Highlandtown
Highlandtown by Gary Helton, published by Arcadia Publishing in 2006, is an illustrated exploration of a vibrant community with deep historical roots. This 128-page book delves into the rich tapestry of Highlandtown, tracing its origins back to the 19th century when it was known as Snake Hill. The narrative highlights the development of the area alongside the waterfront communities of Fell’s Point and Canton, emphasizing the role of immigrant laborers from various countries in shaping the local economy and culture.
Readers will find a detailed account of Highlandtown’s evolution, including the establishment of Fort Marshall and the military hospital in Patterson Park. The book captures the essence of daily life in the early 20th century, showcasing the bustling retail district along Eastern Avenue, where streetcars navigated dirt and cobblestone roads. The narrative reflects the community’s strong ties to family, culture, and faith, portraying a place where essential services like bakeries, grocers, and churches thrived, often catering to the diverse linguistic backgrounds of its residents.
Official synopsis Publisher
Highlandtown’s strong roots are nourished by old world traditions of family, culture, and faith. Settlement of the area first known as Snake Hill dates to the 19th century’s expansion of the waterfront communities of Fell’s Point and Canton. Farms and slaughterhouses soon emerged, relying heavily on immigrant laborers from Germany, Italy, Poland, Russia, and Ireland. Fort Marshall was established atop the area’s highest point, the present site of Sacred Heart of Jesus Church. A military hospital emerged in Patterson Park, which began as a six-acre gift to the city from merchant William Patterson in 1826. After being renamed Highland Town” in 1862, Baltimore City annexed the town from Baltimore County and changed its spelling. By 1915, much of the retail district had been built along Eastern Avenue among row houses. Streetcars traveled down roadways of dirt or cobblestone, passing theaters, bowling alleys, horse-drawn wagons, and first-generation American children at play. Bakeries, barbers, grocers, and bars were on every corner, along with churches that worshipped in European tongues. There was no need to ever leave Highlandtown, and some folks never did.”
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