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The Teackle Mansion in Princess Anne, Maryland was built for Littleton Dennis Teackle and his wife Elizabeth Upshur Teackle. Construction of this 10,000 square foot Federal style house began in the spring of 1802. The structure took 17-years to build, finally being finished in 1819.
The house exceeded most private residences of its day. Only the wealthiest Eastern Shore gentry of the early nineteenth century could afford to build on such a scale. The Teackles lovingly called the property “Teackltonia” in order to distinguish it from Mr. Teackle’s uncle’s, John Dennis’, Beckford estate next door.
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The resulting finely appointed mansion had five sections. The neo-classically inspired center section of the dwelling sits on an elevated foundation and showcases an intricately detailed front with a strictly symmetrical, temple-form facade. The symmetrical form continues throughout the first floor of the house. For instance, in the drawing room, false windows are fitted with mirrored glass panes to balance the working windows. Blind doors and niches match the working doors and open niches.
Littleton Teackle was a member of the General Assembly of Maryland between 1828 and 1832. While in the Assembly, he was actively involved in the development of an educational system for Maryland. He is known to have corresponded with Thomas Jefferson asking for his thoughts on the proposals for education in the State.
Two years after Littleton Teakle’s death in 1850 the house was divided. The main block and south wing were sold Robert Dashiell, the north wing sold to Francis Barnes. Maybe as a result of Teackle’s earlier work on education, the north wing was subsequently used as a school for girls. This, though, did not last long as it was sold to another member of the Dashiell family in 1860.
The Teackle Mansion was owned by descendants of the Dashiell family until it was acquired by Old Princess Anne Days, Inc. and the Somerset County Historical Society. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. It is open from the first weekend in April through the first weekend in December on Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday.
I love this house. I am a descendant and my grandmother, with her cousin, or aunt donated the mansion in the 1970’s. There is so much history. As I recall, it was triple-deed, my grandmother Margaret Dashiel, Smith, ended up with one third of the deed. I believe her “place” was the side of the house where the kitchen is, was.