Hager House

Hager House is a stone residence built during German colonial settlement with walls approximately 17 inches (43 centimeters) thick. Two spring-fed pools in the basement provided year-round water for the household and its operations.

Jonathan Hager, a German immigrant from Westphalia, built this residence in 1740 on a large plot he called Hager's Fancy. This settlement represented an important phase of early German migration into the region.

The house displays German colonial architectural features throughout its main floor rooms. The layout and furnishings reflect the daily life and craft traditions of its early inhabitants.

The building functions as a museum today and can be explored by visitors, with tours providing information about archaeological findings. The thick stone walls keep the interior cool year-round and offer good shelter from weather.

The basement contains a defensive wall with a shooting opening that separated the spring pools and provided shelter to residents. This design shows how safety and daily needs were connected during frontier times.

Location: Hagerstown

Inception: 1740

Address: 19 Key Street

GPS coordinates: 39.63940,-77.73060

Latest update: December 12, 2025 09:06