Welcome to Tusculum Farm
In 1747, a house was built upon a hill on over 500 acres of land. Tusculum, as the farm would be known, was created to be a place that brought family together…generation after generation.
From the signing of the Declaration of Independence, through the shaping of The United States, to two World Wars, and throughout the turn of 4 centuries…life has happened on the farm and history has been made.
In hard times and good times, the farm has served those families who have lived here — horses, cows, chickens, alpacas, dogs, cats, and people alike. Never-ending spectacular views and nature at its purest. Joy has always come from sharing it.
From weddings, to birthdays, to anniversaries, and graduations. From decisions being made, to children’s “firsts,” to countless meals, walks and talks. Everyone who has known the farm has had their own experiences here, but all who have been here have grown the farm together.
Since 1747, it is families that have made Tusculum Farm.
Welcome to the family.
Our History
1747
Tradition maintains that the original log house at Tusculum was built in 1747 by American patriot Henry Griffith. Henry Griffith was a prominent Marylander who was Justice of the Lower Court of Frederick County, Moderator of the Hungerford Tavern meeting in 1774, and Member of the Annapolis Convention that formed the Association of Freemen of Maryland. Griffith also witnessed the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
1797 – 1807
Based upon a review of the deed records for the property, it appears that the land upon which Tusculum stands was owned in the mid-18th century by John Beale Bordley of Annapolis, and not actually purchased by Griffith until 1797. In either case, Griffith owned the property until 1807. In 1807, Henry Griffith died, and the property, referred to as “my dwelling plantation” in Griffith’s will, was sold to Henry Howard by Philemon Griffith and Joshua Griffith, executors of Henry Griffith’s estate.
1865
When the property, owned at the time by a Frederick O. Gaither, was sold to Enoch B. Hutton; the deed of sale refers to the property as “Tusculum” and “The Diamond.” The name Tusculum, by definition, is a ruined Roman city in the Alban Hills, in the Latium region of Italy. It was one of the largest Roman cities in the Alban Hills and today is one of the largest ruins of a Roman city in the region. Tusculum was known in Roman times for the many impressive and luxurious country villas located close to the city, yet “a comfortable distance from Rome.”
LATE 19TH CENTURY
“An important group of agricultural buildings is located west of the main dwelling at Tusculum and includes two barns with silos and a stable. The first, southernmost barn of the group is a late 19th-century gable-roofed frame structure with vertical board walls. The interior of the barn has been extensively altered for use as an assembly hall. The second barn is located directly north of the first. Built in 1942, it is a post and beam frame structure covered with a gable roof, clad with sheet metal, and features two ventilators at the ridge. The barn is sheathed in vertical boards with slit ventilators. The interior is divided into three bats with a central drive-on crib and equipment/hay storage areas to either side.” via Index History Prop Montgomery County January 2000. Today, we refer to these as “The Hay Barn” and “The Workshop”.
1944 – 1946
The third, northernmost barn was built in 1944-1946 by barn builder August Priebe. Described as a cattle barn in earlier documentation, the barn actually serves as a stable, apparently since its construction. It has a frame structure, is two stories in height, 24 bays long and seven bays wide, and is covered with a steep gambrel roof with a hay hood. The north side contains a shed addition extending the entire length of the north elevation.” via Index History Prop Montgomery County January 2000. Today, we refer to this structure as “The Stables” (a fully functional modernized stable barn).
1954
In December 1954 a plaque was placed on the front floor of the house by the Chevy Chase Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution that read: “Tusculum Built in 1747 by the Hon. Henry Griffith who was one of the first justices of the Lower Count of Frederick County, moderator of the citizens meeting at Hungerford Tavern in June, 1774, and a member of the convention in Annapolis which formed the Association of Freeman of Maryland. He was the only citizen of lower Frederick County to witness the signing of the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia, July 1776.” The regent who sponsored the plaque was Mrs. Thomas Patterson, who was a direct descendant of Judge Griffith. She passed away before the placement of the marker.
1961
Deed dated January 14th, 1961 from Everett R Hurt et ux to Consolidated Investments Inc. conveying five tracts of land. Tract IV is identified as parts of Tusculum and the Diamond.
1964
In May of 1964, as part of the agreement with Consolidated Investments Inc., Carl and Virginia Freeman (who were married December 20th, 1962) officially purchased the property and called Tusculum Farm home. Their son, Joshua Freeman, was born July 27th, 1964.
1964 – 2002
Virginia Freeman called “The Farm House” home until 2002. Renovations by Carl and Virginia Freeman to the farm house at Tusculum included enlarging the right hand front room, elongating it toward the front and added a bowed window that looks out onto a stunning vista of manicured green lawns, punctuated by colorful neat flower beds; improving the dining room by changing the flat window to a bowed one; and, in the back of the house adding a large room to give them an attractive entertaining area. The back room is built of stone, has a highly vaulted cathedral-type ceiling, and a massive stone fireplace that rises some 20 feet to the ceiling (the Freemans discovered that they could match the color of the old stone to perfection at the old River Road Quarry where they believe the original stone was obtained).
2001
Joshua Freeman married Michelle DiFebo Freeman in Italy on May 19th, 2001 and then came home to celebrate the wedding at Tusculum Farm in June 2001
2003
Joshua and Michelle Freeman added an addition to The Farm House, which you can see today, as well as created a gallery in the back of the house that includes the original stone wall. They also renovated the Hay Barn, pictured above.
2006
Joshua Freeman passed away in a tragic accident on December 14th, 2006. Today, Michelle DiFebo Freeman continues his legacy and runs Tusculum Farm in addition to being the owner and CEO of the Carl M. Freeman Companies, president and chairman of the Carl M. Freeman Foundation, and founding chairman of the Joshua M. Freeman Foundation
2019
Tusculum Farm officially opened as a full bed & breakfast and events venue in 2019. Since then, we have celebrated numerous weddings, several family reunions and getaways, and life in general with our guests.
We look forward to hosting you and your family and friends the next time you are looking for a getaway. Make sure to follow us on social media or subscribe to our newsletter to stay up-to-date on any new announcements, packages or experiences at Tusculum Farm!
