Araby, Federal architecture house in Mason Springs, Maryland.
Araby is a two-story residential house in Charles County that displays the key features of Federal architecture. The building shows symmetrical proportions, a centered entrance, and decorative details typical of early 18th-century construction methods.
William Eilbeck, a merchant and militia officer, built the house in the first half of the 18th century as both a plantation and residence. His daughter Anne later married George Mason, a delegate to the Constitutional Convention, connecting the property to important colonial figures.
The house reflects how wealthy landowners of the era used their homes to show their social position and financial success. The symmetrical design and central entrance were common building choices among prominent families of that period.
The house is located southeast of Mason Springs along Maryland Route 425 and is easy to find. Visitors should know that this is a private residence and viewing is possible from the outside.
George Washington visited the estate as a suitor of Anne Eilbeck before she married George Mason. This connection links the house to three significant figures in early American history.
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