n Wilde Lake Dam Wilde Lake is a man-made lake,carved out of a low-lying field. It is named for FrazarWilde, the chairman of Connecticut General LifeInsurance Company, the first financial backer ofColumbia. Construction on Wilde Lake dam beganon July 26, 1966. Crews worked day and night, sevendays a week taking advantage of the extremely drysummer. The concrete gravity dam was built in lessthan three months. The decision to work quicklyproved prophetically prudent; exceptionally intenserainfalls began shortly after completion.A unique feature of the dam is the textured face.

The forms used to pour the cement were lined withfive-foot long slabs of bark cut from trees removedfrom the lake bed. Mort Hoppenfeld, Columbia’schief planner and designer, conceived the design andprocess that gives the dam its unique feature.

n The Cove The Cove was billed as Columbia’s first “luxury” apartments in 1967. The design is amodification of the Cross Keys apartments, an earlierdevelopment of The Rouse Company. Bob Tennen -baum, a member of the original design team, notes inCreating a New City that the site plan for The Cove isinspired by the Italian seaside town of Lazise, picturedin the June 1967 issue of Architectural Reviewmagazine.Of note is that one of the Cove units functioned

as a guest house in Columbia’s early days. There wasno hotel in Columbia until Cross Keys Inn opened in 1972. Visiting Merriweather Post Pavilionperformers, as well as VIPs and prospective businessdevelopers were housed in one of the three-leveltownhouse apartments. Among the many visitors whosigned the guest book were entertainers Tom Jonesand Norm Crosby.

n Tidesfall The lakefront townhomes of Tidesfallwere designed by Hugh Newell Jacobsen and built byPage Corporation. In a press release dated August 5,1969, Jacobsen said, “The hard edge forms of whitestucco against the sky, with shadows cast by projectingwings, offer maximum privacy for each house —which I hope expresses a vitality compatible with thespirit of Columbia.” Jacobsen is best known for his modern residences

which are rectangular in plan. He has also worked ongrand projects such as an addition to the UnitedStates Capitol, renovations of The Renwick Galleryand the U.S. embassies in Paris and Moscow.During his 40-year career Jacobsen has won more

Walking TourThe dedication of Wilde Lake on June 21, 1967 took place on the shore of the lake and marked the beginning of Columbia. A plaque affixed to a rock near the site of the dedication explains the name derivation. It reads, “This lake and this village are named for Frazar Bullard Wilde…Whose wisdom, foresight and strong support made Columbia possible.”

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For more information about Columbia and its history visit the Columbia Archives10227 Wincopin Circle, Columbia, MD 21044 • 410-715-3103Columbia.Archives@ColumbiaAssociation.org • ColumbiaArchives.orgCOLUMBIA ARCHIVES

than 110 awards for design excellence. In 1971, he wonthree of those awards for Tidesfall: an Award forExcellence in Architecture by the MetropolitanWashington Board of Trade, a Merit Award by theAmerican Institute of Architects, and an Award forExcellence in Apartment Design by Architectural Record.The magazine highlighted Tidesfall for “Privacy — andespecially private outdoor space — [which] is difficult toachieve at townhouse densities.” Over the years homeowners have made renovations

giving the houses a more individual appearance but theyremain a distinct feature of the Wilde Lake shoreline.

n Waterfowl Terrace The lakefront, custom-designedhomes on Waterfowl Terrace were once referred to asRouse Row. William Finley, Mal Sherman, and ClaudeMcKinney were among The Rouse Company executiveswho built these homes. The Finley and Sherman homessubsequently turned over, respectively, to James Rouse,Columbia’s founder, and Pat Kennedy, long-timeColumbia Association president. While the lack of publicaccess to the lake is a nod to exclusivity, the streetillustrates Columbia’s goal for economic diversity withcustom-designed homes on one side of the street andmore moderately priced houses on the other.

n Wild Wilde Lake Local photographer MichaelOberman has observed more than 50 species of wildlifeat Wilde Lake. Among the most constant visitors is theGreat Blue Heron, the largest and most widespreadheron in North America. Not as commonly spotted, butknown to be at Wilde Lake, is the Baltimore Oriole.These birds build hanging, woven nests in open areaswith tall trees.

n Wilde Lake Barn The barn, the stone houses onHyla Brook Road and the small building at the WildeLake dock were all originally part of the over 1,000- acreOakland Manor. Built by Charles Sterrett Ridgely in1811, the property passed through several hands before

being purchased in 1864 by Phillip and Katherine Tabb.Katherine subsequently sold it to her father, FrancisMorris. Morris was a successful New York businessman— a pioneer in many undertakings including papermaking and telegraphy. In cooperation with SamuelMorse he established the initial telegraph line betweenWashington and Baltimore. Morris was president ofCentral American Transit Line and of the AmericanTelegraph Company.One example of Morris’ pioneering ideas can be found

at what we now call the Wilde Lake Barn. It was here thatMorris built and used the first pit silos to preserve cornsilage. In 1976, on the centennial anniversary of thisinvention, the barn was declared an agricultural historicallandmark by the American Society of AgriculturalEngineers. Morris’ great grandson, John Morris II, andNicholas DiBrino, who wrote the history of the Morrisfamily, were among the people who came to Columbiafor the installation of the plaque that can be found on theside of the barn facing the historic houses on Hyla BrookRoad. DiBrino wrote that Morris loved fine horses andbred some of the best thoroughbreds of his day. Heimported from England the celebrated horse, Eclipse,which sired Ruthless, Regardless and Remorseless. Thosewho follow horse-racing might know that Ruthless wonthe first running of the Belmont.

n Historic Houses on Hyla Brook Road10106 Hyla Brook began as a blacksmith shop in the

early 1800s. It is historically significant for Columbiabecause it was the site of Columbia’s temporary postoffice that opened August 15, 1966. In 1981, BrunoReich purchased the small stone and stucco structure. Hespent 16 years creating the unique structure that now addsto the architectural landscape. Its transformation to one of

Wilde Lake’s most interesting structures is chronicled in an11-episode HGTV Dream House series.10102 Hyla Brook Road is nestled between 10026 ,

which may have been the overseer’s house for OaklandManor, and 10106. This little house holds significancefor Columbia that overshadows its size. It was the homeof Columbia’s first residents, John and Barbara Slayton,who moved in June 1966. John Slayton was hired as thefirst manager of Columbia but tragically died before hecould see Columbia develop.10026 Hyla Brook This imposing privately owned

home, purchased by John McDonough in 2002 andrenovated and enlarged, was the only one of the originalOakland structures that was not acquired by The RouseCompany during the land acquisition thereby making it aColumbia outparcel which means it does not fall under theColumbia Association covenants. George and EdithRalston had purchased the home in the late 1950s and hadno interest in selling even when they were aware that a citywould grow around them. While McDonough’s renovationis extensive, adding 3500 square feet, there is a nod to thehistoric heritage. He retained the existing windows, the100 year-old oak floor in the parlor and the 200 year oldpine floor in one second story bedroom. The dormers wereadded to replicate those on the barn. During constructionthe stone walls were found to be structurally unsound andneeded to be re-mortared to reestablish structural stability.

n Wilde Lake Dedication Plaque The first plaque tobe affixed to the large boulder commem orates thededication of Wilde Lake on June 21, 1967 marking thebeginning of Columbia and honors Frazar Bullard Wildewhom James Rouse credited with making Columbiapossible. The second plaque honors Rouse and was installedon the occasion of Columbia’s tenth birthday.

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Tidesfall

The Cove

WaterfowlTerrace

Wild Wilde Lake

Wilde Lake Barn

Dedication Plaque

HistoricHouses

Dam

Aerial Photo 1972

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Wilde Lake Barn