03/29/2025
In celebration of the recent , we retell the historical significance of :
Belmont is a registered Maryland Historical Trust site, located on what was a 1,360-acre tract of land patented in 1695 by Mordecai Moore as "Moore's Morning Choice." The land was acquired by Caleb Dorsey Sr. (of Hockleyin-the-Hole) at an unknown date and sold to his son, Caleb Dorsey Jr. in 1732. Caleb Jr. married Priscilla Hill in 1734/5. The existing house has two virtually identical plaques on it with the initials of Caleb and Priscilla Dorsey, and the date 1738.
Caleb Dorsey died in 1772 and "Belmont" went to his younger son, Edward Hill. At the time of his death in 1799, Edward's widow, Elizabeth controlled "Belmont." The first recorded glimpse one gets of "Belmont'' is with the 1798 Federal Direct Tax, which notes one wing of the brick house was not finished. Elizabeth Dorsey died young, too, in 1802, but Edward's estate was not divided until 1815.
Apparently Priscilla Dorsey, who had married Alexander Contee Hanson, received "Belmont." Hanson died in 1819 and Priscilla retained control of "Belmont" until her death in 1849. She left the property to her son Charles Grosvenor Hanson in trust for his life, and insured it would pass to his children. Some of them continued to live at "Belmont" until the last of them to reside there, "Nannie," died in 1917.
In 1917, "Belmont" was acquired by Mary Graham Bruce, who was a cousin of the Hansons. A decade later, she enlarged the house by putting two rooms on the rear of the main block and deepening both hyphens.
Today, it is owned by Howard County Government and operated by Howard County Recreation and Parks. Call us at 410-313-0200 to set up a tour so you can host your big event with us.
One of Howard County's hidden gems, Belmont Manor is a premiere destination for weddings and events. We host weddings, events, meetings, and many other rentals.
