History of Loch Haven, The Land
1649-1953

History of Loch Haven, The Land

by Bridget Duls

[Date Unknown]

A year ago, when I started on this committee, I received so much material that I decided to start at the beginning. This article is a result of digging into the beginnings of our community before it was a community.

Loch Haven consists of about 170 acres of the original 400 granted by Cecilius Calvert to John Brewer on July 2, 1649. Then years later, John took up residence at what was called Brewerton or Brewer's Farm. In 1667, the patented land was described as lying on the west side of Chesapeake Bay and on the south of South River, beginning at a marked oak by a creekside. called Pythers (Brewer) Creek running south southwest up the creek for the length of 150 perches (825 yards) unto a marked oak in the line of Edward Selbie's land; specifically, between Pythers Creek and Selby Bay. ( A perch is a British term for arod, equal to 5.5 yards of 16.5 feet, so 150 perches is 825 yards or 2475 feet.)

Nicholas Brewer, probably a grandson of John, married Francis (Fanny) Davis, daughter of the Revolutionary War hero, Robert Paine Davis. Francis died on July 7, 1799, at the age of 24. Her gravestone is in the cemetery next to the ball park. In 1840, a family named Purdy bought the land from Nicholas Brewer. The land was passed down to Mr. Purdy's great grandson, W. W. Purdy, who later sold it to Judge Owens. Judge Owens built a manor house, tenant house, stables and barn, and named the area Windy Knolls.

The original manor house was on what is now the corner of Oak Drive and Riverview Drive. In 1946, Mr. Purdy's farmhouse and stables, Judge Owens' manor house and stables were the only buildings in what was then called Loch Haven Beach. Five years later the name was changed to Cape Loch Haven. The manor house was purchased by the Troutman family in the summer of 1953 . The stables were converted and remodeled into a home by Roger Frost Powers in 1954. By 1953, there were close to 40 year-round homes here and more were under construction.