CAMBRIDGE – Every once in a while, we get asked a question along the lines of: “What’s up with that little building on your property?” The “little building” in question happens to be the Wallace Office Building, situated on the corner of Gay Street and Spring Street. Built in 1852, this small building once served as the law and business office of Colonel James Wallace.

Col. Wallace was born March 17, 1818 in Dorchester County. He graduated from Dickinson College in 1840 and two years later was admitted to the Bar in Cambridge where he studied law under Henry Page.

In 1854, he was elected to the House of Delegates where he served until 1856 when he was elected to the State Senate. He held this position until 1860.

In 1861, he accepted the commission from the Secretary of War, and helped raise the First Maryland Eastern Shore Volunteer Regiment in the Civil War. He then took command of the regiment as its Colonel.

The unit was intended to protect Union interests on the Eastern Shore, but found themselves at the Battle of Gettysburg, near Culp’s Hill. The regiment ended its enlistment and mustered out two days before Christmas in 1863.

Col. Wallace returned to Cambridge to resume his law practice and to open several businesses, including a large oyster steam-packing plant and a fruit cannery with his son, James. It is said that he planted and cultivated the first large peach orchard in Dorchester County and was recognized throughout the state as a respected authority in agriculture. On Feb. 12, 1887, Col. Wallace died while visiting his daughter in Baltimore.

The office at 301 Gay Street is the last building remaining from the Wallace property that once included a manor house that stood on “the Hill. Before it was removed to make way for the current library location, the manor house also served as the Dorchester County Health Department.

The Wallace Office Building is part of the library’s property and over the years has been leased to groups such as the local chapter of the Girl Scouts of America, Dorchester Retired Educators, and now Historic Cambridge, Inc. An extensive renovation project began in 2018 to properly restore the building but faced major delays at the onset of the 2020 pandemic.

Historic Cambridge, Inc. has been awarded a grant from the Maryland Historic Trust and is currently in the process of organizing a board/committee to oversee the project. Once that is complete, renovations will be resumed. We all look forward to seeing this part of Dorchester County’s history restored.