William W. Early House

The general manager of the Southern Maryland Railroad (SMR), William W. Early, built this elegant Queen Anne-style home in 1907. Notable features include a polygonal tower, a wraparound porch with turned balusters and posts, a decorative sheet metal roof, and classically influenced interior woodwork. The house is also significant for its association with the development of the Brandywine community and the county. During his time as railroad manager, Early used the west wing of the house as his office. His father, William H. Early, was responsible for platting and surveying the town on land he acquired from the SMR (by the start of the Civil War he owned around 3,000 acres). The house remains a private residence and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2012.

Brandywine became a small agricultural community in the early 1800s around an intersection of old roads. The town's first store and post office were established in 1846. The arrival of the SMR after the Civil War spurred development as it provided area farmers a faster way to transport goods. Real estate speculators and William H. Early, bought up land as well. Part of his land included the junction where the railroad crossed the road between Washington and Woodville. It was this area that he developed into Brandywine. The population peaked at 250 in the early 1880s and dropped to 60 by the end of the century.

William H. Early died in 1890 and his land was divided among his children and grandchildren. William W. Early, who was the oldest child, inherited 23 acres, part of which he used to build the house. Health issues forced him to retire from the railroad in 1917 and he died three years later. His son owned the house until 1946. In the next few years, part of the second floor was converted into an apartment and the second floor porch was converted into a small kitchen, which was eventually restored into a porch in the 1970s. The house was sold in 2022.

"The Early Family." Brandywine, Maryland. Accessed November 30, 2022. https://brandywinemd.com/history/historic-william-w-early-house/the-early-family.

"Historic William W. Early house for sale." Brandywine, Maryland. July 29, 2022. https://brandywinemd.com/historic-william-w-early-house-for-sale.

Pearl, Susan G. "William W. Early House." National Park Service - National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form. December 12, 2012. https://mht.maryland.gov/secure/medusa/PDF/NR_PDFs/NR-1011.pdf.