The property now know as " Bloomingdale" was
originally patented or granted to Captain Robert Morris by Lord Baltimore is 1665.
It was then called "Mount Mill" The original house was built in 1695 and
the prominent addition was built in 1792.
Jacob Seth acquired the property in 1684, purchased
additional adjacent lands until the tract totaled about 2000 acres, and lived here until
his death in 1698. He bequeathed it to his son John, who died young, and according
to his father's will it was inherited by another son Charles. When Charles died in
1737, he left Mount Mill to his four sons, John, Charles, James and Jacob, the latter
buying his brothers' portions and at his death. The entire tract went to Jacob's
oldest son, Thomas Jennings Seth. Thomas was responsible for the new section of the
house being built in 1792. When he died in 1820 with no heirs, the property was sold
to Dr. Edward Harris.
Dr. Harris of Baltimore, used the estate as a summer
residence with his wife and two daughters, Sallie and Mary. The sisters were
attractive socialites with suitors by the score and provided the gayest and happiest times
the old house had ever known. The entertained lavishly and the house rang with dance
music and the bright, happy voices of many young people. The years passed and after
a long and happy life with many suitors, all of whom were spurned, the famous Harris
sisters shut themselves up in the old wing and became recluses.
During
the lifetime of the Harris sisters, the name of the estate was changed from Mount Mill to
Bloomingdale. Sallie outlived her Mary and willed the property to a cousin, Severn
Teackle Wallis of Baltimore, who sold it to Hiram G. Dudley in 1898. The house and
property was leased out to a succession tenant farmers.
The present owners have resided at Bloomingdale since
1937. The estate now consists of 640 acres and is used primarily for growing corn,
wheat and soy beans. Very little of the original house has been changed and is
gradually being restored to make your special occasion as beautiful and elegant as in the
days of the Harris sisters' grand entertaining.
