It is unknown
exactly when construction began; however, the house was completed in 1859
and was named "Sherwood." Consisting of over 8,500 square feet, the home
surely surpassed the imaginations of the local citizenry. Built in classic
Italianate style, it combines Greek revival, classic Italianate, and Gothic
influences. Presently the property consists of 18.82 acres. Sherwood has 27
rooms and rises over fifty feet into the air dominating the agricultural
landscape.This pre-Civil War
structure was built and designed for lavish parties and for accommodating
guests of long duration.Facing due east it
overlooked the Trappe Creek waterway which served the commercial shipping
trade for the area. The view from the cupola allowed for sighting of the
waterway as well as providing a viewpoint for the plantation owner to
observe the workers on the land.Berlin was isolated
and did not begin to prosper until the railroad connected the town to the
rest of the peninsula in the 1870's. Prior to that time, Berlin had more
contact with Philadelphia by coastal shipping than it had contact with
Baltimore.Henry Johnson died
in 1867 and his early demise caused ownership of the house and surrounding
1200 acres to be assumed by the mortgage holders, Granville Stokes and his
wife, Cordelia of Philadelphia. Thus the Stokes family became one of the
largest landowners in the Berlin area. The property came to be known as
"The Stokes Place" although the Stokes leased it to local families and never
lived there themselves.Senator Orlando
Harrison and his brother George Harrison of Harrisons Nurseries, purchased
the house and 28 acres in 1902 for $6,000. Neither of the brothers made his
home on the property; however, they did farm the land extensively.Fourteen years
later in 1916, Col. Harry Selby Purnell, M.D. and his wife Elizabeth Kenly
Purnell, bought the house for use as a summer home. They made numerous
renovations to modernize the home: added indoor bathrooms and plumbing,
enclosed two porches, removed the wall between the two north parlors to
form a ballroom, built an addition on the west wing, and installed a hot
water heating system.The family moved
permanently to Berlin in 1933 following Dr. Purnell's retirement from the
U.S. Army where he served as a medical doctor. They named their home
"Dunwandrin" to reflect the end of their world travels. After Dr. Purnell's
death in 1946, Mrs. Purnell lived in the house for ten more years before
selling it and twenty surrounding acres to William Dryden, owner and editor
of the Eastern Shore Times, and his wife Beryl. The Drydens renamed the
home Merry Sherwood and occupied it with their family until 1972 when the
property was sold to Wanda Lee and Frank Scanlon, an engineer and local
motel owner. After the death of Mr. Scanlon, Mrs. Scanlon sold the property
to her youngest daughter Wanda and her husband Jim Yackley. A partnership
purchased the home from the Yackleys in 1990 and restoration was begun.In 1991 one of the
partners, Kirk Burbage, a Berlin native and businessman, purchased full
interest in Merry Sherwood. He has restored the exterior and interior of
the home with exacting standards. Of special significance are the home's
magnificently detailed and large scaled baseboards, loblolly pine flooring,
ceiling heights, nine marble fireplaces, three floor running mahogany rail
and staircase, window mouldings, ballroom, cupola, floor to ceiling peer
mirrors, large mantle mirrors, wrap-around veranda, and transom with side
lights set with red and blue etched Bohemian glass at the home's front
entrance.The surrounding
landscape reflects a typical 19th century design for a home of this size
and elegance. It contains various species of trees and shrubs; some, like
the African Elephant Pine, not native to this area. Extensive restoration
has been done to the grounds.In 1991, The
National Register of Historic Places recognized and listed Merry Sherwood.
Americans are proud of their heritage and are honored when properties in
their community are entered in the National Register.It is the
intention of the present owner to operate Merry Sherwood as a country inn,
available for lodging, weddings, parties, receptions, fund raisers, and
special events. Kirk Burbage hopes that by operating this historic building
in this manner, the building's maintenance and preservation will be
accomplished for the education and pleasure of future generations.
Located in beautiful and historic Worcester County on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, Merry Sherwood Plantation is an enchanting and grand setting for weddings, receptions, corporate retreats and other special events. Deluxe lodging with full breakfast in the formal dining room is also available.
Location:
From Baltimore/Washington, D. C. follow Rt. 50 East to Berlin, MD. (6 miles before Ocean City) Take Rt. 113 South Exit from Rt. 50 and go 2.5 miles to Merry Sherwood Plantation. Right side of road. Look for Sign and Entrance Gates.
From Points North. Pick up Rt. 13 in Wilmington to Rt. 113 to Berlin, MD. Stay on 113 and you will come to Merry Sherwood Plantation.
Merry Sherwood is open to the public year round.
Group tours are available upon request.
Handicapped persons requiring special assistance are urged to contact the property prior to visiting.
Title page * Overview