Harry Smith House, 4707 Oliver Street, Riverdale Park, Prince George's County, MD

1993 Charles E. Peterson Prize, Entry
Significance: The Harry Smith House on Oliver Street (Washington Street in the original Riverdale Park subdivision platted in 1889) is an excellent example of a Queen Anne style frame dwelling. It combines the exuberant decorative detail of the Queen Anne style of the 1880's with the foursquare plan that became popular at the turn of this century. It is in near original condition, and embodies the distinctive characteristics of the Queen Anne style of domestic architecture. It exemplifies the best of the residential architecture being created in the developing suburbs of the 1890's, and can be compared with similar dwellings being built at that time in near-by neighborhoods. The Smith House was one of the first dwellings built in the suburbs of Riverdale Park on land purchased from the heirs of Charles Bendict Calvert, son of George and Rosalie Calvert, builders of the Riversdale Mansion just down the street. The Riverdale Park suburb reflects the growth of the railroad suburbs of the late nineteenth century, and the construction by development companies of model homes in new communities. As the earliest and best surviving of the Riverdale Park houses, the Smith House is a noticeable landmark, and an established and familiar visual feature of the community.
Unprocessed Field note material exists for this structure: N119
Survey number: HABS MD-1078
National Register of Historic Places NRIS Number: 93000342