| 1790's |
The first
of many stone buildings was erected
at Hayfields. This building still stands
and serves as the sales cottage |
| 1798-1805 |
The limestone
mansion, over a period of eight years,
was built by Colonel Nicholas Merryman
Bosley. Colonel Bosley's ancestors came
from Herefordshire, England to Maryland
before 1650 |
| 1824 |
Hayfields
won first place in the Maryland Agricultural
Society's contest for "premium
farm." At the annual cattle show
ceremonies, Bosley was awarded a silver
tankard from the hand of the great French
General, The Marquis de Lafayette. Bosley's
emphasis was on raising Timothy hay
- hence its name, Hayfields |
| 1843 |
John Merryman
inherited the farm from his uncle and
is credited with bringing the first
cattle to Maryland |
| 1861 |
John
Merryman was 1st Lieutenant in the Baltimore
County Horse Guards during the Civil
War and under orders burned the Northern
Central Railroad bridges between Cockeysville
and Parkton to prevent northern troops
from being brought to Baltimore. His
imprisonment led to Cheif Justice Taney's
masterful "ex-parte Merryman." |
| 1870's |
John
Merryman was elected treasurer of Maryland
in 1870 and "assisted materially
in the pushing forward of the Baltimore
and Potomac Railroad." He also
was elected to the Maryland House of
Delegates in 1874. |
| 1881 |
John
Merryman died and his son, E. Gettings
Merryman, took over management of the
farm |
| 1939 |
Hayfields
was bought by General John Franklin,
a cousin to the Merrymans. Franklin
and his wife refurnished the L-shaped
1 1/2 story Federal-style house while
the farm operation continued under Nicholas
B. Merryman. |
| 1986 |
Mr.
and Mrs. Nicholas B. Mangione and family
purchased the property. |
| 1995 |
Restoration
of Hayfields property begins. |
| 1998 |
Hayfields
Country Club is established. |
| Click
here
to be directed to the U.S. Library of
Congress' detailed historical documentation
and photographs of Hayfields during
its farming years. |
