Architecture
Havre de Grace boasts an impressively diverse architectural history. Styles represented throughout the city include Georgian, Federal, French Colonial, Greek Revival, Gothic Revival, Italianate, and Queen Anne, among others. This architectural richness is reflected in some of the city's most iconic buildings, including St. John’s Episcopal Church, the Vandiver Inn, and the Spencer-Silver Mansion.
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St. John’s Episcopal Church
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St. John’s Episcopal Church is one of the oldest and most historically significant buildings in Havre de Grace. The church was formed as part of St. George’s Parish, based in nearby Perryman, about nine miles south of town. William B. Stokes, son of city founder Robert Young Stokes, donated the land at the northwest corner of Union and Congress Avenues for the construction of a chapel. Financing for the church building was authorized by the City Commissioners in 1803 through a state-sanctioned lottery intended to support its construction and other civic improvements. The building was completed in 1809.
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During the British attack on Havre de Grace on May 3, 1813, in the War of 1812, St. John’s suffered significant damage. British troops rode their horses into the sanctuary, destroying the interior—including pews, pulpit, and windows. Among the church’s vestrymen at the time was John H. O’Neill, the famed Defender of Havre de Grace, who was captured during the attack. Despite the destruction, the congregation rebuilt, and the church remains in active use to this day.
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Spencer-Silver Mansion
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An outstanding example of High Victorian architecture, the Spencer-Silver Mansion was built in 1896 by wealthy merchant and fish packer John Spencer. Designed by prominent mail-order architect George Franklin Barber, the mansion blends Chateauesque and Queen Anne styles and is the only home of its kind in Havre de Grace. Constructed of locally quarried Port Deposit granite,it featured advanced amenities for its time, including gas and electric lighting, humidifiers built into gas fireplaces, and Italian marble fixtures.
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In 1917, the home was sold to canning magnate Charles Silver. Later, Dr. Edward J. Simon and his wife, Cathryn, purchased the property, converting the carriage house into his medical office. In 1987, James and Carol Nemeth began a major restoration and opened the mansion as a bed and breakfast in 1994. The Spencer-Silver Mansion received an award from the Havre de Grace Historic Preservation Commission in 2008 and is still operated by Carol Nemeth.
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The Vandiver Inn
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Built in 1886 as a wedding gift from prominent politician Murray Vandiver to his wife Annie Clayton Vandiver, the Vandiver Mansion is a prime example of Queen Anne architecture. Vandiver, who served as mayor of Havre de Grace during the mansion's construction, held several major political roles, including membership in the Maryland House of Delegates, 16 years as State Treasurer, and an appointment by President Grover Cleveland in 1889 as Collector of Internal Revenue for Maryland.
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In November 1985, Dr. Mathur sold the property to Allen J. Fair, a local realtor and investor. Fair and his team undertook a major restoration, transforming the subdivided mansion—then four apartments—into a traditional bed and breakfast. Their dedication to detail included repurchasing and reinstalling original stained glass windows that had been removed.
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In 2002, Fair sold the inn to John and Susan Muldoon, who continue to operate and enhance the Vandiver Inn, preserving its charm and history for future generations.