Rockville’s Historic Jail Site Is for Sale
The Washington Building, Rockville, MD (Photo Credit: Montgomery Fix)
If you’ve ever dreamed of owning a historic piece of Montgomery County, your chance has arrived. The Washington Building in downtown Rockville, known historically as The Lamar House, is on the market for $1,495,000 through Coakley Realty.
The 1902 Georgian Revival-style building at 101 South Washington Street is configured as office space inside, while the exterior features a classic slate roof, stately front porch, and floor-to-ceiling plantation windows. The property’s history, however, reaches back well before the present structure. From 1786 to 1801, the site served as the location of Montgomery County Sheriff William Robertson’s house, office, and jail.
When Montgomery County was created from Frederick County in 1776, the new county’s court sessions were held at Leonard Davis’s Tavern (also known historically as the Hungerford Tavern and Owen’s Ordinary) and other temporary locations. In 1786, Sheriff Robertson established his home, official office, and county gaol (jail) at what is now 101 South Washington Street. A plaque installed by the Daughters of the American Revolution identifies the site as serving those functions to 1801.
In the 19th century, the property became known as the Lamar House, a prominent hotel and boarding establishment. The surrounding neighborhood developed into Montgomery County’s principal center of government, justice, and commerce. In 1891, the county’s iconic Red Brick Courthouse opened nearby.
Sometime around the turn of the 20th century, the original structure was replaced with the Victorian-style building standing on the property today. The City of Rockville identifies the property as a historic site dating to 1884. The real-estate listing dates the present Georgian Revival-style building to 1902. A rear addition was constructed around 1980, and the property was adapted into professional office space.
The Washington Building, Rockville, MD. Rear addition circa 1980 on right side. (Photo Credit: Montgomery Fix)
Conference room in The Washington House (Photo Credit: Coakley Realty / Loopnet)
(Photo Credit: Coakley Realty / Loopnet)
The Lamar House is part of the Montgomery County Courthouse Historic District, which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 17, 1986. Today, the property is also known commercially as the Washington Building.
Most recently, the building has been associated with Brault Graham, LLC, a prominent civil litigation firm. The building is now being listed by Coakley Realty as commercial office space suitable for a range of professional uses. It offers private offices on the first and second floors, two open work areas, a reception room with an entry vestibule, a large conference room, four powder rooms, and basement storage. The property has a private 13-vehicle parking lot.
