Oak Lea is a private home of 19th-century origin in the Layhill community of Montgomery County, Maryland, described as "the gracious culmination of architectural and building efforts dating back well over a hundred years."[1]
The house is composed of three adjoined blocks built at different times:[2]
The south block, also of two stories, has a five-baygalleried porch, with the fifth bay enclosed as the main doorway, contiguous with the galleried porch,[2] and a two-story chimney of modern construction at its south end.[2]
Additions of three log rooms were the only major changes made in the structure until the house was renovated in 1940.[1]
In 1945, the farm's 20th century outbuildings and its pasture land were developed as a country club and golf course, Argyle Country Club, the barn becoming the club house with the hayloft repurposed for locker rooms, the milking shed as office space, and the stanchion area as the main lounge.[6] In 1985, the remainder of the Oak Lea property was developed as Argyle Village, a 90 home subdivision adjacent to Argyle Country Club, with Oak Lea as the centerpiece.[7]
