,” said Fr. Tom Lavin, OFM Conv., who resides on the friars’ Ellicott City property.
As he’s come to learn more about the history of the house, he’s been continually impressed by the work and community outreach.
“Being present and listening to the stories of the past can be painful, but is so necessary for us to understand how we fit in society today,” Fr. Tom said. “As I think about how my fellow friars are engaged in social justice and teaching in the community, doing this work at Carrollton Hall is especially fitting.”