The house sitting on a small hill in Dorsey's Search village doesn't have stairs leading to the front door, the hardwood floors are covered with paper and the rooms are primarily vacant.
Beginning Sept. 15, Dorsey Hall will be transformed into a show house full of chandeliers, artwork and furniture for visitors to admire - as the 17th annual house decorated by Historic Ellicott City Inc.
Construction workers, landscapers and designers are working to renovate and decorate the house, which was built by the Dorsey family in the early 1700s and has been vacant for a number of years. Donald R. Reuwer, a real estate developer, and Richard B. Talkin, a lawyer, bought the house in 1999 and planned to restore it. They agreed to let the Ellicott City group decorate it for a fund-raiser.
"We have wanted to do this house for many years," said Janet Kusterer, president of Historic Ellicott City Inc.
By the time Talkin and Reuwer bought the house, its age had started to show - it had extensive termite damage, sagging floors and rotting wood. The owners have been restoring the house since April, fixing windows, floors and doors and painting the exterior a creamy yellow.
After the public tours end Oct. 14, Talkin said, he and Reuwer will look into renting for office space.
Historic Ellicott City invited several designers and landscapers to walk through the property this summer and bid on areas they would like to design. Participating designers are volunteering their time to gain exposure and possibly new customers, Kusterer said.
The house's 23 spaces throughout two stories will be designed in a manner that is "tasteful, elegant and respects the history of the house," Kusterer said. She said the decor won't necessarily reflect 1700 tastes, but will "show how a house this age can still be livable."
The house's furnishings will be available for sale, and the house's owners get the first chance to purchase the items.
Historic Ellicott City chooses to decorate old houses that are in or near the Ellicott City area, are in good shape and will attract the public, Kusterer said. Previous projects include Cattail Farm in Glenwood and Mount Ida and White Hall, both in Ellicott City.
Information: 410-461-6908.
