A Farmhouse In The Valley: Cool Discovery

Once again the Farmhouse is a beehive of activity. On Monday we started the renovation of the Carriage House. While the Carriage House is a huge building, it was not set up as a proper garage. We had sliding barn doors, while charming to look at, not so charming to open and close. We are making the opening in the

front wider so it can accommodate two working garage doors and we are opening up a space on the side for a door to exit closer to the house.

Cliff went out to check with Jason, the contractor and Jason informed him he had found a cool relic from the past. While tearing out the frame around the old barn doors Jason discovered this:

It's hard to see in this photo, but on this piece of wood is a handwritten name. In beautiful script it reads:

General Felix Agnus Stevenson Station Maryland.

Born in France, Felix Agnus came to this country to fight in the Civil War. He rose to the rank of General and was honorably discharged in 1865. His post war career saw him rise as a prominent newspaperman in Baltimore. He founded The Baltimore Star. In March of 1888, Annie Agnus, wife of Felix purchased 171 acres of land that was known as New Stoneton for $25,000. General Agnus renamed it Nacirema, American spelled backwards. Where the Farmhouse sits today.

The area at this time was known as Stevenson Station.

The General died in 1925 .

Now the story gets better. Remember the urban legend of Black Aggie??? Black Aggie was the statue that was placed on the grave of none other than General Felix Agnus!

I remember stories of kids going into Druid Ridge Cemetery to see Black Aggie and be terrified that it came alive.