SEPTEMBER 1999

For this month's meeting, we are going to try a different approach on the subject of crime and civil annoyances. Rather than have the Southeast Police District tell us what they do, I've asked them to emphasize the flip side--what can we as individuals and as a neighborhood do to combat the problems that face us. And just as important, what actions should we avoid that might endanger ourselves or our neighbors.

Southeast was also asked to try to dig up some crime statistics for Butchers Hill versus other nearby neighborhoods. And if that wasn't enough, I also asked them to bring along a guest--a "reformed" or paroled housebreaker to talk about what he or she looks for when casing an area. They weren't sure if they could dig up such an individual, but they promised to try. Finally, if there any scams going on in our area, particularly those that prey upon the elderly, we'll get an update.

The Neighborhood Congress will also give a brief presentation. In my opinion, they are the most unified, coherent voice in the City that speaks on behalf of neighborhoods like ours.

I'd like to send out a huge Thank You! to all the people who are showing such great cooperation in when and where they put out their trash. The improvement is quite noticeable. Also our apologies for those of you who mistakenly received "pink slips" (notices of trash put out at the wrong time, or other sanitation problems with a property). Since we generally don't go through trash bags, we're not always sure who the real culprit is.
--Barry Glassman

SCORE! The first 20 years in Butchers Hill

VI. Rowhouse Development in Butchers Hill

Many Butchers Hill homes were built as freestanding single or double units in the 1850s and 60s, and only later became parts of rows as the area was built up. The May and June newsletters note some of these freestanding homes. Beginning around 1870, especially with the building of the street railway out to Patterson Park, Butchers Hill began to be seen as ripe for development of row houses.

One of the earliest rowhouse groups was built around 1860 by John Snyder, a butcher. These houses, at 2201-2217 East Fayette Street, are of a type found throughout Baltimore. One of our longest rows is the group of 14 on the west side unit block of North Patterson Park Avenue. An average number of houses in a single group is six, reflecting the fact that neighborhood development proceeded in hopscotch fashion, with relatively small tracts being developed or redeveloped over the course of decades.

For example, the four-house row at 2112-2118 East Pratt was built about 1869, while its three neighbors at 2120-2124 were not built until about 1880. The later row shows much more elaborate cornices typical of that period, but also has flat-top brick-lintel windows rather than the arched openings of the earlier years.

The elaborate seven-house row at 2101-2113 East Baltimore was built around 1876, and is typical of what was being constructed in Bolton Hill or Mount Vernon at the time. The Brick-Style row at 2121-2129 East Baltimore and its smaller counterpart at 2-8 South Collington was built in 1887 by the heirs of Joseph Pappler.

A city atlas published in 1876 shows the western third of Butchers Hill built up in rows. The spread of rowhouses continued through the end of the century and until about 1915, when all the available land had been developed.
-Rick Gilmour

BHA COMMITTEE CHAIRS, COMMITTEE REPORTS, AND SEPTEMBER MEETINGS

Education: Co-chairs Carolyn Boitnott (410-522-4991) and George Larson (410-327-6817).

Land Use: Virgil Bartram (410-327-4964).

Marketing & House Tour: Marketing & House Tour: Tuesday, September 7, 7:00 p.m., at a Pratt Street location to be announced. Contact Rick Gilmour (410-342-7061) or Sue Noonan (410-522-6773) . We are still looking for volunteers to serve part of the day during the Heritage House Tour, October 10. Please call Rick or Sue if you can help. Tickets will be on sale at the $8 advance price at the monthly meeting.

Membership: Jennine Auerbach 410-675-7976 , Heather Smith 410-675-3939, .

Streetscape: Carol Richman (410-327-0261 ) and Steve Young (410-342-3842, ). No meeting is scheduled for September. We have a ROLL-OFF DUMPSTER scheduled for neighborhood use Saturday, October (not September) 9, 9 to 2, northeast corner of Collington and Baltimore (on Collington).

Book Club: The selection for September is Charming Billy, by Alice McDermott. Discussion will be in Duncan Street park (100 block S. Duncan St.) at 7:00 on Wed., September 22. If it is raining any of the evenings when we are meeting in the park, call 410-522-6773 for alternative meeting place.

BHA Executive Committee: Thursday, September 9th, 7 p.m., 2002 E. Pratt St. Contact: Barry Glassman, 410-558-1080, . The Executive Committee meets on the second Thursday of the month.

Newsletter: The deadline for the October Newsletter is Friday, Sept. 24. Drop off written items at 103 S. Chester St. Contact Steve (410-342-3842, ; please send e-mail text only, no attached files).

SE NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICE CENTER:

• Director: Diann Baker: 410-545-6510
• General Information: 410-545-6518
• Police, Milton Corbett: 410-545-6513
• Housing Inspection: 410-545-6521
• Health Department: 410-545-6532
• Sanitation Enforcement: 410-545-6515,6,7

SEPTEMBER AGENDA: Open Forum, Update from the Neighborhood Congress Southeast Police will address the citizens role in crime prevention.

DUMP IT! The BHA Streetscape Committee has scheduled a ROLL-OFF DUMPSTER for SATURDAY, OCTOBER 9th (the day before the House Tour), 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., northeast corner of Collington and Baltimore Streets, for the use of neighborhood residents. This is your opportunity to get rid of unwanted items in your yards and basements. Walk-ups get preference.

The Department of Public Works Bureau of Solid Waste has asked us to inform the community about the rules for using city dumpsters. The following materials cannot be placed on equipment:

Building Materials must be taken to one of Baltimore's five city legal dumping locations (you'll need a small haulers permit). For a location, call Customer Service at (410) 396-4515;

Household appliances are picked up on the scheduled Bulk Trash Days (ours is the second Wednesday of the month);

Household Hazardous Waste can be dropped off twice a year (April and October). The next scheduled Hazardous Waste collection day is October 23rd; call for drop-off location: 410-396-5916.

WE NEED YOUR HELP!!! The American Heart Walk is a great opportunity to serve the community, exercise, and earn great prizes. Even more importantly, it's a chance to raise money to support the American Heart Association's fight against heart disease and stroke, the leading causes of death in this country. The American Heart Walk will take place: Saturday, October 30th Rash Field, Downtown Baltimore Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. Walk kicks off at 9:00 a.m. If you have any questions, please contact Susan Whitson, 410-522-3932.

A TIP for increasing your home security through lighting: Ideally, every house should have an automatic front porch light on ALL NIGHT LONG, every night to increase security. Photo-sensor automatic switches are less than $5 and many now handle 150W in the upright position. New 2-year long-life halogen bulbs are brighter, cost about $4, and are shorter in height, which solves some installation problems. Let's try to increase front-porch light usage. And consider photo-sensor lighting for your back yard, too.

COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD

ART EXHIBIT AT SIMON'S PUB & EATERY Come view the work of award-winning, Eastern shore artist Jan Elmy. Jan's art, which includes luminous still life and landscape paintings, will be on view from September 7 through October 5. There will be an opening reception on September 7 from 6 - 9 p.m. Come pick out your favorite painting early; her last gallery show in Washington, D.C. sold out completely! Simon's is located at 2031 E. Fairmount Ave., Baltimore, MD 21231, phone: 410/522-4477.

HELP WANTED: Attorneys or law students to help Butchers Hill Crime Committee with various civil actions being filed against problem property owners. We can use as little or as much time as you have! An organizational meeting is being scheduled for later this month. If interested, please call Lorraine Herson-Jones at 563-8047 or lhersonj@aol.com.

We haven't gotten a submission this month for our write-ups on neighborhood young people. Surely there must be some kid out there who deserves a mention! If anyone has a kid you think should be recognized, please write up a little background, say what their interests and goals are, and pass it along to Steve Young or Carolyn Boitnott (addresses and phone numbers on second page), with your name and a phone number where we can reach you.

Despite the best efforts of the current drought, a bumper crop of weeds and grass has descended upon the sidewalks, alleys, and curb gutters of Butchers Hill. An easy solution to this problem is to spray the affected areas with Round-Up or some other grass and weed killer. If chemicals are not your first choice in dealing with life's petty annoyances, an old screw driver and a little bit of effort will work too. Please take the time to remove the weeds in front of and behind your house or business: it really makes a difference in the appearance of the neighborhood!

The Church of God, at Baltimore & Chester Sts., is selling Sunday dinners from their newly renovated community room (Chester St. entrance) the second Sunday of each month from 12:30 - 2 p.m.

Large 3-story 3 BR 2 1/2 Bath rehabbed End-Of-Group. All appliances, CAC, gas heat. Deck. 2nd floor laundry. REDUCED to $74,900. Seller will pay all allowable closing costs (usually up to 6%). $1000 bonus to selling agent. Also, rent with option to buy. Call 410-821-1700, 321-0762.

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