In 1782 Harford County voted to move the county seat to Scott's Old
Fields (present day Bel Air). The Town consisted of 40 relatively
long, narrow lots and one street (Main Street), as well as the area the
had been set aside for the courthouse and the county jail. Thomas
A Hays owned at least 15 of the 40 lots. Additionally, he owned
the farm land east of town, which includes the present day Rockfield
Park. Over the years, the farm land was subdivided and sold off in
many parcels. One of these parcels was willed to Mary Giles, the
daughter of Thomas A. Hays, Sr.
This land eventually went to the
Fulford family, who sold it to Charles and Adele McComas in 1920.
The McComas' built the lovely house which graces the property at the
present time. In 1950 Jogn and Jenovefa Hoza purchased the
property from the McComas family. The Hozas had moved to the
United States from Czechoslovakia. Mr. Hoza was part of the
management team at Bata Shoe Company.
In 1991 Harford County purchased 46 acres of the 55-acre tract of
land belonging to the Hoza family. In 1993, the County deeded the
land to the Town of Bel Air for use as a community park. Almost
immediately, the Town developed a master plan for the property and began
to develop it as a community park including gardens, trails, nature
areas, a creative playground and three active recreation fields.
When completed, there will be separate picnic areas and gazebos located
in the park. In 1996, the Town purchased the remaining five acres
of the Hoza Estate, including the house and outbuildings, and created
the nine-member Rockfield Foundation to oversee the use of the House and
property, now known as Rockfield Manor.
The Rockfield Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit corporation,
incorporated under the laws of Maryland. It is managed by a
volunteer Board of Directors to promote and operate Rockfield Manor for
the benefit of the Bel Air community. The Manor House is available
for meetings and social events. If you have any questions
regarding the history of Rockfield Manor or wish to inquire about its
use, please call Jane Pessagno at 410-638-4565 at your convenience. |