Tucked behind the tall, shadowy trees that tower above the sidewalks of sleepy, suburban Rosemont Avenue sits an unassuming stone farmhouse. It may look like nothing to you, or you may not have given it a second thought if you’ve seen it before. Many people just know it as “that old house near the Sheetz.” However, that old house has seen more history than any of us could dream of—for it was finished during the French and Indian War, and has seen every major American conflict since. That marvel of history and tribute to local ingenuity is the Schifferstadt House and Architectural Museum, the oldest standing home in Frederick County.

Once, the crown jewel of a 300-acre tract of farmland owned by Josef Brunner, a German immigrant hailing from the home’s namesake, Klein Schifferstadt, it’s now a local attraction and designated National Historical Landmark. Its rigid, stone walls are two feet thick, and it still houses one of the original three five-plate jamb stoves that once made up an energy-efficient radiant heating system. It is thought to be the only jamb stove in the country to still be in the original place that it was installed, all those years ago.

“The cast iron stoves supplied clean, safe, efficient heat, more than the open fireplaces that the English settlers preferred,” said docent Boyce Rensberger. The home’s architecture is a perfect example of the colonial German style, most evident in its symmetrical exterior and wishbone chimney system.

“It’s really weathered the test of time,” said an interested visitor. Stepping inside the house feels just like a return to the 18th century. Traditional wooden tools of the period can be found on benches, as well as a spinning wheel and tables and chairs. Just outside is the Heritage Garden, a reconstruction of the traditional German four square style of raised beds, boasting a variety of flowers and herbs.

“Visitors don’t need any prior knowledge of the Schifferstadt, just an interest in the house and a willingness to talk to visitors,” mentioned Rensberger.

So the next time you’re up for an adventure–or maybe just hanging around the Sheetz–consider checking out the time-tested and historically prolific Schifferstadt House.

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https://www.yahoo.com/now/schifferstadt-reopen-public-april-231900186.html

https://sah-archipedia.org/buildings/MD-01-021-0046

https://www.visitfrederick.org/listing/schifferstadt-architectural-museum/167/