Oakdale

2022

Historic Ellicott City, Inc. is pleased to have its 34th Decorator Show House at Oakdale, located at 16449 Ed Warfield Road, Woodbine, Maryland.

This culturally, historically, and architecturally significant home, Oakdale, circa 1838 and 1898, was the former home of Maryland Governor Edwin Warfield. It is a magnificent estate on a tranquil 180-acre tract only 20 miles from both the Washington and Baltimore beltways.

In 1838, Albert Gallatin Warfield (1817-1891), the great grandson of Capt. Benjamin, built a two-story brick house for his bride, Margaret Gassaway Watkins. She was the daughter of Col. Gassaway and Eleanor Bowie Clagett Watkins. Albert and Margaret had 10 children in this original house that was comprised of two rooms on the first floor and two rooms on the second floor. The third son, Edwin (1848-1920) inherited Oakdale after his father’s death. In 1897, he enlarged the original house by adding on the large columns on the front portico, the side porches, and a third floor for more rooms. Edwin was elected the 45th Governor of Maryland in 1904. At that time, he and his wife and four children lived in Annapolis but had Oakdale as their summer home.

Along the way, additions to the property included a barn, stable, smokehouse, even a frog pond. The property remained in the Warfield Family until 1974. More recent owners, the Mariani Family, have enlarged the house by adding a solarium, meeting and social venue space, and added to the property returning it to 180 acres. The house is on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Chairpersons of Oakdale were Connie Siegel and Joan Becker. Approximately, 3,000 guests toured the home from May 13 to June 5, 2022.