B-More Ghosts - The Relics of Old Baltimore alive Today!

Enjoy!

Adam

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"I DON'T GET THIS SITE! WHAT'S THE POINT?"

Usually you either "get it" or you don't. If you don't understand some of the purpose of the site, it can best explained as follows...

The site is a tour of tangible pieces of the city's past that have persisted today to offer clues as to what life was like when the City of Baltimore was a healthy and prosperous place filled with hard working citizens who took pride in their city. For those who lived here 30-100 years ago, it offers reminders of some of the things which were once a common part of life in this town, but have since seen all traces almost vanish. For younger people, it offers an offbeat history lesson of the city they live in. These relics include old ads for products like Hendlers Ice Cream, the grounds of the Bay Shore Amusement Park and the streetcar line that led there, the popular but since forgotten Coliseum for boxing matches, or the once proud Department Stores that were Downtown. Each of these items on the sites paints a portion of the city as it used to be, which goes much deeper than simply the items themselves...

See, years ago, people took a great deal more pride in the hard work they did, as it pertained to their overall community, and this is clearly evident in so many of these relics. Bricklayers, Stonemasons, Sign Creators, Architects and Builders, and Engravers, among many others took great care and esteem in their trade, from the street surfaces of brick and cobblestone that were laid BY HAND and have lasted for generations. Buildings were constructed with intricate details and ornate flourishes that show incredible creativity and imagination. Sign painters carefully applied gorgeous period ads that covered huge walls without the aid of any templates, while neon benders carefully created brilliant, colorful works of art. Bridges were built that used pleasing arched designs that complemented the surrounding communities.

But beginning in the middle of the 20th Century, and growing since then, the pride in one's work has become increasingly less. More and more people work strictly for the MONEY.

The capitalistic society has gone to the extremes, as greed and materialism beome the only thing that matter to so many people. The pride and hard work have largely gone, with so much work being done by computers and machines. Street surfaces are laid by an austere machine whose results deteriorate in 10 years. Architecture has degenerated to bland and sterile suburban standard of monotonous big box stores such as WalMarts and Best Buys (when was the last time you saw someone truly impressed by the build of a modern "office park") and cookie cutter suburban tract housing. Signs are a largely a depressingly uniform sea of computer generated backlit film signs, and mass produced slicks. And interstates are dull slabs of bleak concrete viaducts and machine extruded lamp posts that evoke a collective yawn.

Baltimore has gotten caught up in this mad trend of cheap build, max profits too. Suburban sprawl has seen much of the vestiges of the past obliterated in the name of this new "progress," leaving much of the city crumbling. The materialistic, instant gratification culture that has emerged from all this has resulted in a dire drug culture through much of the area that only continues to grow. As a result, it can often be comforting to stumble across these traces that tell of what the city was like before all of the greed and decay set in, and when the residents of the area were proud of being a postive part of their community.

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A FEW TIPS FOR THE GHOST HUNTER IN THE DAYS OF THE PATRIOT ACT
AS WELL AS WHEN EXPLORING URBAN NEIGHBORHOODS

Sadly, following the horrendous acts of September 11, 2001, the Nation has embarked on a mentality of increased security and scrutiny that have bordered on paranoia. Taking a photo of anything other than your non-threatening looking friends in front of a non-descript wall is being increasingly met with trepidation by both Law Enforcement personnel and private citizens. Transportation facilities have been among the most heavily censored in regards to still photography. As a result, it is particularly difficult for the average citizen to photograph something such as a bridge or rail line without raising an alert of someone nearby who does not understand the tendency to appreciate the historical aspects of such items. To try to lessen the chance of an unpleasant encounter with someone, here are a few tips when researching or photographing an artifact.

CARRY ID: This will make any exchange between yourself and law enforcement a bit easier should you be stopped and questioned.
DON'T IGNORE TRESSPASSING SIGNS: You still have rights to photograph from public streets, but not on private property. If you see a clearly marked sign against tresspassing, don't risk the aggrivation.
CARRY SOME RESEARCH MEDIA WITH YOU: These may include photocopies of historical articles about an item, old survey maps, and even printouts from this website. This will make your on-site research quicker.
DON'T DAWDLE: As much as one would like to stick around and survey the many fine details of a relic, it draws attention. Being prompt about getting the answers you seek about an old item will help lessen the chance of an encounter with either suspicious law enforcement or potential criminals.
BE COGNISCENT OF AN AREA YOU EXPLORE: In 2004, Baltimore has a number of perils in many of its areas, requiring care to avoid an encounter. If you think an area you are travelling into may have a drug culture prominent, you may want to journey there on a Sunday morning. Always be aware that Police may "profile" you if you don't look like you "belong" in that area, so be ready to expain your presence.
BE HONEST IF CONFRONTED - While the answer may not be believed by those asking why you are there, it is better to stick it out than to dig yourself into a lie.