STORY TRAILS • of BALTIMORE COUNTY • 9811 Van Buren Lane • Cockeysville, MD 21030 ISSN 0889-6186 Editors: JOHN W
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HISTORICAL SOCIETY STORY TRAILS • OF BALTIMORE COUNTY • 9811 Van Buren Lane • Cockeysville, MD 21030 ISSN 0889-6186 Editors: JOHN W. McGRAIN and WILLIAM HOLLIFIELD VOL. 38 WINTER 2005-2006 Numbers 1 & 2 Baltimore County's House of Refuge By John McGrain — Enoch Pratt Free Library, Cator Collection Lithograph by A. Hoen & Company from House of Refuge first annual report, 1852 The House of Refuge was founded by citizens of Baltimore make. The city appropriated $10,000 and got another $10,000 in 1849 as a privately operated reformatory and was by selling the first piece of property called "Bower's Lot." apparently a pretty grim place in spite of its good intentions. A corporate charter was passed by the General Assembly on There had been efforts to establish such a place from about March 7, 1850. A history of the project which appeared in a 1814, and in 1830, a number of citizens, including John H. B. later annual report stated that in 1850 "after selecting their Latrobe, were incorporated with powers to start a school "for architectural plan . Mr. George A. Davis was appointed juvenile delinquents" and provide instruction "in such building superintendent." Davis was listed as a carpenter at 317 branches of useful knowledge as may be suitable to their years West Lombard Street in at least two city directories. The ind experience." The school managers could also "bind out building committee visited other houses of refuge in New said minors as apprentices." The incorporators even acquired a York and Massachusetts. The Sun of May 7, 1850, reported building site, but no funds were available for construction until the return of the committee from "the northern cities" with "a 1849 when George Brown, principal of Alex. Brown & Son, full collection of information as to plans, organization and offered to match whatever contribution the city and state would discipline." PAGE 2 HISTORY TRAILS OF BALTIMORE COUNTY WINTER 2005-2006 Henry V. D. Johns, Chairman of the site selection commit- due time, detailed specifications and estimates to tee, advertised in the Sun of May 27, 1850, that the managers guide in the construction. An approximate estimate of wanted to buy a place within three miles of the city courthouse. cost should accompany every plan. The Sun of June 21, 1850, reported that the board of trustees The Plans, etc., should be transmitted to Dr. John J. had received a number of offers and they were investigating the Graves, City Hall, Baltimore, before the 31st day of title of a tract owned by the Union Bank of Maryland about August. Those that may not be accepted will be three miles from the city near the junction of the Frederick road carefully returned, free of expense, to the authors. and Gwynns Falls. The purchase was probably finalized during July because the Republican & Argus of August 3, 1850, called Further information if desired, can be had on attention to a paid advertisement for architects to design a application by letter or otherwise, to either of the building for that site. The paper reported: undersigned. The tract contains 55 acres and is situated on Gwynns WILLIAM BAKER Falls, with an entrance from the Frederick Turnpike. The JOHN J. GRAVES Building Committee. location is among the most commanding, overlooking the J. H. ALEXANDER, city with a view of the river and bay as far as the eye can carry the sight. It has the recommendation of great health- The Republican & Argus of October 4, 1850, reported that fulness; and through its northern limits there runs a fine some 21 plans had been received and a committee was at work stream, which from the guage [sic] of a competent engi- selecting the winner. The contract for raising the stone and neer, is capable of affording by means of a dam an ample building a wall had been given to Captain James Muller [sic] supply of water to the establishment for all the purposes of "who will immediately enter upon its fulfillment." The same bathing, washing, &c. There are also on the premises fine newspaper reported on October 29, 1850, that the board had quarries of granite, not only sufficient for the erection of selected the plan submitted by Charles F. Anderson, Esq., of the building, but to yield a handsome income from them New York. The Sun also reported Anderson as the winner on until after the Board shall have ceased using them. October 30. They also determined to find a building superin- tendent at a salary of $1000. The Sun of December 20, 1850, In 1850 the trustees acquired 55 acres of the tract "Georgia" reported that the board had selected George A. Davis, Esq., as from the Union Bank. With the land in hand, the building com- superintendent of constructing the building "on the first ballot."• mittee was able to solicit bids for architectural designs "We understand there were twenty one applicants. We can only August 3, 1850): (Baltimore Republican & Argus, add that they have a most competent and energetic superintend- To Architects ent. Mr. Davis is at present a member of the second branch of the city council." The managers of the House of Refuge for Juvenile Delinquents in Baltimore, about to erect the Building, invite the exhibition of plans and drawings for that purpose. The site of the Building is upon an eminence about 120 feet above Gwynn's Falls, and it will he visible for a great distance on any of the approaches to the city from the E. and S. E. It will be placed in an enclo- sure of not less than five acres, surrounded by a lofty wall; but from the character of the ground, the princi- pal floor of the building will not be masked. The plan of the Building (of brick or stone) should be calculated to accommodate 400 inmates (of whom one-fourth will be females) when completed and to —Maryland State Archives allow of being opened at first for the reception of 200 inmates. The arrangements for the two sexes will, of House of Refuge, main facade, Baltimore County. course, be entirely separate, and it is desired to make Tabulated expenses in the report for the year ending provision also for separating either sex into two December 31, 1851, included $1,218.74 for the cost of an distinct classes. architect and for placing advertisements—nowhere in the man- FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS will be paid to the agers' report was the architect named. However, Pamela L Author of the Plan which shall be adopted by the Scott of the Society of Architectural Historians has identified' Managers; and the Architect of such plan, in case he Charles Frederick Anderson as an architect who entered a com- should not be engaged to superintend its execution, petition to design the Baltimore institution and showed that he will be expected to furnish without further charge in submitted plans for several prisons, including the District of PAGE 3 HISTORY TRAILS OF BALTIMORE COUNTY WINTER 2005-2006 DAVIS, Building Superintendent, who will be found at the Room of the Managers, at the City Hall, every day between the hours of 4 and 6 P. M. Proposals endorsed with the name of the work bid for, and directed to the undersigned, to be left at his office at the City Hall. JOHN J. GRAVES, Sec'y. The Sun of May 23, 1851, reported a visit to the grounds of the institution and reported that a side stream was being dammed to provide drinking water. It quoted a visitor from Boston who had seen the wooded setting, and continued: The buildings have not yet been commenced, but the spot for them is located, and proposals are now out for the erec- tion of so much of them as can be completed this year. They will be erected under the immediate supervision of Mr. George A. Davis, the General Superintendent. The main building, which will directly front the gateway, will be 45 by 108 feet in size, with two wings, each 225 feet long. The general plan adopted was that which was consid- ered to be the most suitable in all respects. It will be sur- rounded by a stone wall 18 feet high, which will enclose about six and a half acres. This wall is now in progress of House of Refuge from book The Great South by Edward King and being built by Mr. Jas. Mullen. The front gateway will be James Wells Champney, 1875. about seventy feet in width. It was a lucky circumstance that immediately on the grounds there have been found Columbia Jail and the Penitentiary and Workhouse on excellent quarries of stones, and banks of sand, ready to Blackwell's Island in New York's East River. Anderson lived the hands of the workmen. from ca. 1802 to 1869, practicing in both New York and Washington. None of the familiar Baltimore architects or firms The Sun of June 24, 1851, reported: entered the House of Refuge or Blackwell's Island competi- House of Refuge. – The work upon the grounds of the tions—at least they are not in the list provided by Ms. Scott. House of Refuge is progressing as rapidly as circum- The local papers did not mention the unsuccessful bidders. stances will admit. George A. Davis, Esq., the general Anderson was listed in Architects in Private Practice New superintendent, has fixed his office permanently on the York City—I840-1900, as having offices in Manhattan and spot, and arrangements are making to go with as much of Brooklyn from 1850 to1868. He was also listed as author of the main building as can be completed this season.