Marble steps became status symbols for Baltimorean's in the early 1900's. Despite the challenge of keeping them white, they ornament the face of many rowhomes and city buildings. Such prominent buildings that exhibit this fancy mineral are:
• Countless stone steps in Baltimore City, Md.
• City Hall, Baltimore, Md.
• Columns of Towson Court House, Towson, Md.
• Eutaw Place Baptist Church, Baltimore, Md.
• The Peabody Institute, Baltimore, Md.
• Loyola College, Baltimore, Md.
• University of Maryland Arts and Science Building at College Park, Md.
• 108 columns for the Capitol in Washington, D.C.
• U.S. Post Office, Washington, D.C.
• Part of Washington Monument, Washington, D.C.
• Girard College, Philadelphia, Pa.
• The Drexel Building, Philadelphia, Pa.
• Part of Fisher Building, Detroit, Michigan
• The Spires of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, New York City
• Metropolitan Club, New York City
(1953, November). Tells of Two Industries That Flourished in this Area Many Years Ago. The Towson Topics. Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Scrub-a-dub-dub
Marble steps became more than just a decorative fixture to Baltimore’s unique architecture design, they were a vital piece that endorsed neighborhood involvement. Before fenced in back yards became the norm, marble steps were a central gathering spot for neighbors to come together, relax, converse, and most importantly, get to know each other. Knowing who lived on your block promoted these residents to be involved in their community.
People got to know each other sitting on their front stoops. Some became friends. As a result of marble steps, people communicated with their fellow neighbors. They were more likely to look out for each other’s homes, consequently reducing crimes such as vandalism, theft, and property destruction. Similarly, the neighborhood children viewed their neighbors as disciplinary figures, just as they would their parents and teachers. They were aware of the possibility that someone was watching and could report their deeds to mom and dad later.
(Picture courtesy of Google Images)
On any given day (usually Saturdays) you could find housewives scrubbing the previous week's grime off their marble steps. Everyone had their own concoction for getting their steps the whitest, but the most famous cleaner was Bon Ami. Mixing Bon Ami powder with a bucket of warm water, one would scrub the marble either with a pumice stone or a metal bristle brush until they glowed!
Homeowners took pride in their clean steps and it was often a competition to see who could get and keep theirs the whitest. Some went as far as to put signs up to “Please Keep Off Steps” while others would throw blankets over them during the winter months, almost as if to shelter them from the cold.
Today you may purchase a marble cleaning kit at the Hometown Girl store in Baltimore, which contains a bag of Bon Ami powder, a piece of pumice, and a list of instructions. Unfortunately, they do not have a website, but are located at 1001 W. 36th St., Hampden, Baltimore, MD, 21211.
Below is a great video I found on You Tube about a girl named Megan Hildebrandt who is trying to revive the tradition of marble step scrubbing in Baltimore city.
(Video courtesy of www.youtube.com)
Schmidt, J. (1963, Feburary 24). Our Famous White Steps:Status Symbols. Baltimore Sunday Sun Magazine. Baltimore, Maryland, USA: A.S. Abell Co.
People got to know each other sitting on their front stoops. Some became friends. As a result of marble steps, people communicated with their fellow neighbors. They were more likely to look out for each other’s homes, consequently reducing crimes such as vandalism, theft, and property destruction. Similarly, the neighborhood children viewed their neighbors as disciplinary figures, just as they would their parents and teachers. They were aware of the possibility that someone was watching and could report their deeds to mom and dad later.
(Picture courtesy of Google Images)
On any given day (usually Saturdays) you could find housewives scrubbing the previous week's grime off their marble steps. Everyone had their own concoction for getting their steps the whitest, but the most famous cleaner was Bon Ami. Mixing Bon Ami powder with a bucket of warm water, one would scrub the marble either with a pumice stone or a metal bristle brush until they glowed!
Homeowners took pride in their clean steps and it was often a competition to see who could get and keep theirs the whitest. Some went as far as to put signs up to “Please Keep Off Steps” while others would throw blankets over them during the winter months, almost as if to shelter them from the cold.
Today you may purchase a marble cleaning kit at the Hometown Girl store in Baltimore, which contains a bag of Bon Ami powder, a piece of pumice, and a list of instructions. Unfortunately, they do not have a website, but are located at 1001 W. 36th St., Hampden, Baltimore, MD, 21211.
Below is a great video I found on You Tube about a girl named Megan Hildebrandt who is trying to revive the tradition of marble step scrubbing in Baltimore city.
(Video courtesy of www.youtube.com)
Schmidt, J. (1963, Feburary 24). Our Famous White Steps:Status Symbols. Baltimore Sunday Sun Magazine. Baltimore, Maryland, USA: A.S. Abell Co.
Quarry photos
(Image courtesy of Sunday Sun Magazine)
Quarrying began around 1815 in the Beaver Dam Swim Club. Back then, it was called the Taylor and Scott quarries. Quality of marble varies, and the marble extracted from Taylor and Scott quarry was considered to be one of the very best. It was used as a building stone because of its hardness and splendid color.
The Scott Taylor quarry employed anywhere from 200-250 men from 1880-1900. Before machines were designed to extract the marble, workers, mainly Irish immigrants, did it by hand using ordinary tools such as hand drills, hammers and chisels. After it was loaded into wagons, oxen hauled these wagons a mile away to the Cockeysville rail line to be shipped out. New equipment was introduced such as derricks, shovels, drills with diamond bits, and cutters after 1866, which made the process of mining the mineral a lot easier.
(Image courtesy of Sunday Sun Magazine)
The demand for marble plummeted as cement and concrete were introduced in the early part of the twentieth century. The last project that was constructed of its eminent marble was the Arts and Science building at the University of Maryland at College Park. After downsizing to about 30 employees, Taylor and Scott shut down in 1934. Equipment was hauled away and pumps were shut off, allowing spring water to fill the pit.
Beaver Dam Swim Club opened in 1936. People paid 25 cents to swim in the sparkling clean spring water. Beaver Dam still exists today. Standing on approximately 25 acres, the swim club offers pools, beach area, volleyball courts, basketball court, snack bar, numerous picnic tables and grills, and free parking. For adventurous swimmers, there is a Tarzan swing and cliffs to jump off of.
(Image provided by Beaver Dam Swimming Club)
Schmidt, J. (1963, Feburary 24). Our Famous White Steps:Status Symbols. Baltimore Sunday Sun Magazine. Baltimore, Maryland, USA: A.S. Abell Co.
Quarrying began around 1815 in the Beaver Dam Swim Club. Back then, it was called the Taylor and Scott quarries. Quality of marble varies, and the marble extracted from Taylor and Scott quarry was considered to be one of the very best. It was used as a building stone because of its hardness and splendid color.
The Scott Taylor quarry employed anywhere from 200-250 men from 1880-1900. Before machines were designed to extract the marble, workers, mainly Irish immigrants, did it by hand using ordinary tools such as hand drills, hammers and chisels. After it was loaded into wagons, oxen hauled these wagons a mile away to the Cockeysville rail line to be shipped out. New equipment was introduced such as derricks, shovels, drills with diamond bits, and cutters after 1866, which made the process of mining the mineral a lot easier.
(Image courtesy of Sunday Sun Magazine)
The demand for marble plummeted as cement and concrete were introduced in the early part of the twentieth century. The last project that was constructed of its eminent marble was the Arts and Science building at the University of Maryland at College Park. After downsizing to about 30 employees, Taylor and Scott shut down in 1934. Equipment was hauled away and pumps were shut off, allowing spring water to fill the pit.
Beaver Dam Swim Club opened in 1936. People paid 25 cents to swim in the sparkling clean spring water. Beaver Dam still exists today. Standing on approximately 25 acres, the swim club offers pools, beach area, volleyball courts, basketball court, snack bar, numerous picnic tables and grills, and free parking. For adventurous swimmers, there is a Tarzan swing and cliffs to jump off of.
(Image provided by Beaver Dam Swimming Club)
Schmidt, J. (1963, Feburary 24). Our Famous White Steps:Status Symbols. Baltimore Sunday Sun Magazine. Baltimore, Maryland, USA: A.S. Abell Co.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Baltimore and Susquehanna RR marble track bed
(Image courtesy of Flikr)
This marker was put up by the Maryland Historical Trust and Maryland Transit Administration. The inscription reads: "Marble blocks from Cockeysville area quarries were used in 1836 to bed the track for this section of the Baltimore and Susquehanna. One of the nation's earliest commercial railroads. Revealed during construction of the MTA Light Rail, the marble track bed represents an early British experimental railroad technology that was only briefly used in the U. S. The B&S RR opened a corridor between central Pennsylvania and Baltimore, strategically drawing commerce away from Philadelphia. Rail transport helped make Cockeysville marble one of Baltimore County's most important 19th century industrial products."
Geologic Walking Tour
(Map courtesy of Maryland Geological Survey)
This map shows the route of a Geologic Walking Tour of Building Stones of Downtown Baltimore, Maryland. I stumbbled across it while surfing the web today. The walking tour sounds interesting & could have been very beneficial to my research. On their website it briefly discusses several buildings they tour, such as City Hall, that were constructed from marble extracted from the Beaver Dam quarry in Cockeysville. I would have considered doing it earlier in the semester when I had more time & the weather was milder!is faced with Cockeysvlle Marble from the Beaver Dam Quarry in Baltimore County.
Today I contacted Beaver Dam via email requesting either an interview, documents, pictures, or any helpful information they can offer me regarding the history of their quarry. I'm crossing my fingers & kicking myself for not thinking to do this a few weeks back! Will keep you posted...
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Taylor and Scott Quarries A.K.A. "Beaver Dam"
This is a map of where Beaver Dam is located in Cockeysville. It was formally known as Taylor and Scott Quarries.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
WE USE TO SCRUB OUR STEPS!
Melanie was kind enough to share the following YouTube video with me, as well as walk me through the steps of posting and resizing it to fit my page. She really is quite amazing with technology. Thanks again Melanie!
Video courtesy of YouTube
Video courtesy of YouTube
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Wilkens Avenue
(Image courtesy of Google Images)
I somehow managed to forget to do a blog entry last week, so I am going to try to make up for it by posting a high-quality entry this week. For this post, I have decided to focus on the 2600 block of Wilkens Avenue.
Maryland Route 372, more widely known as Wilkens Avenue, is a very noteworthy neighborhood in my study of marble steps because it houses Baltimore’s longest series of row-homes, each originally adorned with marble stoops. In addition to the steps, the windows and doorframes are also accented with marble trim on this strip.
(Image courtesy of Google Images)
Wilkens Avenue is located in Southwest Baltimore and northwest of the Gwynns Falls. It is also known as the Mill Hill Deck of Cards Block because the block contains fifty-two, two-story brick townhouses which are all connected to each other. Laying more than 1,800 feet, it possibly may be the longest row of connected townhomes in the world.
(Image courtesy of Google Maps)
Baltimore’s longest rowhome block was built in 1912 on land that was owned by William Wilkens (hence how the avenue got its name). A good number of the residents at that time were employed either at the William Wilkens Company which was a hair factory, or at one of the many breweries located nearby. The original price for the homes on Wilkens Avenue ran about $1,250.00 and included full basement, complete wiring, piping for natural gas and sewage, and hot air heating.
I somehow managed to forget to do a blog entry last week, so I am going to try to make up for it by posting a high-quality entry this week. For this post, I have decided to focus on the 2600 block of Wilkens Avenue.
Maryland Route 372, more widely known as Wilkens Avenue, is a very noteworthy neighborhood in my study of marble steps because it houses Baltimore’s longest series of row-homes, each originally adorned with marble stoops. In addition to the steps, the windows and doorframes are also accented with marble trim on this strip.
(Image courtesy of Google Images)
Wilkens Avenue is located in Southwest Baltimore and northwest of the Gwynns Falls. It is also known as the Mill Hill Deck of Cards Block because the block contains fifty-two, two-story brick townhouses which are all connected to each other. Laying more than 1,800 feet, it possibly may be the longest row of connected townhomes in the world.
(Image courtesy of Google Maps)
Baltimore’s longest rowhome block was built in 1912 on land that was owned by William Wilkens (hence how the avenue got its name). A good number of the residents at that time were employed either at the William Wilkens Company which was a hair factory, or at one of the many breweries located nearby. The original price for the homes on Wilkens Avenue ran about $1,250.00 and included full basement, complete wiring, piping for natural gas and sewage, and hot air heating.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Plugging along...
I am feeling a bit overwhelmed right now about this research paper. I have yet to actually begin writing the paper, though I have been conducting and collecting a significant amount of research regarding marble stoops in Baltimore. I was, however, relieved to find out Professor Singer reduced the length of the paper from 3,000 words down to 2,300.
My goal is to begin focusing on the paper after Thanksgiving break. I say after the break because I am having all four wisdom teeth (three of which are impacted) removed the day after Thanksgiving. I will either be numb from all the drugs they give me, or in excruciating pain. Either way, I’m not going to get much done that week on the paper!
This week I went back to Enoch Pratt Library, mainly to return a book I borrowed about Baltimore rowhomes, but also to work on my presentation on Baltimore housing that was due this week, before our class was cancelled. I was able to renew three books I checked out from Langsdale over the phone tonight. I am so lucky I called too, because they were actually due yesterday, but the library gives students a three day grace period!
I found a video on YouTube that I spent the last hour, unsuccessfully, trying to upload to this blog. Like uploading the photos, I'm sure I will get it eventually.
My goal is to begin focusing on the paper after Thanksgiving break. I say after the break because I am having all four wisdom teeth (three of which are impacted) removed the day after Thanksgiving. I will either be numb from all the drugs they give me, or in excruciating pain. Either way, I’m not going to get much done that week on the paper!
This week I went back to Enoch Pratt Library, mainly to return a book I borrowed about Baltimore rowhomes, but also to work on my presentation on Baltimore housing that was due this week, before our class was cancelled. I was able to renew three books I checked out from Langsdale over the phone tonight. I am so lucky I called too, because they were actually due yesterday, but the library gives students a three day grace period!
I found a video on YouTube that I spent the last hour, unsuccessfully, trying to upload to this blog. Like uploading the photos, I'm sure I will get it eventually.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Maryland Historical Society visit
Last Friday I visited the Maryland Historical Society for the first time. I forgot about the small fee they charge to get in and more importantly, that they close their doors from noon-1pm so their employees may go to lunch. Luckily I was able to find what I needed with some help from the knowledgeable, yet not so personable, staff. Be prepared if you go, they do not allow you to bring anything, and I do mean anything, into the library except a pencil and paper. No pens, no cell phones, no bottled water. Surprisingly, they do provide free locker service. Well, not really, I suppose that’s what the $6 admission price goes towards. Also, bring cash because they charge for copies and all pictures you take. Ask before you take any photos, too, because you have to put some copy right laminate over the image before you snap your shot.
I was somewhat disappointed that most of the material I found I had already discovered at the Enoch Pratt Library. I was able to make copies of some new articles I found from the Baltimore Sun, and copy a page from the Maryland Picture Portfolio Series, which provided valuable information about marble steps.
Again, unfortunately, this week was extremely busy for me. Our mid-term was due this week and I was originally supposed to present my chapter on housing in Baltimore. Luckily, that presentation was postponed until next week. I also had a book review due for another class. I thought taking 6 credits this semester would be cake compared to the 12 credits I am accustomed to usually taking. I stand corrected!
P.S. Check out my first post, I added an image of the first book I found at Enoch Pratt. I feel so accomplished, I am now able to upload photos where I want them to go!
I was somewhat disappointed that most of the material I found I had already discovered at the Enoch Pratt Library. I was able to make copies of some new articles I found from the Baltimore Sun, and copy a page from the Maryland Picture Portfolio Series, which provided valuable information about marble steps.
Again, unfortunately, this week was extremely busy for me. Our mid-term was due this week and I was originally supposed to present my chapter on housing in Baltimore. Luckily, that presentation was postponed until next week. I also had a book review due for another class. I thought taking 6 credits this semester would be cake compared to the 12 credits I am accustomed to usually taking. I stand corrected!
P.S. Check out my first post, I added an image of the first book I found at Enoch Pratt. I feel so accomplished, I am now able to upload photos where I want them to go!
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Mount Vernon Place
This week I read Beyond the White Marble Steps: A Look at Baltimore Neighborhoods. I borrowed this book from the Langsdale Library. The book itself had little information about Baltimore’s marble steps, but it did include some candid photos and interesting information about Mount Royal Place. I found the following definition in the book:
Stoop-sitting: “Describes the activity of sitting on the front steps of one’s row house with or without a favorite beverage, and conversing with neighbors and passers-by” (Rehbein, 51).
According to Rehbein, Baltimorean’s spent many a summer night’s stoop-sitting in the city.
The book did provide a little history of the Washington Monument. As I mentioned in a previous blog, The Washington Monument was cut from the same marble most stoops in Baltimore city were made from, coming from the same quarry in Cockeysville.
The monument was built on land that was donated by John Eager Howard. The book failed to describe who Howard was and just exactly what his significance to Baltimore was. According to Wikipedia.org, John Eager Howard was an American soldier and politician from Maryland. He was born in 1752 and died in 1827 in Baltimore County, yet Howard County, not Baltimore, was named after him (Wikipedia).
Beyond the White Marble Steps: A Look at Baltimore Neighborhoods, by Leslie Rehbein and Kate E. Peterson.
Stoop-sitting: “Describes the activity of sitting on the front steps of one’s row house with or without a favorite beverage, and conversing with neighbors and passers-by” (Rehbein, 51).
According to Rehbein, Baltimorean’s spent many a summer night’s stoop-sitting in the city.
The book did provide a little history of the Washington Monument. As I mentioned in a previous blog, The Washington Monument was cut from the same marble most stoops in Baltimore city were made from, coming from the same quarry in Cockeysville.
The monument was built on land that was donated by John Eager Howard. The book failed to describe who Howard was and just exactly what his significance to Baltimore was. According to Wikipedia.org, John Eager Howard was an American soldier and politician from Maryland. He was born in 1752 and died in 1827 in Baltimore County, yet Howard County, not Baltimore, was named after him (Wikipedia).
Beyond the White Marble Steps: A Look at Baltimore Neighborhoods, by Leslie Rehbein and Kate E. Peterson.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Not much to say...
I honestly do not have much to write about this week. I have been busy working on a research proposal for another class, so all my time has been dedicated to that. I was planning on meeting a classmate at the Maryland Historical Society on Tuesday. Unfortunately, they are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, so we have postponed our field trip until next Friday, 10.30.2009.
I was able to extend my book from Enoch Pratt online tonight since I have not had time to read much of it. It was so convenient. Thank God for the Internet!
I feel bad not having something more substantial to write about this week. I will try to post more this weekend if I finish my proposal before my already extended Sunday night deadline, but realistically, I don't think that's gonna happen.
I was able to extend my book from Enoch Pratt online tonight since I have not had time to read much of it. It was so convenient. Thank God for the Internet!
I feel bad not having something more substantial to write about this week. I will try to post more this weekend if I finish my proposal before my already extended Sunday night deadline, but realistically, I don't think that's gonna happen.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Making progress!
Marble stoops. A staple in many Baltimore City neighborhoods.
(Photo courtesy of Google Images & provided by apartmenttherapy.com)
Tonight we did not have class so I decided to spend the extra time wisely and visit the Langsdale Library. The librarian helped me find three books: "Baltimore Architecture", "Great Baltimore Houses", and "Beyond the White Marble Steps". Luckily, I am able to check them out for an entire month!
I am still having issues with photo placement and adding captions, which is kind of frustrating because I'm excited to take photos and add them to my blog. Other than that, I seem to have a plethora of resources out there regarding my topic which is a huge burden off my shoulders.
I plan on visiting the Maryland Historical Society hopefully sometime next week and another trip to Enoch Pratt Library’s Maryland Room soon because they had an incredible amount of articles and newspaper clippings (some with photographs, though the quality was poor) when I was there last week.
Next week is going to be stressful for me because I have a big project due for another class on Thursday night. Hopefully I’ll find the time to complete the other project, visit the other libraries, and post a new blog before the deadline!
P.S. By the time I finished this entry I discovered how to add captions to photos. Yay me!
Thursday, October 8, 2009
I found my topic!
Washington Monument, Baltimore City.
(Cheryl Miller, 10.06.2009)
I hate writing research papers. Not because of the actual act of doing the research either, it’s because I can never pick a good topic (in my mind at least) and I always end up getting extremely stressed and frustrated before I actually begin the research.
The first day of class, we discussed what characterized Baltimore. I immediately thought of the marble stoops that many row homes adorn. I have heard that homeowners took great pride in their marble steps, and it was somewhat of a tradition to scrub them often.
I was relieved to find out there was enough information out there to actually research this topic, but I was extremely shocked with what I was about to learn. The marble that was used for many of the stoops in Baltimore came from a quarry in Cockeysville which is today known as Beaver Dam. I moved from New Jersey to Cockeysville when I was going on nine years old. I spent many summers swimming in Beaver Dam and never knew that marble stone was extracted from the quarry in the early twentieth century.
The second thing that surprised me was what became of some of that marble. Both Washington Monuments in Baltimore City and Washington D.C. were constructed from the high quality marble, as well as 108 columns of the capitol building in D.C.
I visited the Enoch Pratt Free Library on Tuesday. The librarians in the Maryland room were very helpful. They helped me find books and files of old newspaper articles related to my topic. I registered for a library card and was able to check out a book called “The Baltimore Rowhouse”. I plan on visiting there again next week.
I later found this image and inserted it after I learned how to adjust photos.
(Image courtesy of Google Images and provided by www.citypaper.com)
This whole blogging thing is new to me. I am having some difficulty adjusting the photos to where I want them to be on the page once I upload them, but with practice I will be able to navigate my way around this site with more ease.
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