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Whitakker Chambers Farm
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| Location: | East Saw Mill Rd., Westminster, Maryland |
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| Area: | 390 acres (1.6 km2) |
| Built: | 1941 |
| Architect: | Unknown |
| Architectural style: | No Style Listed |
| Governing body: | Private |
| NRHP Reference#: | 88001824 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP: | May 17, 1988[1] |
| Designated NHLD: | May 17, 1988[2] |
The Whitaker Chambers Farm, also known as Pipe Creek Farm, was the home "of Whittaker Chambers, an ex-Communist whose revelations about his past espionage activities with Alger Hiss, a former State Department official, had major political repercussions after World War II. Here Chambers turned over the "Pumpkin Papers"[3] implicating Hiss and later wrote 'Witness,' his best-selling autobiography."[2] It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1988.[2][4]
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The landmarking of the site was unusual at the time for two reasons. First,it did not pass a usual requirement of 50 years' age for a historic event. Second, the National Park System Advisory Board recommended against its designation.[5] In 1988, Interior Secretary Donald P. Hodel granted national landmark status to the Pipe Creek Farm.[6]
The farm comprises three contiguous areas, separately purchased and separately owned. The first, a 40 acres (16 ha) site, was purchased by Chambers in 1941 and sold in 1957 to an architect who built the present house in 1960, replacing the house (which had been damaged by fire) that was Chambers' primary residence from 1941 to 1957. The original barn and other outbuildings from Chambers' ownership remain. The Chambers pumpkin patch has been obliterated.[7]
The second property, Pipe Creek Farm, comprises about 230 acres (93 ha), the center of which was purchased by Chambers, and which has remained in the Chambers family. The mid-19th century house on this property was Chambers' residence from 1957 to his death in 1961. The property includes a barn, a pond and several outbuildings.[7]
A third tract of 120 acres (49 ha) was purchased by Chambers in 1947 and was inherited by his daughter, Ellen Chambers Into. The land lies between the first two properties. The house, known as "Medfield", was built in the 19th century and was used by Chambers as a writing retreat. Chambers added a connection between the main house and an adjoining summer house in the 1950s.[7]
The proposed Union Mills reservoir, if built, may flood portions of the Chambers property close to Pipe Creek.[8][9]
A fire destroyed the barn and damaged a shed on John Chambers' property on April 30, 2007.[10]
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