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04 Thursday May 2017

Posted by in Baltimore, HISTORY, Sewage History

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Sorting and documenting more archives from the DPW Museum.

January 24, 1884 Letter from the office of J.E. Clark & Co., Wholesale Liquor Dealers, No. 48 S. Howard St. Baltimore to Hon (Honorable) (Mayor) F.E. Latrobe: Dr. (Dear) Sir, We take pleasure in recommending hon (honorable) Jas. McFarland for the position of Inspector of Weights and Measures! From our long acquaintance with him, we can endorse him as a man of strict honor & integrity and should you appoint him, we feel satisfied he will give general satisfaction to the trade. Respectfully Yours J. E. Clark & Co.

May 15, 1923 Letter from Stehley Plumbing to the Mayor and the sewerage engineer Ruark asking for a sanitary sewer in the alley, houses along Hamilton Ave. and ? (Where Remmell Ave. is now)(Not sure if initials in upper right are Mayor Broening’s? Note says to notify plumber when plans are completed).

I looked on a few maps and still cannot find the name of the intersection that 3815 Hamilton Ave. was at back then. Someone once asked me when did Northeast Baltimore get a sewer system? It was about this time.

A photo I posted on Facebook a couple years ago, showing Sewerage Maintenance trucks and workers back in 1928, parked in front of the Baltimore Stadium.

Democrats doing the Hip-Hop back in 1900! I looked up the 21st District to see where the China Hall was located. Found China Alley but no Hall.

National Aquarium, Baltimore

26 Wednesday Apr 2017

Posted by in Aquarium, Baltimore, Photography

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Hard to believe my daughter is 24. For her birthday she wanted to go to the zoo but because of the nasty weather, we went to the Aquarium instead. it is always a good time with her, Kevin and Kathy.

Kevin, Jules and their new friend – the sloth (couldn’t see the one inside, he was way up in a tree sleeping for 22 hours).

Non-stop raining outside. The USS Torsk. Didn’t it use to have shark teeth painted on the front?

Top of the stairs, everyone wants their photo taken here. I did like the layout of the aquarium, you just follow a path thru the building and you pretty much get to see everything, except of course when the bratty little kids just bust right on thru putting their grubby little hands all over the windows.

So now I see a problem – when smart phones came out I refused to use one as my camera. God made phones for a reason, cameras for another. Well, this photo was taken with a point and shoot that I bought specifically for taking pics thru glass.

And here is one from my daughter’s iPhone! I just may have to sell all my cameras, laptop and every other device to get one of these!

Moving on…this reminded me of kayaking at Dundee Creek for some reason.

Turtle floating about.

I didn’t even notice this guy until someone pointed him out to me.

Another great shot my daughter took.

Morie!

Nice colors and reflections on top the water, looking up from underneath.

This guy is starting to collect some algae.

Here is one of the oldest residents at the Aquarium.

Him and the three legged sea turtle have been here since the aquarium opened.

Calypso the sea turtle getting fed.

Sitting, watching, waiting…

Nice colors.

What a life.

Quite a variety of underwater plant life.

Julie petting a ray.

Overhead display.

Kevin and Julie. It is unbelievable how my daughter looks now compared to back in November, when she had a tumor removed. Thanks God.

Domino Sugar Hon.

J for Jules.

Back to the house for some cake – Tres Leches (Milk Cake). Thanks Kathy for making!

Baltimore 1910-1965

24 Monday Apr 2017

Posted by in Baltimore, HISTORY, Inner Harbor

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Scanning and documenting some more photos from the DPW Museum collection. A while back I had posted some photos taken from the smoke stack of the Eastern Avenue Pumping Station – they were in bad shape and a lot of smog in the pics. These look more like originals. Found in an unmarked folder. Some writing on reverse of photos.

On reverse of this photo is stated: Property of C.C. Wisner showing side wheeler Louise. 1910

Also marked as Wisner and being taken by A. Waldek (His name is spelled two different ways on 2 photos). Undated. Looking north. Shot Tower in upper left.

Another undated one. Assuming between 1910 and 1934 . Marked with Wisner and Waldeck. View of Pratt Street up Jones Falls.

Notation on back: Baltimore City, Old Light Street waterfront piers and docks since removed. 1949.

And after the removal. About 1954.

1965 improvements prior to the Inner Harbor becoming Harbor Place.

Clifton Gate House – Update

19 Wednesday Apr 2017

Posted by in Baltimore, Gate House, water history

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Back in July 2016 I wrote about the renewed interest in doing something with the Lake Clifton Gate House. A farmers market, a cafe, a historical showcase for the water department, etc. The other day I received an email to attend a meeting on another proposal, submitted by Civic Works and their vision for the Valve House (Note: Valve House and Gate House are interchangeable when talking about this structure – Pump House is not – it never had pumps in it). Attached to the proposal was this photograph:

I thought to myself, how the heck did I miss this driving back and forth to City Lights?? Well, this didn’t happen. It is a piece of art. “This is an animation of a specific artist’s winning proposal to mount this public art installation. BOPA is hoping that the installation will be able to move forward under the watchful eye of Civic Works.”

Here is an excerpt from John, at Civic Works, on their proposal for the Gate House:

When the Valve House is renovated and attractively landscaped, it will attract people who pause for pastry, coffee, ultra-local freshly harvested foods and flowers, art and stories of Baltimore. Stories from our past, presented here, will be outshined by news of the structured opportunities, offered “next door” for careers in the expanding green business sectors.

As the renovations to the Valve House are fully realized, the adjacent Lake Clifton campus will become the operational base for Baltimore Center for Green Careers, Civic Works Food and Farm programs and other pathways to prosperity. In the coming decades, these two work in harmony – the information packed social hub and the sustainable-jobs work preparation center.

I personally think this is a great idea! And I really hope it happens.

Here is a 1927 aerial of Lake Clifton and its relation to Lake Montebello. Clifton being the one at the bottom. Water flowed from the dam at the Gunpowder Falls, via a 7 mile tunnel to Montebello, then by conduit to Clifton, at which point it was dispersed to the city.

From the 1970s showing the interior of the Gate House with the water chambers covered over with wood.

The reverse of the above photo, from the Sunpaper files showing that back in 1970 there was an interest in restoring the Gate House.

Another 1970s Sunpaper photo showing the stained glass windows nearly intact. Most have since been broken out. (Note:Photos from my personal collection)

Easter on the Eastern Shore

16 Sunday Apr 2017

Posted by in Hiking, nature, Photography

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Spent Easter with Kathy’s family down on the Eastern Shore. Always a great time. On the drive home we stopped at a couple places.

The first being just outside of Easton. This is one of those historical markers that you go flying by and have a hard time pulling over to read. But we did.

This is a little church (meeting house) and cemetery. Also where the first peaches in Maryland were planted.

Another little cemetery behind the house.

Yes they are.

Then we headed to Terrapin Park on the Chesapeake. This is always a great walk. We started on the outer loop, walked the beach and then took the inner paths back to the lot. There were a lot of cars in the lot but not sure where all the people were? This was on a bench.

Hard to get Sid Vicious to pose.

Alien markings on a piece of driftwood.

Nice little bridge.

Driftwood with drift nail.

Fire wood?

Cement cylinders along the shore.

Looking for other dogs to terrorize.

Adrift? Was hoping it would come our way but it seemed to be anchored down.

Wishing to dandelion seeds, spreading across the park…

Property next to the farm. Potential for a new home to be built…the steps are there!

Light City City Lights

10 Monday Apr 2017

Posted by in art, Baltimore, Photography

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Moon over Marriott.

Was able to go into the lighthouse this year.

Dusk view of umbrella boat.

A couple hours later.

Mesmerizing wheel.

Movie time

This is what happens when someone bumps you while taking a photo.

Bmore.

Alyssa and Patrick

Later found out these were up-skirt cameras??!!

In search of the egg.

Electric lit egg on water.

To be reborn through the egg…

Wonder what the resident falcons up there think of all this?

Looking up the World Trade building

The Eastern Avenue pumping station.

It was a very nice time. Lots of people. Friends and family. And a special thanks to the Operator Supervisor that let us park at the pumping station.

Roundhouse

05 Wednesday Apr 2017

Posted by in Baltimore, engineering, water history

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A couple weeks ago the contractor called me over to the site because they struck something that is not on the drawings. This was about the 12th time in 10 days they hit something buried, not on the drawings. i go over and this is what I saw:

At first glance, it looks like an electrical ductbank, enclosed in concrete. I told the contractor I would go look in my drawings to see what I could come up with. When I retuned, unable to find anything, the contractor had cleared some more dirt from the concrete.

Am I hallucinating or does that thing have a curve to it?? Holy crap, that looks like the foundation to the old roundhouse, which was the Montebello Pumping Station, built in 1914-1915. More research to do.

This hole was dug and goes about 75 feet down at which point they busted through the 1881 tunnel from Loch Raven. The pumping station was to be used to pump water from Loch Raven, into the filtration plant. This was due to the city not getting permission to raise the new dam above an elevation of 188′ (The new dam is now at 240′)

This photo shows the foundation for the pumps and the piping waiting to be placed.

Looking at the top tier here it can be seen the structure matches the first photo above. The hole in the center is the suction well.

View from the outside of the roundhouse. This is facing south towards the filtration building.

This is looking north from the the head house. The roundhouse foundation is flush with the ground level.

Nearing completion.

The pumps.

From the time this was built until about 1957, this pumping station had more than its fair share of problems – wrong size pumps, electrical problems, building being struck by lightening a few times, power surge from Holtwood Electric, water hammers that raised and cracked the foundation, etc. In 1963 the building was demolished but, the foundation remains. And now the problem is, what’s down there? Will this area support the weight of a generator and fuel tanks? And is that hole still open (there is an air vent coming out of dead center)? The tunnel underneath originally supplied water to Montebello from Loch Raven. Now this tunnel supplies drinking water to Towson, via the Cromwell Pumping Station.

This shows where the roundhouse use to be, north of Filter building.

Neighborhood City Lights

02 Sunday Apr 2017

Posted by in art, Baltimore, Photography

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Decided this year to visit the neighborhood displays of The City Lights projects. Lauraville was first, since I live here:

Getting ready for the unveiling.

After here we went to Montebello to see the Montebellephant.

Unbelievable. The signs were a little hard to read.

Next we headed to Hampden. Not much going on there but for this lone work…

Then down to Little Italy, which is always a mad house.

Blocked off High Street.

Not really sure I understood this concept art??

 

Salisbury Zoo

30 Thursday Mar 2017

Posted by in Hiking, nature, Photography

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Before Salisbury had a zoo, it had a lake – Lake Humphreys, which was created by the building of a dam in 1743. On May 28, 1909 the dam gave way and the lake went dry. Or actually it turned into a mud flat. And it sat like that for a while until the City Park was built, This included building a zoo.

It was a nice day out Saturday and Kathy says “Let’s go to the zoo!” So we did –

Jumped in the car, took a couple back roads and came across these guys. They were kind of far away and I didn’t have my good camera with me. After a while on the side of the road we started heading back to the highway. Me: Where we going? Kathy: To the zoo. Me: I thought that was the zoo?? Duh…

So into Salisbury we go. The City park is really nice. Nice family atmosphere with walking trails, picnic areas, horse shoes, etc. This is what you get for being the Director of Public Works for only 4 years. A bronze propeller.

Nice walking trails around the park.

The zoo. It is free and it wasn’t until we got back to Kathy’s parents house that I was told there is a donation box there. I didn’t see it.

This guy has some sort of attention disorder. He couldn’t stop looking up over the wall to see what was going on.

Not much you can say about this guy other than magnificent.

One thing I’ve never liked is seeing eagles caged up.

Acting up for the camera.

Relaxing.

Where’s John Waters??

These two guys share this spot with a bird, who keeps shitting on them…one day the bird will be in their jaws, wondering, well how did I get here?

Did a complete loop around the park and ended up at this little dam. I imagine the sluice gates are to allow water down stream if the level drops below the top of the dam. Nice walk in the park.

Montebellephant

24 Friday Mar 2017

Posted by in art, Baltimore

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I have been working at Montebello Filters for over 35 years and have never seen it allowed to use the Montebello Lake for anything other than what its purpose is – an overflow catchment for the smaller waste lake up on the property of the filters. I have seen it requested to be used for paddle boats, canoeing, kayaking (I’m not even allowed to kayak on it!), fishing, ice skating, model boat racing, etc. The answer has always been “NO”.

But next week – there will be an inflatable elephant floating on the lake! Yes, you heard me – an inflatable Lighted elephant! History will be made next weekend.

But seriously – I think it looks pretty cool and I can’t wait to see it!

See lightcity.org for a list of other events around Baltimore.