Standing as one of the oldest and original 13 buildings in town (before the town was incorporated), it was built in 1813 in the late Georgian Architectural style. General Lafayette was entertained in the house when he was a guest of Daniel and Mary R. McGreedy in 1825. Sometime later, it was owned by Cornelius Smith who added the porches and railings in 1849. Lieutenant Lucius A. C. Gerry, of Snow’s Civil War Battery B and who was Cornelius Smith's step-grandson, inherited the house from Mr. Smith. The Greek Revival style columns were carved from trees razed on the land, and the cast iron porch railing was embellished with sheaves of wheat and grapes. These symbols denote the owner’s pride as a farmer. It is believed the railings were cast in Baltimore. Notice the granite slabs that were used to support the second floor, which cost $15 a piece at the time according to the receipts which are on file at the Hertiage Museum in the Paw Paw Building.
In 1981, The Port Deposit Heritage Corporation (PDHC) received this once dilapidated property from Ms. Jeanette Westerfield, granddaughter of Lt. Gerry, and a descendant of Mrs. Cornelius Smith. The exterior of this beautiful and historic house was restored by the PDHC and is now a private residence (with an artisan shop on the ground floor).
