In 1852, Frederick Tschiffely purchased a large parcel of land from the Clagett family. In 1901, his son, Frederick A. Tschiffely, Jr. had this impressive brick mansion constructed. The Tschiffely's called their farm The Wheatlands. In 1942, a Washington lawyer named Otis Beall Kent bought the 600-acre estate and changed the name to The Kentlands. Archived Comments
The Tschiffely family also had a large barn constructed in 1901. Today, this is the Gaithersburg Arts Barn, where visitors can attend workshops and classes, observe artists at work in studios, and enjoy performances in the 99-seat theater. Archived Comments
According to Tschiffely sources, this spring house was on the property before the family purchased the property in the 1850s, and certainly before the construction of Inspiration Lake by Kent. All that remains is the foundation, but the spring is still active, which you can clearly see upon visiting the site. Archived Comments
Mr. Kent was an early advocate of wildlife preservation, a fact reflected in the alterations to the landscape. He added lakes, ponds and habitats throughout the farm for birds and game. He also bequeathed land to the National Geographic Society to develop a wildlife sanctuary. At Kent's death in 1972, Kentlands was bequeathed to his adopted daughter, Helene Danger Kent. In May of 1988 Helene sold Kentlands to the Great Seneca Limited Partnership. Archived Comments
