Berwyn Heights’ oldest home, dating to the 1790s, is on the market again. An open house is scheduled for Sunday, August 23, 2-4 p.m. It is listed for $349,000 with Long and Foster: https://www.longandfoster.com/homes-for-sale/5933-Natasha-Drive-Berwyn-Heights-MD-20740-303106966.
Sportland was in foreclosure in 2014 and was eventually purchased by an investor, who fixed it up and turned it into a rental property. It looks pretty nice from the curb, but needed a lot of work when the BHHC toured it in 2014.
BHHC members Debby Steele Snyder, Sharmila Bhatia and Kerstin Harper attended the open house and had the opportunity to speak with former Sportland owner Pat Brown. Pat was happy to share information about what the house used to look like when her family lived there, as well as rumors that continue to circulate: the house had tunnels serving as escape routes when it was an underground railroad safe house; a Civil War hospital and a distillery during prohibition.
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- Sportland today. The older 1- story part of the house was built around 1790 by James Edmonston on his 522 acre tract called ‘Yarrow’. The addition was built by Ethan Allen Jones and his wife Laura between 1850-1863.
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- Sportland ca. mid-20th century. The photo was taken by James Wilfong, a former President of the Prince George’s County Historical Society. His collection of photos of historic structures are held by the Historic Society and are available online at http://www.digitalmaryland.org.
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- The 2 1/2 story addition of Sportland features a grand staircase in the side hall.
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- Fireplace in one of two parlors. It has an original wooden mantel but the tile work probably dates from the 1960s.
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- A bedroom on the 3rd floor of the addition.
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- The basement with field stone foundation.
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- Former owner of Sportland, Pat Brown in what once was her bedroom. Pat was available during the open house on August 23, 2020 to answer questions about the property before it was transformed into a student rental.
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- This south-facing, former parlor was transformed into bedroom 1, one of 5 housing UMD students. The original fireplace has been covered with wallboard.
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- The grand staircase after the 2015 renovation. The railings have been painted and the treads carpeted. The original pine board floors are still present under the new flooring.
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- This sunny bedroom is located on the 3rd floor and overlooks the front yard.
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- Pat Brown shows BHHC members Sharmila Bhatia and Kerstin Harper the unfinished basement under the old portion of the house. Pat confirmed rumors of a tunnel leading away from the south wall of the basement. There also is an access to a deeper room with a cistern that was probably used for cold storage of food.
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- Pat Brown and Sharmila Bhatia exit basement in the rear of the house.
Berwyn Heights Historical Committee 