Tag Archives: HISTORY

1881 Tunnel Inspection, Again?

27 Friday Jan 2017

Posted by in Baltimore, engineering, water history

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Last year in another post I wrote about my excitement to go on an inspection of the old Loch Raven – Montebello Tunnel, which was built between 1875 and 1881. This tunnel, being 7 miles long was built mostly through solid rock. A lot of which is collapsing. Which is bad because potable water has been flowing thru it since the late 1950s, from Montebello to Towson. When it was built, the raw water from Loch Raven flowed to Montebello Lake. The inspection for last year was cancelled, saying it was unsafe? (Last inspected in 1984). Last night I get an email telling me that the consultants want to see where the exit point will be if the inspection does happen…

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This is where we would exit. At the waste lake, Montebello Filters. If you look back at my post from a few months ago on the waste lake dredging, you can see that it no longer looks like this. It is grown over with phragmites. This photo from 1948 shows them dewatering the tunnel so a new surge shaft could be built.

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The new surge shaft is connected to the 1938 Loch Raven Tunnel (steel, not rock) which is connected to the old rock tunnel, soon to be connected to the just being built Patapsco Tunnel. (Confused yet? You should work here!)

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As with most construction projects with the city, there are always problems. This one being a storm washing away some of the work already completed.

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The almost finished surge shaft. Wrap it in brick and put a Spanish tile roof on and you are done. I hope we can actually do an inspection of the tunnel.

Major Payne (Not Damon Wayans)

23 Monday Jan 2017

Posted by in Baltimore, Health, HISTORY

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Folded letter of 1832 found in the archives. Benjamin was the son of John Eager Howard. Major Payne commanding the fort during the cholera epidemic?

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Front of folded letter:

Postmark, Jun 14 City of Washington
Free (postage)
Benj. C. Howard
To: William Steuart, Esq.
Mayor of Baltimore

“Letter from B.C. Howard Esq., on the subject of Quarantine Laws
June 14th, 1832”

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The letter:

House of Representatives
June 14, 1832

Dr. Sir,
I received this morning your letter of yesterday enclosing a correspondence between the Health officer and Major Payne which I laid before the proper Department; and am informed that an order will be transmitted immediately to produce the result which you desire, of obtaining the aid of troops in Fort McHenry –

I am Respectfully Yours,
Benj. C. Howard (Benjamin Chew Howard)

William Steuart Esq.
Mayor

Scrap Booking DPW

20 Friday Jan 2017

Posted by in Baltimore, HISTORY, POLITICS

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Scanned some scrap books from the Museum Archives. Most of the good stuff is usually on the reverse side of what the person glued, taped, stapled, into the book. On occasion, I do find some interesting and/or noteworthy articles. These two were from a DPW scrapbook that looks like the director put together. Mostly, the book documents snow storms and traffic.

In light of today’s events, I found this one interesting. While Baltimore was being covered by a snowstorm, the Mayor and his staff were in Washington DC for what is referred to as the “Kennedy Festivities”. The VP of the City Council tried to reach the acting mayor, who also left the city for DC. The Director and other higher ups in the political food chain were sleeping. So Willie D (William Donald Schaefer) took matters into his own hands. Schaefer later became the City Council President, followed by becoming Mayor and then Governor of Maryland.

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On the same page as this was an interesting article from the News Post. The title is a little confusing – if I take these pills, will I like my boss or ‘be’ like my boss?? In any event, Nation of Librium, enjoy your day and your new boss.

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Last Hike – First Hike

02 Monday Jan 2017

Posted by in Hiking, HISTORY, Photography

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The state parks around Maryland promote the First Hike of the year. The way Kathy and I look at it – any day is a good day to hike! And the weather couldn’t have been better! Last day of the year and the first day of the year hikes.

On Saturday we did a small hike at a park we never hiked before. Kathy came up with the idea to hike somewhere we never have for the last hike of the year and somewhere we have hiked for the first hike of the new year. Louis Krause Memorial Park was the last of 2016

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When trees hunt no hunting signs

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Small park wit a couple roundabout paths

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After a complete circuit, leaving the woods we came upon these steps.

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The top of a lime kiln

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A kissing bench. (If you have been paying attention to my post, most hikes have benches)

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An old kiln. This one is a lot smaller than the ones at Cromwell Valley Park.

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Some history on the kiln

The next day, New Year’s, we took a hike at our favorite place to hike – Cromwell Valley Park. Lots of first day hikers there – it was crowded.

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First stop – the big sycamore tree.

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Kathy told me to lie down on the picnic table and take one straight up – ok, I’m easy!

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Another type of view of the tree, using a filter.

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A smaller kiln at CVP. A lot of people don’t even know this one is here. Can’t find any history on it.

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Marble Spring. I’ve always called it bubbling brook. Usually there is some movement in here from the lime stone underneath meeting up with the spring. Watercress floating on top.

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Almost done rebuilding the lime kilns. Just 6 years ago these were covered in vines and trees, crumbling apart. Amazing job these guys are doing.

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New observation deck up on top.

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The old log cabin

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Simulated limestone in the top of the kiln. Across Mine Bank Run is the old Long Island Farm. Almost bought up by the City for Watershed property.

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Steve Jobs first garage where he came up with the idea of a computer – I think? Maybe not!

1908 Baltimore

30 Friday Dec 2016

Posted by in Baltimore, HISTORY

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More scanning of Museum stuff – came across this photo on pressed cardboard. Looking north on Guilford Street (Ave.)

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Looking close you can see the elevated trolley tracks just past City Hall.

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I use to be good at figuring out what the writing on the back of old photos said, but this I am unsure of? “View from ? Bank after ?” No idea of what it says in the circle? Bottom word looks like ‘subway’??

The Gunpowder Falls and Battle Monument

21 Wednesday Dec 2016

Posted by in Baltimore, water history

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When the permanent water supply from the Gunpowder Falls was built, it included a dam at Loch Raven, a 12′ tunnel approximately 7 miles long, an impounding reservoir at Montebello, another conduit from there to Lake Clifton and then it was distributed to the public as unfiltered, yet wholesome drinking water.

Photo from the 1920s showing the original 1881 gate house at Loch Raven

How the gate house area looked in 2011.

When they eventually removed the gate house, they kept some of the original stone and built this somewhat mini-monument to the Permanent Supply, across the street.

The supply is finished and the valves are opened. This is downtown Baltimore at the Battle Monument. Caption reads: Fountain and Cataract – Monument Square – The Introduction of the Gunpowder Water Supply – Oct. 10th 1881

From the Water Archives

19 Monday Dec 2016

Posted by in Baltimore, water history

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From the City Council Records: It says –

Resolved by the first and second branches of the City Council of Baltimore, that the Mayor be, and he is hereby authorized and requested, to give public notice, that proposals will be received at his office, until the first day of June next, for introducing a copious and permanent supply of wholesome water, into the City of Baltimore, or into any part thereof, by any individual or Company; and that whenever such proposals have been received, as in the opinion of the Mayor are worthy of consideration, he convene the City Council to deliberate thereupon.
Baltimore Feb. 23, 1804 In 1st Branch read and agreed upon.
The concurrence of the Second Branch is requested
Feb 23, 1804 In the 2nd Branch read and agreed to.

Noted from Early Water History, Annual Reports:

1804 Baltimore Water Company: On April 30, Samuel Smith, W. Cooke, E. Ellicott, Robert G. Harper, Thomas McElderry, Alex Mckim, and John E. Howard agreed to form The Baltimore Water Company. The Baltimore Water Company, a private company, furnishes water to a portion of Baltimore City. Company purchased parcels of land above and below the Belvedere Bridge, which crossed the Jones’ Falls, and built a dam and bought a lot at the southeast corner of Center Street and Calvert Street for the purpose of constructing a reservoir at that site. Water to this reservoir was supplied from the water at the dam by means of an open channel. The open channel ran between Calvert Street and the street known today as Guilford Avenue.

1805 Baltimore Water Company: The Baltimore Water Company receives an act of Incorporation.

 

Weather News

15 Thursday Dec 2016

Posted by in Baltimore, engineering, Reservoir, water history

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First thing that popped up on my news feed said – Double Polar Vortex to Slam U.S. Did they talk like that in 1908? Or did they just say, “Folks we had us some snow last night, so bundle up!”

Building the High Service Reservoir, also known as Lake Ashburton.

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The little train that couldn’t.

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Steam engines used to pull cables on derricks, to lift construction materials.

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A boy and his dog. Look close, center on horizon. Does that look like a giant snow ball someone is about to roll down the hill?

Loch Raven Property

10 Saturday Dec 2016

Posted by in Baltimore, Dams, HISTORY

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The day before taking off work for my daughter’s operation, I was contacted by CHAP – Commission for Historical and Architectural Preservation. They wanted to know if I knew anything about a fireplace mantle from Glenn Ellen Castle that was stored in a maintenance building downstream from the second dam? No. They were getting ready to tear down the buildings and were told by the contractors about the mantle.

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This was Glenn Ellen prior to raising the dam from elevation 188′ to 240′. The reservoir did not reach this height but it was still on watershed property and taken by the City. I think only the foundation exists now.

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Earlier this week a friend of mine, Thom, contacted me and told me about some signs he saw on the property as he was hiking behind the construction site. At first glance I thought they were bronze plaques so I met him and Wayne to go exploring.

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The hiking trail is on the hill behind the silt fence. This is where the signs were. Turned out to be steel and not bronze, but still worth keeping a couple for history’s sake!

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Saw some interesting items so took a closer look. I thought it was odd that the contractor cut the beams instead of just knocking this building down. Come to find out a company called Bricks And Boards came up a removed the wood to re-purpose. The boxes contain core bore samples. Not sure why the City didn’t want to keep these? They do me no good without the engineer’s records saying where the samples came from.

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After rooting around in the barn we decided to head into the house. This is being knocked down also. A few years ago I was told there were lantern slides stored in here along with some old drawings. Back then, I wasn’t allowed in to look.

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The house as it looked about the 1920-30s. I tried to find who was the original owner but had no luck. From a map of 1882 it has it listed as City Property. Adjacent to the Wisner, Shanklin properties. Further investigation is needed.

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Wayne asked the date the house was built. Not sure but it shows up in a 1881 photo. Far right side just up from the Gunpowder River. This photo shows the dam near completion, ready to lay the last stone.

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Back into the house. Entrance hall.

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There are 3 fireplaces. One plastered over and two, like this one, with the mantles missing.

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Kitchen.

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Looking up the stairwell. Three floors.

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Second floor to third floor

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This was a nice design – up the stairs to a landing that will take you in both directions. This is a huge house.

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Lots of rooms – curves and angles.

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Chairs on a desk – watching…

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One of the many views. Someone nailed a metal sign to the window? I would have loved to live here with this view. Two eagles were playing most of the morning over the lower reservoir. Nice!

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Another room. Candles, a bed, money box and stuffed ducks that look like the turkey buzzards tore open – must of thought they were real!

Prologue: I asked the contractor to hold two of the signs for me until I can come back up. He said ok…but, between my visit and when I sent off the email, Brick and Boards came up and took them. Talked to Max from there and he said they are in his warehouse and I can come pick them up!

Their site: https://baltimorebrickbybrick.com/2016/08/04/brick-board-is-here/