Bohemia (Milligan Hall)
On the State Road before crossing the Bohemia River, in the Cecilton vicinity, is Bohemia or Milligan Hall, the estate of the McLane family. It may have been built for Colonel John Baldwin between 1743 and 1745. According to the book "At the Head of the Bay A Cultural and Architectural History of Cecil County, Maryland" by Pamela James Blumgart, Mark Walston, and Paul Baker Touart, this house was more likely designed and built by George Milligan "labeled a 'merchant of Chestertown' in a 1751 transfer of 'MacGregory's Delight' from his father-in-law John Baldwin."
Later the property passed to the Knight, McLane and Este Fisher families. Sometimes called "Little Bohemia," this estate was once the home of Louis McLane, member of the Delaware House of Representatives (1817-1827), Minister to England (1829-1831), (1845-1846), Secretary of the Treasury (1831-1833), Secretary of State (1833-1834). The picture of Little Bohemia shows the house with a lovely brick wall and archway leading to the garden. An old sun dial adds to its charm. The house is said to be almost 300 years old.
Comments (1)
Barbara Garner said
at 7:33 pm on Mar 2, 2009
From the booklet published in 1967 by the women of St. Stephen's Church, funded by Marguerite du Pont de Villiers Boden: The name Bohemia, which appears frequently in Cecil County, is associated with Augustine Hermen, who came to this country from Bohemia. In 1967, the home was owned by Mr. and Mrs. W. Harrison Mechling. The Georgian residence with its hip roof stands in a grove of tall trees. Lawn and fields slope gently to the river shore. The main part of the two-story house is of brick construciton, the bricks reportedly having been made on the farm. At least four different bonds can be observed in the walls of the house, but the most interesting is the all-header bond on the land side. The use of this bond results in an unusually attractive facade. Above the doors on both the land and river sides are Palladian windows and above each of these is a small circular window giving light to the large attic. A wing to the east, although originally brick, is now finished with clapboards. T this has been added in recent years a one-store kitchen. Of the interior features, the most spectacular is the staircase with it Chinese Chippendale balustrade of 20 panels, no two being identical in design. The staircase is cnstructed without visible support, yet so clever is its design that it is far steadier than many stairways of modern construction. Elaborate moldings and cornices in the two-story hall and in several rooms on the first floor are of plaster. They are attributed to an indentured French craftsman whoearned his freedom upon conmpletion of this work. According to tradition, distinguished guests incuded Benjamin Franklin and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. It is said that the oet was inspired to write "The Old Clock On The Stairs" while he was visiting Bohemia. (Additional note: According to Mrs. Boden, her restoration architect Albert Kruse studied Bohemia's staircase as well as those of other mansions before designing his own for her restoration of Mount Harmon.)
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