With some more errands to complete on the west side of the bay, I headed in that direction after changing into my pretty floral dress, and was wearing my new sandals. After touching up my make-up in the car, I noticed that I was addressed as female over half the time, and the rest of the time gender-specific greetings were omitted. Perfectly fine with me. And other than occasional eye contact from passers-by, there was no noticeable “side-eye” or staring.
After my errands were completed, I found time to do some sightseeing – which is much more fun in a dress! First stop: Mt. Royal Station.
Designed by noted Baltimore architect E. Francis Baldwin, Mt. Royal station was constructed in 1896 by the B&O Railroad as part of its track improvement project for its New York City passenger service. Located at the north end of the B&O’s Howard Street tunnel, the station was built of Maryland granite trimmed with Indiana limestone, with an attractive red tile roof and landmark 150 ft. clock tower. The station’s interior featured marble mosaic flooring, two fireplaces, and rocking chairs.
“It was considered,” said the Baltimore Sun, “the most splendid station in the country built and used by only one railroad. That evaluation was shared by railroad historian Lucius Beebe, who proclaimed Mt. Royal to be “one of the celebrated railroad stations of the world, ranking in renown with Euston Station, London, the Gare du Nord in Paris, and the Pennsylvania Station on Broad St. in Philadelphia.” A commentator for the Baltimore Evening Sun reminisced about the station years after it closed, writing that its waiting room ambiance was “like a mountain lodge after dinner”, with cozy fireplaces ablaze at both ends of the station while passengers relaxed in rocking chairs serenaded by soothing recorded music.
The B&O pioneered the first U.S. mainline railway electrification system at Mt. Royal Station when it opened in 1896, installing an overhead 3rd rail system in the station’s train shed and tunnel approaches. (No longer operable, no longer present.)
The most famous train associated with the Mt. Royal Station was the Royal Blue, which ran between Washington DC and New York City. After the B&O ended all passenger service north of Baltimore on April 26, 1958, Mt. Royal Station became the eastern terminus of B&O’s passenger trains. It was one of thirteen Baltimore buildings selected in 1959 for the Historic American Buildings Survey. On June 30, 1961, the B&O consolidated its Baltimore passenger train service at nearby Camden Station, permanently ending its use of Mt. Royal Station after 65 years of operation.
The vacant railroad station building, train shed, and the surrounding 3¼ acres were subsequently acquired by the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) in 1964 for $250,000 The sale amount was far below market value and represented “a substantial donation on the part of the B&O”, said MICA officials. After $1 million was raised by MICA for the project, Mt. Royal was converted for use by art students in 1967 at a final cost of $18 per square foot of building space. This was considerably less than the estimated cost for a new building of $25 per square foot. The former B&O baggage room and platform areas were enclosed for use as studios and the station’s exterior and clock tower were retained. The original 800-foot long iron train-shed remains over CSX Transportation’s still-very-active mainline tracks. This adaptive re-use preserved the Mt. Royal Station as an example of late 19th century industrial architecture, using it for a purpose different from its original one.
Design work for the conversion was performed by Richard Donkervoet, of Cochran, Stephenson and Donkervoet. Donkervoet retained as much of the building’s exterior appearance as possible, and also preserved much of the interior character, including the vaulted ceilings, columns, and mosaic floor. Architectural Forum recognized the station renovation for “sensitivity by later architects to the initial conception by the original.” On December 8, 1976, the station was added to the register of National Historic Landmarks, granting it full protection as an historic site. The Mt. Royal Station’s train shed, one of the country’s last remaining such structures, was renovated in 1985 due to advanced deterioration of the shed’s materials. In 1992, the AIA’s Baltimore chapter honored the Maryland Institute and architects Cochran, Stevenson & Donkervoet with a 25 Year Award for Excellence in Design of Enduring Significance for their adaptive reuse of the former train depot.
Between 2005–2007, MICA accomplished a two-phased, $6.3 million renovation of the building – first phase: renovation of the interior, was completed in Fall, 2005: The second phase, restoration of the building’s exterior and train shed, was completed in Spring, 2007. . In keeping with the pedestrian landscaping and streetscape that MICA has created along Mt. Royal Avenue, a new plaza with benches, bike racks, shrubs, and ornamental grasses and ground cover was added. The Station Building, as it is now called by MICA, houses the undergraduate departments of fiber and interdisciplinary sculpture, 3-D classrooms, and the Rinehart School of Sculpture, as well as senior studios.
After finishing up there, I headed for the area along the Jones Falls creek, where there were many old mill buildings. Like Mt. Royal Station, these old (1800’s) industrial buildings have been saved, repurposed into storefronts and residences, and are quite attractive.
Below are a few samples of the mills:
First picture is Mill 1, which began life in 1847 as a cotton mill for the Mt. Vernon Company, the world’s largest producer of cotton duck in the late 19th century. Now it is a repurposed and energy efficient commercial and residential building, with historic significance and original appearance, all in its original setting.
The second picture is of Mt. Vernon Mill #4. This is a bit farther north along the creek. I could find very little info about this factory’s early usage.
Lastly is Whitehall Mill…another mixed commercial and residential community. All very well done.
With the pandemic stil rolling along, I didn’t attempt to get an idea of prices or availability…it would have been fun to go for a site visit in a dress. But even at this stage of the pandemic, “out and about” is still better accomplished minus close interface with others…
On the way home by a different route than usual, I availed myself of the unisex restroom in an office building, then dropped off some info to a medical office nearby…completing a fine day of exploration. Hopefully I can go again soon.
Hugs,
Mandy
Mandy's Miscellany 