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Back Parlor

Although used by the Carrolls in much the same way a family room is used today, the Back Parlor is quite formal in appearance. Microscopic paint analysis conducted during the restoration of the house in the 1980s revealed evidence of adhesive on the walls, documenting the use of wallpaper. The black painted and gilt armchair, on loan from the collection of the Maryland Historical Society, is the only piece of furniture that has survived with a history of original use at Homewood.

Side Chamber

The Side Chamber, located in the east hyphen and connected to the Chintz Chamber, may have been offered to important visitors for use as a dressing room. Otherwise, the room is likely to have been used as an office. Its location across from the hyphen's door and the presence of built-in bookshelves on either side of the fireplace support this theory. Charles Carroll, Jr. could have used the room to meet with the property's overseer or business associates who could use the exterior door to come and go without disturbing the rest of the house. The traveling writing desk, the Baltimore shield back side chair, c. 1800, and the book on the table, The American Register, all have a Carroll family provenance.

Green Chamber

The Green Chamber (master bedroom) and the Dressing Room make up the entire east wing of the house. A number of furnishings in this room, including a "night table" or commode, a chocolate pot, and a pair of Baltimore oval back side chairs, c. 1800, all have a Carroll family provenance. The vaulted ceiling with a plaster medallion of acanthus leaves and bellflowers is the highest in the house at 15 feet 3 inches.

Dressing Room

In addition to the Dressing Room's obvious function, this room could have also been used as a small sitting room for needlework, reading, or correspondence. A closet — about ten feet off the floor and accessible only by ladder — was used for seasonal storage. The painted floorcloth, in a pattern called "tumbling blocks" provided a durable floor covering that would have been significantly cooler than carpeting in the summer months.

Dining Room

Charles Carroll, Jr. ordered a "crimson and drab carpet" for his dining room and this reference, found in the Carroll papers, is the basis for the Dining Room's Brussels carpet. A "crumb cloth" protects the carpet (which would have been very expensive) from spilled food and wear and tear. The table is set with imported English silver, ceramics, and glassware. The freestanding columns along the chimneypiece are an elegant and unusual architectural feature.

HOMEWOOD MUSEUM | The Johns Hopkins University | 3400 North Charles Street | Baltimore, MD 21218 | Phone 410-516-5589 | Email homewoodmuseum@jhu.edu
The Johns Hopkins University Museums :: Homewood Museum :: Evergreen Museum & Library
© 2007 The Johns Hopkins University. Baltimore, MD. Updated 05Jun07 by dgips@jhu.edu