Misplaced Pages

#896103

55-521: In 1904, downtown Baltimore was almost destroyed by a huge fire with damages estimated at $ 150 million. Since the City of Baltimore was chartered in 1796, this downtown nucleus has been the focal point of business in the Baltimore metropolitan area . It has also increasingly become a heavily populated neighborhood with over 37,000 residents and new condominiums and apartment homes being built steadily. City Center

110-515: A Baltimore native and letter carrier with the U.S. Post Office , rescued tons of mail from the burning Central Post Office on the east side of Battle Monument Square, on North Calvert Street, between East Lexington and Fayette Streets. Lurz gathered a group of men who loaded bags of mail onto horse–drawn wagons, took them to North and Pennsylvania Avenues, and stood guard until the Maryland National Guard arrived (for which he later received

165-525: A commendation). Meanwhile, back at the General Post Office, employees kept spraying water on the building's sides and roof and were able to minimize damage and save the 1889 Italian Renaissance edifice with its nine towers and central tall clock tower (later razed and replaced by the current 1932 building, later converted to city use as Courthouse East). In the aftermath, 35,000 people were left unemployed. Over $ 150 million (in 1904 USD) worth of damage

220-602: A couple named Mr. and Mrs. Chambre who lost their twin daughters in the Baltimore fire. There are also reports of a merchant suffering a heart attack while evacuating goods from his store. It may be that deaths were not recorded accurately. In 1907 a bronze historical marker commemorating "The Great Fire" was placed next to the main western entrance of the "Wholesale Fish Market" (now the Port Discovery children's museum ), one of three new adjoining Centre Market structures replacing

275-513: A museum. The former home of famed American writer Edgar Allan Poe is located at the Edgar Allan Poe House and Museum , a few blocks northwest from his grave at the intersection of Greene and Fayette streets. Nearby is the historic Lexington Market , one of the longest-running markets in the world, having been founded in 1782 and in continual operation since, selling a variety of prepared foods and groceries. Mount Vernon , also known as

330-673: A national standard for fire hydrant and hose connections. However, inertia remained. Conversion was slow and still remains incomplete. One hundred years after the Baltimore Fire, only 18 of the 48 most populous American cities were reported to have national standard fire hydrants. Hose incompatibility contributed to the Oakland firestorm of 1991 : although the standard hose coupling has 2.5 inches (64 mm) diameter, Oakland 's hydrants had 3-inch (76 mm) couplings. H. L. Mencken , future famed columnist/commentator/author and linguist, survived

385-410: A result of the fire, Baltimore finally adopted a city building code after seventeen nights of hearings and multiple City Council reviews. The city's downtown "Burnt District" was rebuilt using more fireproof materials, such as granite pavers. Public pressure, coupled with demands of companies insuring the newly re-built buildings, spurred the effort. The National Fire Protection Association adopted

440-472: A train accident; they arrived the next day – Monday, February 8). The crews brought their own equipment. Most could only watch helplessly after discovering that their hoses could not connect to Baltimore's gauge size of water hydrants, although a machine shop in the Locust Point area of the city did start making coupling rings to overcome this problem. High winds and freezing temperatures further contributed to

495-431: A widespread dearth of firefighting services were all contributing factors to the frequency and extent of urban fires. The rapid expansion of American cities during the nineteenth century also contributed to the danger. In addition, firefighting practices and equipment were largely unstandardized, with each city having its own system. As time passed, these cities invested more in the systems that they already had, increasing

550-593: Is a neighborhood of Baltimore, Maryland , located immediately north of the city's downtown . It is named for George Washington 's Mount Vernon estate in Virginia , as the site of the city's Washington Monument . The Baltimore City Planning Commission defines the neighborhood as being bound by Eager Street to the north, the Jones Falls Expressway to the east, Franklin Street to the south, and Eutaw Street to

605-712: Is home to a mix of institutions, including the Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University , Walters Art Museum , University of Baltimore , Maryland Center for History and Culture , Maryland Institute College of Art , Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall , Baltimore School for the Arts , Lyric Opera House , Center Stage , the Central Branch of the Enoch Pratt Free Library , Spotlighters Theatre,

SECTION 10

#1732851550897

660-474: Is included within the Baltimore National Heritage Area , which was established in 2009. As of the census of 2000, there were 4,520 people living in the neighborhood. The racial makeup of Mount Vernon was 55.3% White , 33.4% African American , 0.2% Native American , 7.4% Asian , 1.2% from other races , and 2.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.1% of

715-703: Is the historic financial district in Baltimore that has increasingly shifted eastward and into the Inner Harbor. Hundreds of businesses are found here, and it remains the center of life in Baltimore. The area is home to the majority of Baltimore's skyscrapers including the Bank of America building , the M&;T Bank Building , the Transamerica Tower , the Baltimore World Trade Center , the old IBM building , and

770-664: The Baltimore Evening News . For the next five weeks The Herald was printed nightly on the press of the Philadelphia Evening Telegraph and transported 100 miles (160 km) to Baltimore on a special train, provided free of charge by the B&;O Railroad . The fire also devastated the city's other major newspapers, including The Sun with its famous "Iron Building", considered the forerunner of modern steel skyscrapers, built 1851 at East Baltimore Street . Across

825-488: The Baltimore City Fire Department for many years, acts like a local American Red Cross , or military United Service Organization (USO), sending refreshments and break-time trucks to the sites of major alarms and fires to provide exhausted firefighters some comfort and snacks. It is named after the first alarm box pulled on the morning of Sunday, February 7, 1904. The BCFD memorializes the fire annually at

880-559: The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad at Camden Street Station . To halt the fire, officials decided to use a firebreak , and dynamited buildings around the existing fire. This tactic, however, proved unsuccessful. Not until 5:00 p.m. the next day was the fire brought under control, after burning for thirty hours. One reason for the fire's duration was the lack of national standards in firefighting equipment. Fire crews and fire engines came from as far away as Philadelphia and Washington that day (units from New York City were blocked by

935-748: The Galveston Hurricane of 1900 and most recently, Hurricane Katrina that hit New Orleans and the Gulf of Mexico coast in August 2005. One reason for the fire's long duration involved the lack of national standards in firefighting equipment. Despite fire engines from nearby cities (such as Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. as well as units from New York City , Virginia , Wilmington , and Atlantic City ) responding with horse-drawn pumpers, wagons and other related equipment (primitive by modern-day standards, but only steam engines were motorized in that era) carried by

990-714: The Lyric Opera House . The world-renowned Peabody Institute is also located in Mount Vernon adjacent to the Walters Art Museum . To the very north is Penn Station , which offers Amtrak service to several U.S. major cities as well as MARC service to Washington, D.C. A major north–south avenue in Mount Vernon is Cathedral Street, named for the National Shrine of the Assumption , the first Catholic cathedral built in

1045-649: The Maryland National Guard and the Naval Brigade, were utilized during the fire to maintain order and protect the city. Police and soldiers not only kept looters away, but also prevented civilians from inadvertently interfering with firefighting efforts. The Naval Brigade secured the waterfront and waterways to keep spectators away. Officers from Philadelphia and New York also assisted the City Police Department . Thomas Albert Lurz (b. January 9, 1874),

1100-643: The Sports Legends Museum at Camden Yards , the now-closed Geppi's Entertainment Museum , and the Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum . Downtown Baltimore offers many options for transportation, including subway, light rail, bus service, Amtrak , MARC Train service through Penn Station and Camden Station as well as access to I-83 , I-695 , I-95 , 295, and 395 . Great Baltimore Fire The Great Baltimore Fire raged in Baltimore , Maryland from Sunday February 7 to Monday February 8, 1904. In

1155-591: The Eubie Blake National Jazz Institute, and formerly the Peabody Bookshop and Beer Stube . During the 1970s, Mount Vernon became Baltimore's main gay village . The Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Baltimore, now known as the Pride Center of Maryland , was established in Mount Vernon in 1977. The centerpiece of the Mount Vernon neighborhood, the cruciform arrangement of parks surrounding

SECTION 20

#1732851550897

1210-578: The Great Fire. Martin Mullin, the proprietor of Mullin's Hotel (on the northwest corner of West Baltimore and North Liberty Streets, above Hopkins Place), a block to the north of the John E. Hurst Building, where the fire started, also later died. Mayor McLane's mysterious and sudden death later that year, ruled a suicide, was also attributed by some of his contemporaries to the stress of post-fire reconstruction. As

1265-732: The United States, which is also considered the masterpiece of Benjamin Henry Latrobe , the "father of American architecture" and famed creator of the U.S. Capitol . Downtown Baltimore also contains Camden Yards, which includes Oriole Park at Camden Yards , the home field of the Baltimore Orioles of Major League Baseball , and M&T Bank Stadium , home of the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League . Nearby are

1320-714: The United States. The Mount Vernon Place Historic District, surrounding the Washington Monument, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and further designated as a National Historic Landmark District on November 11, 1971. Selected parcels with the National Historic Landmark District have been designated Baltimore City Landmarks , including: The National Historic Landmark District also includes: The Mount Vernon neighborhood also includes: The entire Mount Vernon neighborhood

1375-590: The University of Maryland Health System, University of Maryland School of Law and the University of Maryland Biopark. The Westside is also home to several performing arts centers, including the Hippodrome Theatre , Royal Farms Arena , and the Everyman Theatre . G. Krug & Son Ironworks and Museum , in its original location, is the oldest continually operating blacksmith shop in the United States as well as

1430-517: The Walters Art Museum. The former Stafford Hotel on Washington Place, built in 1894, now serves as an apartment building primarily housing Peabody Institute students. The old Mount Vernon Hotel at 702 Cathedral Street, built in 1847, was the mansion home of U.S. Congressman William Julian Albert where he entertained Abraham Lincoln . It was converted into a hotel in 1967, and was where Oscar Wilde stayed as part of his 1882 lecture tour of

1485-468: The Washington Monument, represents one of the nation's first examples of city planning for the express purpose of highlighting a monument. The Washington Monument was completed in 1829 to a design by Robert Mills , and in 1831 the Howard family was granted permission to lay out the surrounding parks which eventually were lined by stately homes. The parks, which have survived almost intact, are considered to be

1540-574: The Washington Monument. Conceived as a cathedral of Methodism , it was built on the site of the Charles Howard mansion, the house in which Francis Scott Key died. In 2021, the church's owners sought planning permission to subdivide the building, separating the church from the adjacent Asbury House. The southeast corner from the monument is occupied entirely by the Peabody Institute, and the southwest corner includes three buildings forming part of

1595-572: The area features historic, often industrial, buildings from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries that have been repurposed for modern industry and residences, including the Pratt Street Power Plant which was built in 1900 and now hosts a Barnes & Noble bookstore, the Baltimore Hard Rock Cafe , and other retail tenants. Westside Baltimore is the western portion of downtown Baltimore that includes Market Center and many of

1650-530: The bronze statue of a firefighter at the Department's old headquarters, facing City Hall, the War Memorial Building and the broad ceremonial plaza in between at East Lexington and North Gay Streets. Observances are also held at the closest street corner to the Great Fire's beginnings at South Howard and West Lombard Streets alongside the old Civic Center/Arena . The Maryland Historical Society commemorated

1705-764: The city's public radio network (NPR) station, WYPR-FM, also commemorated the event. The folk song "Baltimore Fire" by Charlie Poole and the North Carolina Ramblers , recorded on Columbia Records (15509-D, May 6, 1929) also commemorates the event. More recently, the Baltimore-based rock band J. Roddy Walston and the Business memorialized the fire in "Nineteen Ought Four", on their album Hail Mega Boys . 39°17′19.3″N 76°37′9″W  /  39.288694°N 76.61917°W  / 39.288694; -76.61917 Mount Vernon, Baltimore Mount Vernon

Downtown Baltimore - Misplaced Pages Continue

1760-421: The costs of any conversion. In addition, early equipment was often patented by its manufacturer. By 1903, over 600 sizes and variations of fire hose couplings existed in the United States. Despite efforts to establish standards being made since the 1870s, they had little effect: no city wanted to abandon its system, few saw any reason to adopt standards, and equipment manufacturers did not want competition. Fire

1815-464: The crisis. In addition, many newspapers published accounts by travelers who, in actuality, had only seen the fire as their trains passed through Baltimore. Nonetheless, the responding agencies and their equipment did prove useful, since the uncouplable hoses only represented a small part of the transported equipment. Ultimately, the tragedy led to the standardization of hydrants nationwide. In addition to firefighters, outside police officers, as well as

1870-547: The cultural district, is a high-density area just north of Downtown known for its attractive nightlife , buoyed by its large number of bars, clubs and lounges and its historic multi-story townhomes (most of which have been transformed into apartments) and traditional apartment buildings. Mount Vernon features the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall , home of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra , as well as

1925-736: The finest existing urban landscapes by the Beaux-Arts architectural firm of Carrère and Hastings , who also designed the New York Public Library , portions of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., and the residence that houses the Frick Collection . Elsewhere in the neighborhood are many older apartment buildings and three and four-story rowhouses . The Belvedere Hotel , opened in 1903, was converted to condominiums in 1991. The Mount Vernon Place United Methodist Church lies northeast of

1980-504: The fire at the beginning of his blossoming journalism and literary career, but the offices of his newspaper, the Baltimore Herald (at the northwest corner of St. Paul and East Fayette Streets), were destroyed on the northern edge of the "Burnt District". Mencken related the fire and its aftermath near the end of the second volume of his autobiographical trilogy, Newspaper Days: 1899–1906 , published 1941, "When I came out of it at last I

2035-666: The fire's centennial in 2004 with a website, two books and various events, lectures, and tours through the auspices of the Fire Museum of Maryland on York Road in Lutherville-Timonium-Cockeysville in Baltimore County . Several commemorative stories and special sections were published during the month in Baltimore's only remaining daily newspaper, The Baltimore Sun , and the four local television stations' and several documentaries and interviews/discussion programs on

2090-546: The fire's extent and firefighters' difficulties. As a result, the fire burned over 30 hours, destroying 1,545 buildings spanning 70 city blocks—amounting to over 140 acres (57 ha). While Baltimore was criticized for its hydrants, this problem was not uniquely its own. During that era, American cities had more than six hundred different sizes and variations of fire hose couplings. As outside firefighters returned to their home cities, newspapers published interviews that condemned Baltimore and exaggerated locals' response during

2145-521: The fire, more than 1,500 buildings were completely leveled, and some 1,000 severely damaged, bringing property loss from the disaster to an estimated $ 100 million. 1,231 firefighters helped bring the blaze under control, both professional paid truck and engine companies from the Baltimore City Fire Department (B.C.F.D.) and volunteers from the surrounding counties and outlying towns of Maryland, as well as out-of-state units that arrived on

2200-540: The harbor basin, near the modern Inner Harbor area USS  Constellation Dock (old Pier 2). Five lost lives were indirectly attributed to the fire. Two members of the 4th Regiment of the Maryland National Guard , Private John Undutch of Company 'F', and Second Lieutenant John V. Richardson of Company 'E', both fell ill and died of pneumonia . Fireman Mark Kelly and Fire Lieutenant John A. McKnew also died of pneumonia and tuberculosis due to exposure during

2255-511: The historic Battle Monument Square from 1815 to 1827 at North Calvert Street, and the quarter-century-old Baltimore City Hall , built in 1875 on Holliday Street; and finally spread further east to the Jones Falls stream which divided the downtown business district from the old East Baltimore tightly-packed residential neighborhoods of Jonestown (also known as Old Town) and newly named "Little Italy" . The fire's wide swath burned as far south as

Downtown Baltimore - Misplaced Pages Continue

2310-527: The intersecting South Street-Guilford Avenue was the publishing headquarters of the Baltimore Evening News , founded 1871 and built in 1873 with its mansard roof and corner clock tower. Baltimore's oldest news publication, The Baltimore American (dating back to 1773 or 1796 by various accounts and owned and published by local civic titan, General Felix Agnus ), was also burnt out of its offices and forced to have papers printed out-of-town and shipped back by train. The "Box 414 Association", which has assisted

2365-501: The major railroads. It destroyed much of central Baltimore, including over 1,500 buildings covering an area of some 140 acres (57 ha). From North Howard Street in the west and southwest, the flames spread north through the retail shopping area as far as Fayette Street and began moving eastward, pushed along by the prevailing winds. Narrowly missing the new 1900 Circuit Courthouse , now the Clarence M. Mitchell Jr. Courthouse, fire passed

2420-471: The massive Charles Center district. It includes historic Charles Street as well as significant avenues of commercial and cultural activity along Pratt Street , east to west, and St. Paul Street-Calvert Street , north to south. The Inner Harbor is the chief commercial and tourist destination in Baltimore. The Inner Harbor features a large number of restaurants, hotels, retail areas (such as Harborplace ), and entertainment (such as Power Plant Live! ). It

2475-531: The newest developments in downtown Baltimore, including the Baltimore Convention Center . It is also home to the site of the "Superblock" project that will include hundreds of condos and apartments as well as a variety of retail and commercial space. The former home of Baltimore's many and famed department stores, Westside Baltimore is now anchored by the University of Maryland, Baltimore consisting of

2530-401: The old burned second "Centre Market" building and Maryland Institute of 1851. Since the late 1980s, the structure has been renamed the Port Discovery children's museum . This major commemorative tablet reads "Lives Lost: None." However, a recently rediscovered newspaper story from The Sun tells of the charred remains of a " colored man " being pulled, almost two weeks after the fire, from

2585-409: The population. 60.4% of the population were employed, 3.5% were unemployed, and 36.0% were not in the labor force, largely due to the large student population. The median household income was $ 21,225. About 15.2% of families and 26.9% of the population were below the poverty line . 5.6% of occupied housing units were owner-occupied. 10.2% of housing units were vacant . The Baltimore School for

2640-615: The railroads on flat cars and in box cars, many were unable to help since their hose couplings could not fit Baltimore's fire hydrants . Much of the destroyed area was rebuilt in relatively short order, and the city adopted a building code , stressing fireproof materials. Perhaps the greatest legacy of the fire was the impetus it gave to efforts to standardize firefighting equipment in the United States, especially hose couplings. In centuries past, fires regularly ravaged cities, frequently destroying large areas within. Close living quarters; lax, unenforced, or non-existent building codes; and

2695-487: The sympathy and the offers of practical assistance which have been tendered to us. To them I have in general terms replied, 'Baltimore will take care of its own, thank you.'" Two years later, on September 10, 1906, The Sun reported that the city had risen from the ashes and that "One of the great disasters of modern time had been converted into a blessing." Most agreed that the Great Fire directly caused no deaths. An autobiography written by Alice Mae Cawthorne tells of

2750-598: The west. The Mid-Town Belvedere neighborhood, named for the Belvedere estate of John Eager Howard , lies immediately to the north, and the two are sometimes considered to be one neighborhood. The Light RailLink line runs along Howard Street on the western side of Mount Vernon, and the Metro Subway runs beneath Eutaw Street. Penn Station , served by Amtrak and MARC commuter rail, is located north of Mid-Town Belvedere. Although mainly residential, Mount Vernon-Belvedere

2805-689: The wharves and piers lining the north side of the old "Basin" (today's " Inner Harbor ") of the Northwest Branch of the Baltimore Harbor and Patapsco River facing along Pratt Street . It is considered historically the third worst conflagration in an American city, surpassed only by the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, and the San Francisco Earthquake and Fire of 1906. Other major urban disasters that were comparable (but not fires) were

SECTION 50

#1732851550897

2860-453: Was a settled and indeed almost a middle-aged man, spavined by responsibility and aching in every sinew, but I went into it a boy, and it was the hot gas of youth that kept me going." The Herald printed an edition the first night of the fire on the press of The Washington Post , in exchange for providing photographs to The Post , but could not continue this arrangement because of a long-standing arrangement between The Washington Post and

2915-449: Was done, which is approximately $ 3.84 billion in 2014 dollars. Immediately after the fire, The Baltimore News quoted Mayor Robert McLane : "To suppose that the spirit of our people will not rise to the occasion is to suppose that our people are not genuine Americans. We shall make the fire of 1904 a landmark not of decline but of progress." McLane then refused assistance, "As head of this municipality, I cannot help but feel gratified by

2970-752: Was named by National Geographic as one of the best summer trips in 2012 (along with all of Baltimore in general). The Inner Harbor is also home to a variety of museums and scientific institutions such as the Maryland Science Center , the National Aquarium in Baltimore , the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture , the Flag House & Star-Spangled Banner Museum , Port Discovery children's museum , and Living Classroom environmental education centers. Like much of Baltimore,

3025-717: Was reported first at the John Hurst and Company building on West German Street at Hopkins Place (modern site at the southwest corner of the Baltimore Civic Center of 1962, currently the CFG Bank Arena) in the western part of downtown Baltimore at 10:48 a.m. on Sunday, February 7, and quickly spread. Soon, it became apparent that the fire was outstripping the ability of the city's firefighting resources to fight it, and calls for help were telegraphed to other cities. By 1:30 p.m., units from Washington, D.C. were arriving on

#896103