The Inn at Tacaro Estate has been a shining example of elegance and grace since 1940. Serving for years as an exclusive Chesapeake Bay retreat for E. Taylor Chewning and his family, it is now available for guests to enjoy as a respite for relaxing Maryland getaways or for group celebrations.
Tacaro's History
Stay at Our Historic Maryland Estate
Situated in the Chesapeake countryside,
Tacaro is a dignified place of charm and beauty.
Introducing E. Taylor Chewning, Tacaro’s Creator
Chewning’s Early Years
Chewning was born on June 3rd, 1889, in Bowling Green, Caroline County, Virginia. A descendant of ancestors from Kent County, England, who sailed to North America in 1655, Chewning enjoyed a long historical lineage from Virginia. When he was 5 years old, Chewning moved to Washington, D.C. where he attended various schools.
Chewning, the Clay Baron
In 1921, Chewning founded United Clay Products, growing it into one of Washington’s largest industries. At one time, Chewning’s clay companies were the largest distributors of building materials in the South. Three of its kilns remain standing today near the U.S. National Arboretum in Washington, D.C. United Clay Products supplied bricks for many familiar structures in Washington, including the Folger Shakespeare Library, the Departments of Commerce and Agriculture, the IRS, the Mayflower and Omni Shoreham hotels, and the Madeira School.
Chewning’s Other Endeavors
Chewning wasn’t only a clay baron. In addition to founding Continental Clay Products in West Virginia and United Clay Products Co. in Washington, D.C., he was also a director of several national companies, including Armour and Co. of Chicago and the John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Co. While living at Tacaro, he raised horses and was an avid thoroughbred horse breeder. Chewning was first appointed to the Maryland Racing Commission by former Gov. Theodore R. McKeldin in 1953, and he served on the MRC under two governors until his death.
Chewning’s Wife & Family
Chewning was married to his wife, Caroline Mosher, for 32 years. He had one son, E. Taylor Chewning, Jr. His only daughter, Virginia, died in 1963. He had five grandchildren and one great-grandchild. He passed away on October 12, 1970, in Annapolis, Maryland at age 81.
The Significance of the Name
Taylor Chewning named the farm, “Tacaro,” a blend of the first two letters of his name with the first four letters of Caroline, his wife’s name. Chewning incorporated the farm’s name into many of his horses’ names as well, including Tacaro Milkman, Tacaro Briar, and Tacaro Brandy.
Tacaro Preserved
Chewning died in 1970, and his wife, Caroline, died in 1977. Their children subdivided and sold off much of the farmland of Tacaro, but they preserved the 74 acres of what is now the current estate and all of its buildings. The four-level, 13,280 square-foot mansion features grand public spaces for receptions and parties. All of the mansion’s rooms have a view of the glistening Chesapeake Bay.
According to the Annapolis Evening Capital newspaper, Tacaro Farm was a private retreat for the Chewnings. While it was the setting for many lavish private parties with family and friends, the public was rarely permitted to see it.
