Nestled in the heart of Annapolis is the Brice House, more than just a beautiful relic of the past. Hidden beneath its sturdy brick exterior lies a magical secret – hoodoo caches. These spiritual gifts, left for centuries by African-American house servants, offer a captivating peek into their daily lives and beliefs, a secret that has been hidden for ages. The Brice family, visionaries and pioneers of Annapolis that included a few mayors and acting governors of Maryland, built this magnificent mansion, one of the three preserved Georgian-style brick houses in Annapolis.
Constructed in the late 1700s and completed in 1769, this five-part brick mansion contains an austere exterior with prominent brickwork, while the interior is not entirely symmetrical. The central hallway tunnel through the house, with a parlor occupying two bays on the south side, and the ballroom, grander and more enchanting than the one in the Hammond-Harwood House, occupying three bays on the north side. Acquired by Mr. and Mrs. Stanley S. Wohl in 1953, the Brice House underwent restorations in 1953 and 1957.
Archaeological excavations at the Brice House in 1998 unearthed these captivating spiritual offerings, offering a valuable glimpse into the lives and beliefs of the slaves. Declared a National Historic Landmark in 1970, the Brice House continues to stand tall, one of the most magnificent historical buildings in the United States.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
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