Belgian Block paving was first used
about 1880, and was the dominant paving seen in the urban areas for most
of the first half of the 20th Century. The surface was attractive
and durable, but offered a slightly jagged ride when compared with the
newer paving materials, such as Asphault. The result was a wholescale
conversion of a number of Belgian Block Streets to newer surfaces with
"pores" designed to trap grease and oil. In spite of this, a healthy
number of Belgian Block Streets have remained unchanged to this day, particularly
in the historic areas surrounding the Harbor on the East and South sides.
By now, they have garnered a desirable historic character, enhancing property
values in these "renaissance" neighborhoods, even though they are usually
mistakenly referred to as cobblestones.
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Wolfe Street below Aliceanna illustrates a typical street containing
belgian block paving. Do note the odd parrallel lines
running along the left side of the traffic lanes, likely resulting from
rail that was later removed.
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Tiny Ellicott Street below Water Street offers a brief glimpse of what
life around the Inner Harbor basin was like before redevelopment.
View looks toward Lombard Street, and is less than two blocks from the
Harbor.
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Driveway in
Federal Hill off of Riverside Drive illustrates how Belgian Block is
often relaid at wider separation in restoration projects.
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The intersection of Pleasant
and Sharp Streets in Downtown could best be desribed as the "Baltimore
Historic Paving Museum" for its use of three different vintage paving mediums
within 50 feet! In the foreground lies conventional Belgian Block
paving stones, succeeded past the storm drain by Asphault Block paving,
which in turn gives way to Red Brick paving with an asphault patch.
A true find indeed!
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Authentic Belgian Block
was just seconds from the Inner Harbor!!! Despite the extensive redevelopment
of the Harbor area, there are numerous sites nearby where Belgian Block
can be found. This alley just East of Calvert Street above Lombard
carries no Street Sign name at all (although a turn of the century map
refers to it as Franklin Lane), yet it carried a lovely tableau of Belgian
Blocks leading off to Water Street. Though now gone, other stretches nearby include
portions of Water Street and Montgomery Street.
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