Historic Shildt House c.1892

Historic Shildt House (c.1892) – Timeless Victorian Elegance in Taneytown.

Step into a piece of Taneytown history with the Historic Shildt House, originally home to the town’s blacksmith, James Shildt –  whose craftsmanship and legacy still echo through this remarkable property. This late-Victorian treasure showcases classic architectural details, including a graceful turret, front porch, and ornate millwork that speak to the artistry of its era. Inside, you’ll find 4 spacious bedrooms, 9-foot ceilings, and a thoughtful floor plan featuring dual staircases and two fireplaces, blending historic character with modern comfort.

The primary suite offers a private bath, while the spacious kitchen impresses with stainless steel appliances and abundant cabinetry and butler pantry — the perfect gathering place for family and friends. Throughout the home, original wood floors and replacement windows create a seamless balance between preservation and practicality. Outdoors, the charm continues with a fenced, landscaped backyard featuring tiered gardens, a two-story barn, and a beautifully restored two-story summer kitchen — now converted into an office or creative studio, complete with a fireplace.

Located in the heart of the Taneytown Historic District, the Shildt House is more than a home — it’s a living piece of Maryland’s history, lovingly maintained and ready for its next chapter.

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History

The Shildt House – Home and Forge, c. 1892

Beneath the timeless gable of 58 West Baltimore Street lies the story of a craftsman, a Civil War and Gettysburg Battle veteran, and a chronicler of small-town life. Known historically as the Shildt House, the property was home and workshop to James Shildt, Taneytown’s blacksmith through the late 19th century.

Census and map records show that by 1880, James – then 41 – lived here with his wife Margaret, four stepchildren, and two apprentice blacksmiths, the rhythmic sound of hammer and anvil likely filling the yard each day. His father, Henry Shildt, had worked the same trade before him, marking two generations of Taneytown blacksmiths shaping iron, wagons, and horseshoes for local farms and travelers on the Frederick–Gettysburg road.

In 1892, a beam bearing that date – and the mark of its original carpenter – was set into the porch, likely commemorating a rebuild or expansion of the home and shop. The house standing today reflects that late-Victorian reconstruction: solid, symmetrical, and imbued with the quiet pride of hand craftsmanship.

Shildt’s story extends beyond the forge. During the Civil War, he served as a Corporal in Company I of the 8th Maryland Infantry, enlisting in 1862 and serving until 1863, not long after the Battle of Gettysburg. Decades later, his name appeared again in print – not as a soldier, but as a correspondent for the Union Bridge Pilot newspaper, sharing community happenings and reflections from Taneytown.

He lived out his years in the same town he and his father helped to build, passing away in 1917 at the age of 78 and was remembered in the announcement as a “genial and kindly man.” He was laid to rest in the Taneytown Reformed Cemetery, across the street from his home.

Today, 58 West Baltimore Street carries forward that lineage of craftsmanship and community – a true piece of living history, where the glow of the forge once shone, and the stories of a Civil War veteran and small-town journalist continue to echo through time.