Antrim 1844 was built in 1844 by Colonel Andrew Ege, an immigrant from County Antrim, Ireland, who made his fortune as an inventor and a farmer. He named the property after his birthplace and gave it to his daughter as a wedding gift. It was originally a socially and economically renowned plantation consisting of 2,500 acres with a variety of crops and orchards, much the same as Carroll County farmers produce today. All of the surrounding outbuildings, including The Post House, The Ice House, The Summer Kitchen, The Brick Kitchen, The Servants' Wing, The Smokehouse, The Barn, The Spring House, The Brick Outhouses, and the Carriage House, are original to the property and supported the lifestyle of a mid-nineteenth century agrarian plantation. The Smith House was originally a small farm house built in 1860 about a mile away from Antrim. The Molletts had it moved to the property in 1992 to save it from destruction, and they restored it as their personal residence. Later it was turned into additional guest suites after they moved to Uniontown, Maryland.

Shortly after Antrim was completed, Col. Ege went bankrupt and Antrim was put up for auction. In 1861 it was purchased by George Washington Clabaugh (Chief Justice of the Supreme Court) who owned it until he passed away in 1916 and left the property to his niece Helen Clabaugh Lamberton. It was in the Clabaugh/Lamberton family for over a century. His heirs lived in Washington, D. C., and summered at Antrim. It was used periodically for family functions (you will meet older members of Taneytown who remember these parties), but the house remained virtually unoccupied except for an occasional renter in the Servants' Wing and The Carriage House. There was little plumbing, and less electricity. Helen Lamberton has shared with us memories and photographs of her young adult experiences at Antrim, including her wedding.

In 1961 the Lambertons sold the house and what remained of the land to Mr. George Crouse of Taneytown, who never lived on the property, but had it registered as a National Historic Trust Property. Most of the land was sold off during this time except for the remaining 24-acre parcel.

Dort was apprehensive due to the dreariness of the tired decor that had to be at least 75 years old, but she instinctively knew how beautiful and elegant it must have been in its prime. The Molletts' mission was to bring Antrim back to its original splendor. Fortunately Dort and Richard love to collect antiques, fabrics and wall coverings, which comes in handy when furnishing an ever-growing Country Inn. They knew they had found a long and unique challenge in the restoration and maintenance of this property.

Dort and Richard had restored six historic houses in the Baltimore area prior to purchasing Antrim, so the project was challenging, but they were prepared for it. After a grueling and diligent year of hard work and problem solving, the Inn was ready with its first four rooms on the second floor of the Mansion. Antrim 1844 Country Inn was opened in time for the Christmas season of 1988.

Over the next several years Dort and Richard restored, expanded, constructed and reconstructed different aspects of the property, giving Antrim presently: 22 guest rooms, a fine-dining restaurant with world-class cuisine, and a glass-enclosed pavilion designed for weddings and special events, as well as a swimming pool, tennis court, putting green and croquet lawn.

The continuing life of Antrim 1844 might include Cooking Classes with Chef Michael Gettier, or Wine Dinners orchestrated by Richard with some of the world's finest vintners, or Interior Design Workshops with Dort in Antrim's very own unique Gift Shop...