Volume 13, Number 2 Fall 2014 Needed: Access to Virtual Archives 14th Mayor’s Reception Oct. 25 On a ‘Cloud’ for City’s Vital History The Baltimore City Historical Society invites By Ed Papenfuse members and the public to attend the 14th Society President and retired State Archivist Mayor’s Reception and History Honors presenta- Recently, I was asked to speak on the tions on Saturday, October 25, at 1:30PM at the future of historical research and writing, Mansion in Clifton Park. It dates to the 1790s, is especially as it relates to helping teachers being revived by Civic Works and has figured access and make use of the rich resources prominently in marking the 200th anniversary that are currently being placed on line in the of the War of 1812 here. virtual world. My words were in the form of Ten contributors to the history of the city a challenge to all cultural institutions with will be honored, with remarks by Mayor Stepha- regard to their placing digital versions of nie Rawlings-Blake, City Councilwoman Mary their holdings on line. A reporter present Photo by Joe Stewart Pat Clarke and John Ciekot, director of the $7 headlined his blog with: A high-water mark in the two-year celebra- million Civic Works-Americorps restoration proj- “We need a ‘Wayback Machine’ for all tion of the 200th anniversary of the War of ect. Introductions will be by Ed Papenfuse, new cultural archives …. During a Baltimore Inno- 1812 was the return in September of the Tall president of the Society, replacing Joe Stewart. vation Week event hosted by edtech start-up Ships Sailibration that launched it. Here, the There is no charge and parking is ample at the Alchemy Learning, the retired Maryland State Coast Guard’s Eagle was socked in at the site, east of Harford Road at 33rd Street. Archivist called on cultural groups to get Inner Harbor. According to Civic Works’ research, Clifton collaborative in sharing and hosting online Mansion was built between 1790 and 1801 by archives.” merchant Henry Thompson and is the only re- The sponsor Alchemy Learning is a new Abe Sherman on the Square—Pt. 2 maining Baltimore home of an officer from the and innovative company devoted to linking By Paul J. Travers War of 1812. Thompson served as captain of the teachers to the resources of cultural institu- A month after the 1944 D-day landing of Flying Artillery, 3rd Maryland Brigade, during the tions through meaningful and easy-to-use Allied forces in Normandy, Baltimore news- Battle of Baltimore. Then Johns Hopkins bought lesson plans. It was my task to remind all paper hawker-turned-sergeant Abe Sher- and expanded it. Tours will be offered after the present that for that to become a dynamic man’s unit fought inland against entrenched reception, which includes light refreshments. and viable reality, attention also needs to be German defenders. The entire operation in Winners of the Society’s Historian/Scholar paid to the means of access through a per- that part of France was threatened when Award are folklorist Elaine Eff and emeritus manent and sustainable electronic archives- the attackers’ field headquarters nearly fell professor Garrett Power. Dr. Eff is author of last -as well as the need for a related digital in a counterattack that left most of the staff year’s acclaimed “The Painted Screens of Balti- sandbox in which teachers and researchers dead or wounded. Under a hail of bullets, more: an Urban Folk Art Revealed.” Power wrote can assemble and write their narratives. Abe and another sergeant ran from foxhole extensively on the city and state at the Carey Such an undertaking needs cooperation to foxhole, blasted the men out with forceful School of Law. and funding from universities, public and language, and placed them on the front line. Living History awardees include: Maria private, governmental agencies, and the A reinforced perimeter increased the odds of Broom, Baltimore-born and -educated actress- cultural institutions themselves. In all, what I thwarting the attack—as recounted eventu- storyteller with television credits from “The called for is our working together to preserve ally in the official text accompanying the Wire” to “West Wing”; Jed Dietz, director of the and interpret the past in a sustainable virtual Silver Star presented Sherman for bravery-- Maryland Film Festival, is helping restore the environment. Baltimore should take the lead, but there were more problems. Most of the Parkway Theater; City engineer Ronald Parks has not unlike the massive cooperative effort it remaining men from headquarters were chronicled Baltimore’s waterworks; and Romaine undertook to defend itself in 1814—and that clerks, cooks and orderlies who hadn’t fired Stec Somerville of Bolton Hill, after a career in we have celebrated this fall. a weapon since basic training. Even if they preservation. While our Baltimore City Historical So- wanted to shoot, they had no ammunition. In Memoriam are Art Donovan, Colts tackle ciety and others offer wonderful programs Taking charge, Abe scrounged for for the Colts and nationwide PR man for his adop- including the Community Lecture Series weapons from vehicles. Finding crates of tive Baltimore, dying last year at 88; Prof. Homer originated by Mike Franch, the urban envi- hand grenades, the men ripped them open E. Favor helped establish Morgan State’s School ronmental series fostered by past president with bare hands and Abe carried them to of Urban Studies and Human Development, Joe Stewart, and academic conferences led the foxholes. With the Germans now taking dying last year at 88; Jean Hepner, a stalwart of by Garrett Power, and while the city abounds cover in a thick hedgerow, hot shrapnel was Fell’s Point revival, died in February at 91; Gregory in cultural and historical places to visit and the best weapon to cut through it. The gre- Kane, Sun columnist known for his perceptive learn, there is no plan (Continued on Page 2) nade counterattack (Continued on Page 3) observations, died of cancer at 62 in February. Urbanism Lecture Nov. 8 Abe Sherman - Continued from page 1 desecration of the up, you buy it,” and “This ain’t no library. Go up University of Massachusetts emeritus was successful. Half an hour later, when the war dead, members the Pratt,” were the common refrains hurled Chair of Board of Directors . John C. Murphy professor of Geography Rutherford Platt German rifles were silenced, men wondered of the Society of the at terrified browsers as he patrolled the aisles President . Ed Papenfuse will return to Baltimore for a free lecture on when the attack would resume--most likely War of 1812 and with hands folded across his chest. “Reclaiming American Cities: The Struggle with reinforcements and tanks. the Star-Spangled To teens and young adults, it was a rite Newsletter Editor . Lewis H. Diuguid for Humane Urbanism Since Olmsted” at the Air support was requested but that Banner Flag House of passage to be thrown out of the store, an Newsletter Layout . Tina Fleming Warren Maryland Historical Society’s France Hall on presented another problem. Someone had Association had ordeal of fire that proved you were a real Staff . Don Torres Saturday, Nov. 8 at 1PM. In 2009, he organized to mark the perimeter for the pilots. Under no plans for the ki- Baltimorean. An invite to the basement for a [email protected] • baltimorecityhistoricalsociety.org the well-attended conference, “Humane Me- sporadic enemy rifle fire, Abe walked the line osk. Abe was to be belt of Abe’s favorite cognac meant you had tropolis Baltimore” here. and placed the markers. Minutes later, Allied landscaped from his Abe Sherman passed muster and were now unofficially a This lecture is part of the Exploring Envi- planes pummeled the perimeter. The battle patch of sidewalk. member of Abe’s army. Taped to the cash Virtual Archives - Continued from page 1 ronmental History series and is co-sponsored was over. Abe and his men crawled from their The issue quickly became a political hand register was one of Abe’s favorite quotes from and no place for coordinating and access- The Lynx, a privateer built in Fell’s Point, was by Friends of Maryland’s Olmsted Parks & foxholes to treat the wounded and pick up grenade. Families and friends were pitted Harry Truman: “I never give anybody hell. I ing the sources, primary and secondary, of captured by the British in 1812. This Maine Landscapes, Baltimore City Historical Society, the pieces of their headquarters. against one another. While the issue was be- just tell the truth and they think it’s hell.” the city’s history. There is no communal, remake arrived in the tall ship fleet, docking and the Maryland Historical Society. In books Abe was never much on letter writing. ing resolved behind closed doors at City Hall, Abe flourished at his store in the shadow virtual forum where scholar, teacher, and on Broadway Pier alongside the Pride of Balti- and conferences, Platt has advanced the His family only heard about his decora- Abe was relocated across the street to the of the Enoch Pratt Free Library for reasons interested citizen alike can explore the city’s more II, also a Chesapeake pilot schooner. goal of making cities more environmentally tions from the families of other soldiers. front of the Court House, where he battled he would never had imagined. In the early history and reflect upon it. livable, sustainable, and just. That changed on August 3, 1944, when the dive-bombing pigeons. Business plum- ‘70s, Abe finally heeded the advice of his Among the cultural and research insti- providing an integrated place of knowledge front page of the Baltimore News-Post pro- meted.