17 South Main Street

The Jacob Hess House, one of Keedysville’s oldest homes and also known as the “Mill Property”, was built ca 1768-1777. This Pennsylvania German Federal architecture is constructed of 8” deep white oak hand-hewn logs (now covered with German lap siding). The 1790s addition to the house is constructed of hand cut local native limestone. Much of the 18th century interior workmanship is still in tack. The privately owned 11 foot dam, constructed in the 18th century, provided a water power source for the mills on the property. The house which faces south is not oriented to Main Street but rather to the old 18th century road and to the mill site. It is reported that Gen. McClellan and his officers had dinner here prepared by Mrs. Jeptha Taylor prior to the Battle of Antietam.