Sherrick Farm

Sherrick Farm, Antietam National Battlefield, Sharpsburg, MD

Sherrick Farm, Antietam National Battlefield, Sharpsburg, MD

– Click on the image to enlarge or purchase –

Sherrick Farm

The Sherrick Farm is located within the Antietam National Battlefield. It is owned by the National Park Service and like many of the buildings on the battlefield not open to the public.

It is at the southern end of the battlefield near Burnside Bridge. Owned by 60-year old Joseph and 55-year old Sarah Sherrick, it was a prosperous farm until September 17, 1862.  The farm ended up being between the two opposing forces. The Sherrick’s left in a hurry.  According to Kevin M Walker and K.C. Kirkman, in their book Antietam Farmsteads: A Guide to the Battlefield Landscapes, a 22nd Massachusetts soldier reported:

“Upon visiting the Sherrick’s house that morning, we found it quite a sumptuous affair.  It had been hastily evacuated, as it was between the lines. The foragers ahead of us had pulled out what edibles it contained, and among them a splendid assortment of jellies, preserves, etc., the pride of every Maryland woman’s heart, but now scattered about. The orchard was filled with the choicest fruit. What a feast! Our stomachs, just beginning to become accustomed to ‘salt horse’ and ‘hard tack,’ earnestly opened and yearned for this line of good things.”

Soldiers from both armies swept over the farm during the latter stages of the battle.  Once the fighting had ceased, the Sherrick house and barn, as well as the house of their neighbor John Otto, were used as field hospitals.  The orchard and most of the crops were destroyed during the battle and its aftermath.  Fortunately, the $3,000 in gold that Joseph Sherrick had hidden in a stone wall on the property was still there when he returned.

The main farmhouse seen here dates to about 1830. The house has two cellars, the south walls of which are exposed. The whitewashed stone together with the ground floor veranda give the impression of a three story building as seen in the image above.

Sherrick Farm, Antietam National Battlefield, Sharpsburg, MD

Sherrick Farm, Antietam National Battlefield, Sharpsburg, MD

– Click on the image to enlarge or purchase –

One of the strangest features of the building is the roof. At the southern end is hip roof, punctuated by two reasonably low-rise chimneys. At the north end, though, the roof finishes with with a gable end. The single chimney at the north end extends way beyond the roof ridge line.

Not only is the Sherrick Farmhouse larger than most on the battlefield, its interior is more elaborate. One of the fireplaces is marbleized. There are chair rails in most of the rooms and the main stairs are ornamented with a wave molding. There is some evidence, reported in the Antietam National Battlefield Nomination form for the National Register of Historic Places, that all of the interior rooms still have their original paint. Although the house has been wired for electricity, no modern plumbing has been added.

As mentioned above, the Sherrick Farm is included within the Antietam National Battlefield’s listing on the National Register of Historic Places. It also has its own listing on the Maryland Inventory of Historic Sites.

Summary
Sherrick Farm
Article Name
Sherrick Farm
Description
Sherrick Farm is located within the Antietam National Battlefield. Dating to the 1830s, it is at the southern end of the battlefield near Burnside Bridge
Author
Publisher Name
Mark Summerfield
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3 Comments

  1. Cindy L. Sharick
    Twitter:

    My name is Cindy Louise Sharick. I recently ran into Courtney Sharick and she introduced me to her aunt Donna Sharick Cox. We met on July 31st and found that or great great great great great great grandfather is Joseph Sherrick (Schurch) and we are 4th cousins who are interested in visiting the Sherrick Farm. Can you please let me know the best way to go about this? My email is [email protected]. Thank you.

    • Nelliemay Sherrick Yotty

      This was my madian name.Joseoh was my great grandfather. My grandfather was Hally o. Sherricks my father was Orville Robert Sherrick.Im 70 now and trying to finish my family history on my father side.Thank you for posting the pictures and history.If you know anyone related please pass my name on

  2. Nelliemay Sherrick Yotty

    This was my madian name.Joseoh was my great grandfather. My grandfather was Hally o. Sherricks my father was Orville Robert Sherrick.Im 70 now and trying to finish my family history on my father side.Thank you for posting the pictures and history.If you know anyone related please pass my name on

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