In partnership with the Department of Natural Resources, Preservation Maryland is leading the restoration and interpretive design of the Elkridge Furnace Plank Houses in Howard County. These structures, with their unique architectural features and historical significance, provide a vital glimpse into the area’s layered past. However, both buildings are at imminent risk of collapse and require urgent intervention to ensure their preservation.
History of the Plank Houses
Owned by the State of Maryland and managed by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources – Maryland Park Service, the Elkridge Furnace Plank Houses are modest, single-story, gable-roofed dwellings measuring 14’ x 16’. Built on stone foundations using horizontal plank construction, these structures date back to the mid-19th century, as indicated by archaeological evidence. They likely housed enslaved ironworkers, reflecting a construction style once common for outbuildings and housing for enslaved laborers—though few such examples remain today. The Elkridge Furnace Plank Houses are among the last known surviving structures of their kind in Maryland.
Enslaved Labor and Industrial Development
During the 18th and 19th centuries, the Elkridge Furnace Complex was a key industrial site, producing pig iron and other goods that contributed to Maryland’s and the Mid-Atlantic’s economic development. The furnace depended on enslaved labor, yet within this environment, enslaved individuals built families and upheld cultural traditions; their forced labor contributed to the economic success of the furnace, which in turn played a role in Maryland’s industrial development.
Many enslaved workers were trained in specialized trades – mining iron, casting, and operating the furnace required skill, endurance, and a deep understanding of the iron-making process.
Preserving and Interpreting
This restoration project aims to preserve as much of the original historic fabric as possible, ensuring the longevity of these structures while preparing the site for expanded interpretation. Their preservation offers an opportunity to tell a fuller history of the region—one that acknowledges the immense contributions of enslaved people while also honoring their resilience. The Plank Houses remain a powerful testament to the contributions and struggles of those who lived and labored there, reinforcing the importance of safeguarding this history for future generations.