At around 7:15 p.m. on Wednesday, Montgomery County Fire & Rescue Services (MCFRS) arrived on the scene of a structure fire at the historic Harewood Farmhouse, which is situated off Route 108 in Sandy Spring, close to the 17600 block of Meeting House Road.
About 75 firemen arrived on the site, according to MCFRS Chief Spokesperson Pete Piringer. The house was severely damaged, but the fire was put out. About 4,000 to 5,000 feet from Olney-Sandy Spring Road, the property is situated in an area without fire hydrants. When firefighters arrived, they found the two-story farmhouse completely engulfed in flames. A thorough search of the building was conducted after initial reports indicated a potential missing inhabitant or caretaker. The fact that the residence was vacant when the fire broke out was later verified.
incident investigators concluded that the incident was unintentional, although they were unable to pinpoint its exact origin. A few hours earlier, during a strong thunderstorm that moved through Sandy Spring, neighbors noticed power surges in the region. Damage is estimated to be more than $300,000. There were no reported injuries.
According to the Library of Congress: Importance: Harewood, one of the few surviving residences constructed by the early founding members of the Friends town of Sandy Spring, was established in 1793–1794. It is the historic homestead of the powerful Stabler family. The meeting building, which served as the hub of social and spiritual life, and the spring, a significant water source that also inspired the town’s name, are both close to Harewood, which is situated in the very center of the neighborhood. The first portion of the house was built using the then-dominant vernacular hall-and-parlor layout. Other regional architectural customs, such as log/timber frame construction and the Quaker principles’ emphasis on simple detailing, are reflected in Harewood’s architecture. In order to accommodate the growing social demands of the time and of later Stabler generations, the house was expanded in 1821 with the addition of a dining room and kitchen. It is a remarkable survivor of early period residences in this region, keeping much of its original fabric, including doors, mantels, molding profiles, and hardware, despite changes and additions made in the early twentieth century. The barrister Dean Acheson and his wife Alice purchased Harewood in 1925, and they used it as a weekend and summer vacation. Acheson entertained President Truman at Harewood on occasion while he was living there, serving as Secretary of State under Truman from 1949 to 1953. Acheson was instrumental in shaping foreign policy throughout the Cold War era, contributing to the creation of the Marshall Plan following World War II and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
