Apple tree at Harmony Hall (298922e2-36f0-400a-8747-ee9f4d84443e)

An apple tree with a rounded, leafy canopy grows near a line of trees.
Harmony Hall is significant for its role in exploration and settlement along the Potomac River in Prince George’s County. Battersea, the historic name of the patent on which Harmony Hall is located, was a 500-acre land tract patented in 1662 and was the first patent issued in the area. The landscape is significant for its associations with the agricultural history of the area, Charles Wallace Collins, its architecture, and the Colonial Revival landscape. In 2018, NCR and NACE staff discovered a remnant apple specimen on the northern terminus of the wall. It is speculated, based on the size and growth pattern of the tree, that the tree is likely associated with the historic orchard that was referenced in papers associated with the plantation during the Collins ownership. Collins purchased Harmony Hall in 1929 and restored the manor house, operated a farm, and planted a small formal garden. Additional research is needed regarding the origins of the tree. Collins transformed Harmony Hall’s landscape from an unkempt condition into his vision of a colonial era garden within a few years of purchasing the property. Collins cleared out the overgrown lawns and pastures surrounding the house, as well as a possible remnant orchard.
*Subject: Cultural Landscapes
Keywords: apple tree; remnant orchard; Harmony Hall; cultural landscape