| Poplar Hill Mansion | |
| Location: | 117 Elizabeth St., Salisbury, Maryland |
| Coordinates: | 38.3714°N -75.5953°W |
| Architecture: | Federal |
| Added: | October 7, 1971 |
| Refnum: | 71000380 |
The Poplar Hill Mansion is a historic U.S. mansion located at 117 Elizabeth Street, Salisbury, Maryland and is open to the public as a house museum.[1] [2]
Major Levin Handy purchased 357acres of land outside of Salisbury in 1795 and began construction of this Federal-style building later that year.[1] Due to lack of funds stemming from severe medical problems, Major Handy discontinued construction of the mansion and put it up for sale in 1803.[1] In 1805, Dr. John D. Huston purchased the incomplete house and continued its construction.[2] Sarah Huston, Dr. Huston's widow inherited the estate, which included eighteen enslaved people and $110. She sold some of the property for development in the late 1840s to early 1850s.[1] In 1881, George Waller purchased the estate and his family lived there until 1945.[1] In 1945, Fred A. Adkins purchased the property and renovated the house, modernizing it.[1] In 1948, Mr. & Mrs. Ward A Garber purchased the estate.[1] In 1970, Wicomico County purchased the estate and the mansion was placed in public trust in 1974 under the ownership of the City of Salisbury.[2] In 1971, Poplar Hill Mansion was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Some of the architectural features of the mansion include:[2]
According to legend, a slave girl named Sara perished in the house after her dress caught on fire in the second floor rear bedroom during the Huston period.[2] Since that time, there have been reports of a "consoling" spirit.[2]