Edwin Waters House (18MO409)

This farmstead includes a 19th-century farmhouse and other agricultural structures along Route 121 in Montgomery County, Maryland. The farmhouse and buildings have been abandoned. The bank barn, shown in photographs taken in 1974, has been razed; all that remains are the foundation and piles of siding. A second agricultural building, also seen in the 1974 photographs, is no longer standing.

This site was initially identified in September of 1994 by Greenhorne & O'Mara during a Phase I survey of a parcel under consideration for purchase by the General Services Administration. Ten of the 20 shovel test pits excavated at 20m intervals contained historic and/or modern artifacts, including ceramics, glass, architectural remains, and personal items. Other than obviously modern objects, whiteware ceramics were the only temporal diagnostic. In general, the artifacts recovered are non-diagnostic beyond a broad mid-19th- to 20th-century temporal range. This date range coincides with historical documentation, which indicates that the complex was occupied by the early or mid-19th century and not abandoned until recently.

In September of 2005, Archeological Testing and Consulting, Inc. conducted Phase II testing of the site, including the excavation of 85 shovel test pits. Five 3x3 ft test units were placed in areas where high artifact concentrations were identified during shovel testing. At the time of the Phase II evaluation, only the 19th-century farmhouse could be identified. The other agriculture-related buildings were overgrown by vegetation and not clearly identifiable. Three features were found during the excavation. Feature 1 was a modern concrete well located in the west yard of the Waters house. Feature 2 was identified as a modern trash pit also located in the west yard area. Feature 3, in the south yard, was thought to be a wooden post associated with a demolished 20th-century fence line. The 65 positive shovel test pits and five test units contained historic and/or modern objects including ceramics, glass, architectural remains, and personal items. The largest concentration of artifacts located to the west side of the house. Other than obviously modern objects, whiteware, Albany slip stoneware, Depression glass, manganese-tinted glass, and machine-cut nails were the only temporally diagnostic artifacts. In general, the artifacts recovered are non-diagnostic beyond a broad mid-19th to 20th century temporal range.

(Edited from archeological site survey form, Maryland Historical Trust)