June 2007

SUMMERTIME AND THE LIVING IS EASY.....

Just a few notes from me this month.

Before we all slip away on summer vacations I am asking that we have a vote to move forward on the CHAP process. All the information we shared with you at the April general meeting is available by contacting me.

I want to thank everyone who participated in the Flea market this past month. The weather was awesome and we raised close to $3,000 for our education committee. I was very happy to receive an award on behalf of the association for our participation in all that we do for Commodore John Rogers School.

I hope everyone has paid their membership dues by now. It helps us have seed money for upcoming events.

On June 23^rd we are planning to have our first July meeting/street party on the unit block of North Collington. I look forward to seeing you all there.

—Richard Hackett
President BHA

ENRICH YOUR CHILD’S SUMMER

Every Sunday, 2pm, Baltimore Museum of Art. Family Fun hands-on activities. www.artbma.org or 443-578-1818.

Free Summer School Enrichment Program at Commodore John Rogers School, 100 N. Chester, June 25^th – Aug. 3^rd, 7:45am to 1:45pm. Breakfast and lunch will be served. Applications available at the school office.

Irvine Nature Center, 8400 Greenspring Ave., 410-484-2413 or www.explorenature.org

For additional things to do around town check the new “under construction” page for children on the Butchers Hill website at the following address: http://butchershill.org/events/children.shtml

*10TH ANNUAL COLLINGTON BLOCK PARTY*

WHEN: Saturday, June 23rd
WHERE: The Unit Block of N. Collington Ave.
TIME: 3 pm-10 pm

What to expect: All day the Chix Swine & Bovine Bbq team will be barbecuing on their massive smokers and cooking up a storm. Butchers Hill residents and guests are invited for a big ol’ family style bbq with live music. The “Kalechi International Reggae Band” will be playing at 4pm with a DJ providing music later in the evening. Beer will be provided by DuClaw Brewery and Anheuser Bush. A number of local restaurants and businesses will also be represented at the event. The new restaurant “Three…” opening at Baltimore & Ellwood will have a booth set up too!

What to bring: A healthy appetite and thirst are required!

You are invited to bring friends, your favorite dishes, snacks, sides and/or beverages. Chairs for lounging are also highly recommended. Plug this one into your calendar now ‘cuz we gonna be havin us some fun! Cheers!

For information contact Josh Halbedel.

Education Committee Report:

The Butchers Hill Association was honored by The Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners on May 18, 2007 at a Partnership Appreciation Breakfast as one of 12 Partnership Award Finalists. In attendance to accept the award were Richard Hackett, Carolyn Boitnott and Sue Noonan. The partnership began in 1985 with the Commodore John Rodgers Elementary/Middle School. Carolyn Boitnott is the School Liaison. Numerous benefits are listed in a published booklet including the positive relationship established within the community. This is a relationship that BHA is committed to continue and to keep growing.

Thanks to everyone who signed up for Adopt a Teacher. There are 2 different ways to support the program this year. You can write a check and age appropriate games will be purchased for Commodore Rodgers School. Or you can adopt a specific teacher from the Charter School and purchase those items you want off of the wish list. There are still numerous teachers without sponsors.

If interested in supporting the Charter School, contact Martha Delpizzo, 410.522.6046.

If interested in supporting Commodore Rodgers, please contact Carolyn Boitnott.

BHA COMMITTEES AND MONTHLY MEETINGS

• Crime Prevention/Block Representatives: Wednesday, June 20th, 7 P.M., 2105 E. Baltimore St. The committee meets monthly to share information from our block representatives and to coordinate action. New block representatives wanted; if interested e-mail or call , 410-522-4991.
• Police ask that residents call 410-666-DRUG to report repeated suspected drug activity, but always call 911 if you need immediate police response.
• Butchers Hill Citizens on Patrol (C.O.P.): Butchers Hill Citizens on Patrol (C.O.P.) has been regularly patrolling the neighborhood for over six years, and conducts its walk-arounds on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month. We meet at 7:30 p.m. at the intersection of Patterson Park Ave. and Lombard St. All are welcome. For more information, please contact Evan Helfrich, 410-342-2148.
• Community Representative, School 27 School Improvement Team: Carolyn Boitnott, 410-522-4991.
• Education Committee: Monday, June 25th, 7 PM, 232 S. Patterson Park Ave. Contact: Tori Simms, 410-675-4948.
• House Tour Planning Meeting: Tuesday, June 26th, 7 PM at 2029 E. Pratt St. If you would like to help out with the tour, or suggest a house for the tour (your own, maybe) either come to the meeting or email Sue Noonan or Dee Lundelius.
• Membership Committee: Wednesday, June 13th, 7:30 PM, 2110 E. Baltimore St. Contact Kathy Hackett, 410-327-2447. E-mail BHAmember@gmail.com to request a new neighbor packet. NEW NEIGHBORS: See the Moving In link on our web site: www.butchershill.org
• Book Club: Tuesday, June 26th, 7:30 PM, 2002 E. Pratt St. Anyone interested in joining, please contact: Anne Puckett, 410-675-8765.
• Land Use: Monday, June 26th, 7PM, at the White House, 27 South Patterson Park Ave. The Land Use Committee reminds homeowners in the 2100 and 2200 blocks of E. Baltimore St. and the 2200 block of E. Pratt St. that you live in a City historic district. All exterior work and painting must be submitted to CHAP and Butchers Hill. We're happy to help with any questions. Contact Virgil Bartram: 410-327-4964. CHAP's number is 410-396-4866.
• BHA Executive Committee: Tuesday, June 19th at 7:30 PM, 2110 E. Baltimore St. Contact Richard Hackett.
• Streetscape Committee: Thursday, June 7th, 7 PM at 2225 E. Lombard Street. The Streetscape Committee meets monthly the day after the General Meeting. Contact: Connie Brines, 410-539-2827.
• Flea Market Committee: Monday, June 11th, 7 PM at 232 So. Patterson Park Ave. Remember to mark September 15th on you calendars! Contact: Tori Simms, 410-675-4948.
• Newsletter: The deadline for the JULY issue is Fri., June 22^nd. Contact Patricia Clark.

JUNE BUTCHERS HILL GENERAL MEETING

Wednesday, June 6th. Coffee & cookies, 6:45 p.m. Meeting 7:00 p.m. St. Andrew's Church hall, corner of Chester & Lombard Streets (entrance on Lombard). Contact Richard Hackett.

AGENDA: vote for moving forward in the CHAP process

BUTCHERS HILL HOUSES
A WALKING TOUR IN BUTCHERS HILL

Even a short walk in a small section of Butchers Hill can illuminate a lot of our historical houses. Start at the “bottom” of Butchers Hill at 2000 E. Baltimore Street with the Rusk mansion built in 1869. Jacob Rusk maintained stalls at the Fells Point Market. Go east a full block and you’ve entered one of our two City historic districts. Here you’ll see the Gunther mansion at 2102 E. Baltimore. Jacob Bankard, a butcher who made a fortune selling meat to the union army during the Civil War, in fact built it.

Continue east in Butchers Hill along Baltimore Street making sure to admire the brick work of the set of row houses that span 2121-2129 E. Baltimore Street; we will mention these again later. On the next block is the Hotz Mansion at 2207 E. Baltimore Street. William Hotz built and operated his “mansion” as a saloon. At that time, it was to the east of the depot of the Citizen’s Passenger Railway that carried folks to Patterson Park.

Continue past the 1884 Queen Anne-style block of buildings running between 2229.5 and 2237 E. Balti-more, turning right around the corner to include 2 South Patterson Park. These were designed by James Bosley Noel Wyatt and developed by Charles Joseph Bona-parte, a great grandson of William Patterson, grandson of “our” Betsy, and Teddy Roosevelt’s trust-busting Attorney General – he is credited with breaking up that era’s tobacco monopoly.

Now walk towards East Lombard Street, leaving the CHAP district. At 100 S. Patterson Park Avenue is the last of the stand-alone corner “mansions”. Known as the Convent and recently renovated into 3 condos, it was built for Dr. Caleb Athey with 2 original entrances, on Patterson Park and on Lombard, one for his home and one for his office and small clinic.

Walk down the right hand side of East Lombard Street past the group 2228-2222 E. Lombard. Dating from about 1868, these were among the earliest row houses built speculatively for sale to single families. Turn right at Collington Avenue and go north back towards E. Baltimore. On your way, look at the charm-ing brick-style houses in the group 2-8 South Collington. According to Rick Gilmour, these are the most literal example of the “same but smaller” – from around 1887, these were built concurrently with their larger models we saw at 2121-2129 E. Baltimore – a good example of our diversity.

Now,… whoops – dead end! Part of the charm of our district is that the street grid is broken up with some rare-to-Baltimore irregularity. Zigzag right, then left, in order to continue north along Collington Avenue, offset here by almost half a block.

‘Zagzig’ back, crossing Fairmount Avenue, and keep going to the set of row houses 104-114 N. Collington Avenue. Built at the same time as the Pagoda, these were probably financed by butcher Jacob Pappler. There are still some remnants of the Queen Anne-styled windows with stained glass surrounds like those in the Pagoda.

Finally, turn around and look at 113 N. Collington Avenue. This is the only extant example of a large butchers shop and home, the Anton Blattau House. Originally freestanding, built by 1855, it is 2 = stories tall and five bays wide, capped with a hipped roof. Currently a warehouse, it’s nominally Greek Revival eyebrow windows are bricked in. It is a rare survivor among Baltimore buildings and a little-known relic of our butchers’ hill past.

Sources include Rick Gilmour and William Pencek

—Constance Brines.

SHORT TERM VOLUNTEER NEEDED FOR HOUSE TOUR COMMITTEE

We are looking for someone to help us with a short term organizational task associated with the house tour. You would not need to attend meetings and will not need to be involved until the first week in October. Please call Sue Noonan, 410-522-6773, if you are willing to give a little time to support our chief financial resource.

Flea Market Committee Report

Favorite quote of the day, “This isn’t like the average Flea Market, it’s more like a garden party!”

The Flea Market on May 12 in Patterson Park was a great success. The sun shone and the weather was perfect, there were approximately 120 vendors. The Paul Snyder Trio set a mellow tone, and the food was delicious (and sold out). At the end of the day vendors filled a 16’ box truck off to Good Will making the final clean up a breeze. Plus there will be a tidy profit for the organization.

This wouldn’t have been possible without the support of numerous people who dedicated time, energy and thought process to their individual tasks.

Many thanks go to:

• Carolyn Boitnott who managed the Butchers Hill booth along with John Boitnott, Ann Stacy and Liz Barrer who sorted through a significant amount of donations and raised well over $300 for the Education Committee!
• Bill Miltenburger and Leslie Labrecque for co managing the food booth. They had help from grillers Barry Glassman, Beth Braun, Craig Thompson, and Schlomi Abukassis, and the support staff of Lynn Writsel and Kaya Abukassis. The location by the White House worked well and people enjoyed their lunch while listening to great music.
• Leslie Labrecque for her creative talent in creating the posters and postcard for the 2007 events.
• Rick Funkhouser and Kathy Sabatier who helped with the final clean up.
• Rick Gilmour who loves this neighborhood continues to help out by putting ads in the Sun, getting banners made and even more importantly by creating the map and placing all of the vendors who have very definite ideas on where they want to be located, plus the physical marking of all of the spots.
• Sandy Sales whose indefatigable energy and optimism and attention to detail help keep all of us on track, including the mundane job of working with the city in a variety of ways to get what we need, grills, tents and many last minutes items.

Please mark September 15 on your calendars. We will need more volunteers in the fall as some regulars will be unavailable. You can reach me email

~ JUNE IN PATTERSON PARK~

Free Mercy Music in Patterson Park Concert Series
Produced by WYPR 88.1 and Friends of Patterson Park
6:30 pm on Pagoda Hill

June 17, Sunday, Sin Miedo
June 26, Tuesday, Charles “Big Daddy” Stallings

June 30, Family Fun Festival, 2-7pm, Commodore John Rogers School playground, 2000 block E. Fairmount. Live performances, music food, face painting, moon bounce, arts & crafts, dancing, charity basketball and much more.

For more information 410-675-3288

ST. ANDREW’S FLEA MARKET!

St. Andrew’s Orthodox Church, corner of Chester and Lombard, will be having their annual Spring Flea Market on Friday, June 1st, and Saturday, June 2nd, from 10am to 3pm. Clothing, white elephant items, kitchen appliances, jewelry, books, toys, furniture and other items will be available for purchase. A bake sale will also be held, and refreshments such as pieroghi, stuffed cabbages and hot dogs will be available for a nominal charge. All our neighbors are welcome!

COMMUNITY DUMPSTER, Thursday, June 14th, unit block So. Chester.

For neighborhood residents only. No building materials, refrigerators, water heaters, washers, dryers, stoves, batteries, wet paint, automotive parts (including tires and rims), or hazardous materials.

The dumpster generally arrives around 10 AM and leaves around 2 PM.

Please fill from the back.