Signs and Signals of the Monumental City

Red lights, red lights, red lights!!! Some days, it seems that is all one sees in their commute around Baltimore. Are there any green lights left in the city? Yes, there is ONE!

But this is not a signal that is green as compared to being red, but rather a signal that is green as compared to being yellow. See, aside from a small number of signal heads painted black near Mount Vernon and Johns Hopkins Hospital, every traffic signal in the city is painted yellow, except for this one orphan signal.

Years ago, dark green was the standard color for traffic signals to be painted. The arrival of Henry Barnes in the 1950's spelled the end of this, as signal after signal were given new coats of safety yellow paint for better visibility. Barnes' vigor and knowlege of his territory would seem to imply that the completion of this job was done decades ago, but this is Baltimore we're referring to.

Yes, one green painted traffic signal persists within the city, and it seems only appropriate that it is amid an area that seems very much removed from the rest of the city, and removed from the present day to some degree. When one observes the street signs and other aspects of this area, one certainly feels as though they are no longer in Baltimore, even though they are within a mile inside the city limits.

The area of mention is Armistead Gardens, a housing development dating from World War II, which still houses many families who have been here since about the time it was built. It's an unusual place with narrow winding streets, and small semi-detatched residences that looks like nowhere else locally. Apparently, the area is or was maintained indepently from the City of Baltimore, judging by the departure from uniformity for many of it's traffic control devices, such as the single green signal that is the only one within the community.

Street signs and other signs in Armistead Gardens are also unique, many of which are of the old embossed, non-reflective style. Many of these are mounted onto plywood backings, making for a rather ramshackle appearance. Here, then, is a look at some of the unusual signs, and THE unusual signal of Armistead Gardens.


The easily overlooked Flasher of Armistead Gardens stands at Wright Avenue and Chase Street in Armistead Gardens. Despite the area's departure from city standards, it continued extensions of established city streets.	The old Crouse Hinds Art Deco Flasher is unusual as well in its pattern. Instead of alternating lights, the top light stays lit while the bottom light blinks.
Close up of the signal from the side view, showing scorch mark in top plastic lens, and Art Deco profile of casing.	Among the unusal street signs in Armistead Gardens are these: Old embossed "Wright Avenue" is nothing like what was used elsewhere in the city. Oliver Street sign does not match the modern city type, looking more like a county type. Embossed Dead End sign is another oddity, while sign on right shows the plywood backing seen on many signs in Armistead Gardens.
A closer look at one of the odd octagonal Dead End signs that are embossed black on yellow.	Another truck restriction sign has everything embossed except the 3/4. One wonders the logic behind such a manufacture.
Still other street signs are attached directly to the houses in Armistead Gardens, such as this one.	It takes a close look to see thise signs that have since been painted over. Federal Street is erroneously signed as Federal Avenue.
Another odd "street sign looking" indicator can be seen at Wright and Hoffman, though this may be a private sign.

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