Bits and Pieces of Neat Bits of Baltimore's Past

With all the craze that's occurred over the last decade about the joys of Spring Water, it is suprising to see that more attention has not been paid to the old springs that still haunt the city. Still, these watering holes still bask in relative obscurity in this day and age.

Active springs were once numerous throughout the area, but have eventually dried up or been capped in the decades previous due to groundwater contamination, now to lead lives of obscurity. This page will attempt to trace the histories of some of these springs, as well as document their current existence and state.

Located near this intersection was once a spring active until 1931. No known traces survive of this relic, which was among the most urban of all the city springs in their heyday, as it was reportedly occupied by a "supermarket" by the 1950's.

Located in Druid Hill Park, Crises Spring was said by many to have the most beautiful fountain of all of Druid Park's springs, with its reclining female figure. The spring, in the vicinity of the Spring Lake, was capped by the 1940's for pollution, and no known traces remain.

WRONG!!! Thanks to the astute observations of Daniel Gibbs, I stand corrected, as the fountain stone of Crises Spring does survive intact, although somewhat off the beaten path. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT THE DRUID HILL PARK PAGE OF THIS SECTION!!!

Perhaps the most known of the City's Springs is Halls Springs, now reportedly capped after failing to pass water inspection. This spring was particularly popular among area residents for many years, with people travelling many miles to sample and bottle the water from this spring. Local folklore has it that George Washington himself reportedly drank the waters of this spring.

Located in Herring Run Park, a short distance down the access road from Harford Road and Argonne Drive, the spring is graced with a fountainhead of flagstone construction in a curved configuration. Water flowed forth from a couple of pipes located in the wall of this fountainstone.

Today, the spring looks pretty sad, pretty much undisturbed, although its surroudings are getting increasingly overgrown. Hall's spring's waters might never flow for public consumption again, victim of a modern world.

One of several springs in Druid Hill Park was Morris Fountain, located on the Northern End of the Zoo property, about 1 "block" east of the Reptile House. The base of the fountain was said to be existent in 1985, although Zoo construction since then may have destroyed it.

Currently, the area in which the spring is located lies in a closed off area of Zoo property, so we may attempt to gain a chapheroned tour of the area to see if the spring still survives.

One spring that had a small but dedicated following was that known simply as the "Railroad Spring." This spring, on the banks of the Jones Falls directly beneath the 29th Street Bridge was easily accessed by Railroad workers of the Northern Central's (later Pennsylvania) Mount Vernon Yard. No trace has yet to be found of the spring. Inspection of the site revealed only a discarded cement block, more likely the foundation for an old catenary post or signal bridge, as the spring pipe was laid in a stone wall type of foundation. The Western portion of the right of way was unable to be well inspected as it is behind a fenced off area of the NS Flexi-flow yard, and partially covered by the Jones Falls Expressway.

More anonymous than it's once popular sibling in Herring Run, this Wyman Park spring was once truly anonymous, bearing no name whatsoever, until being retrofitted in the 1930's with a fountainstone once residing in Druid Hill Park at a spring that had dried up near Spring Lake.

The name of the spring derives from a prominent local builder who donated the fountainstone for the original spring, and whose name is engraved in this stone. The spring enjoyed healthy popularity among some North Baltimore residents during the 30's and 40's, often being bottled by local boys who delivered it to nearby residents. Later years found the spring largely forgotten and neglected, and ultimately vandalized.

By the mid-1980's the spring had slowed to a dripping trickle, and has since dried up and been otherwise forgotten, despite its close proximity to Johns Hopkins University. Still, the fountainstone and foundation remain in good, albeit vandalized condition. To access Rippel's Spring in any season, simply start from Tudor Arms Avenue and 37th Street and head due-East along the path through Wyman Park down across Stony Run. After crossing the bridge, the spring will rest about 100 feet to the East along the bank leading to San Martin Drive.

This was among the last of the city springs to flow as well, being dry by 1983. It's exact location is something of a mystery, but was reported to be visible from Wetherdsville Road just East of Dickeyville in Gwynns Falls Park.

After taking a good walk along Wetherdsville Road, the best possibility of evidence of the old spring was an overgrown and dilapidated double tiered foundation of stone and reinforced concrete visible on the South side of Wetherdsville Road in a horseshoe shaped depression opposite a clearing below the old Lorraine car right of way. Also discovered was a long pipe leading off into the ground, further justifying the possibility that this was indeed the Spring.

While many of Dickeyville's relics have been lovingly maintained and restored, it seems that no such affection exists for this artifact. Instead, she sits looking forlorn, and desperately yearning for the days when she was a destination of choice for those desiring refreshment. MANY THANKS TO FRANK FOR HIS HELP PINPOINTING THE SPRING!

Another of the Druid Hill Park Springs is this once popular watering hole which bore a distinctive Lion's Head for a fountain starting in the 1920's. It was said to have been located immediately near the dilapidated Rogers Cemetery near the Disc Golf Course, but all traces of it have since vanished.

Another of the many Druid Hill Park Springs, was this one, located 2/3 of the way into the Zoo property. A popular and fast flowing spring in its day, relics of this ghost may yet exist, as the base was reported to exist in the 1950's, although giving only a gllimpse of its former glory.

A story relating to tests of city springs in an old Sunpapers article makes reference to a "Winan's Way Spring" which would seemingly be located near the Gwynns Falls where Winans Way and Franklintown Road intersect. Exact location nor artifacts are known at this time. Other retellings recall a pair of springs in the area between Hunting Ridge and Rognel Heights. In time, efforts will be made to locate these artifacts.