Monthly Publication of the Fell’s Point Citizens on Patrol 8 March 2014 4HHEE&ELLSS0OIINTERNTER Volume 16 Number 3 Footner Accounts for ‘Our’ War, And Perfidious Adm. Cochrane Just in time for this summer’s climactic cel- ebrations of the 200th anniversary of Baltimore’s War, Fell’s Point maritime historian Geoffrey Foot- ner has delivered “A Bungled Affair: Britain’s War in the United States--The Final Years 1814-1815.” It delivers as much about this neighborhood’s role in the conflict as us new-age readers are apt to absorb. And as a bonus, it offers a devastatingly detailed account of how His Majesty’s command- ing admiral on the Chesapeake not only failed to subdue this city but brought shame to the Royal Navy--by dealing freed American slaves in Carib- bean flesh markets instead of devastating New Orleans as ordered. Along the way, the curmudgeon of Fell St. covers the Canadian theater and walks us through the Treaty of Ghent diplomacy. But he is saltiest at sea, starting in 1812 when Joshua Barney “ac- cepted command of the privateer Rossie,” built by Thomas Kemp at the foot of Washington St., and took the war to Britain’s shipping lanes with Canada. “The Baltimore schooner seized 15 ships of great value . plus 166 British prisoners.” And so it went, until by 1814 “the Surprise, with double or more burden,” and other bigger versions of the speedy Chesapeake Bay pilot schooners carried the war to Britain’s home waters. Plank Vows Pier’s Rescue Happenings Footner’s “Tidewater Triumph” in 1998 is the A new development team determined to Services for Hepner and Carlson definitive study of these gaudy boats, but the save Rec Pier, financed entirely by Under Armour’s Local services are planned for chapters devoted to them in his new book offer founder Kevin Plank, made a dramatic presentation Jean Hepner, late of Fell St., and a lively reprise. His account, much of it sustained to the Main Street membership meeting on Feb. her long-time companion Ben Carl- by research in Britain, makes clear that the priva- 26 of what it sees as the immediate future of the son of Shakespeare St., who died teers’ havoc played on British merchantmen and benighted 100-year-old building, Fell’s Point’s wa- as a result of a Beltway car crash obsolescent warships was what caused the surly terfront landmark. The team asked for community on Feb.1. Both in their 90s, they mother country to stand down at Ghent. support. Its vision: had lived here since the 1960s and The other aspect of these 268 pages, though, The underpin pilings, found by divers in a were engaged in all community is- concerns the unchallenged villain of the book, Vice recent engineering reassessment to be in “pro- sues since the Interstate Highway battle. They retired to Oakcrest Admiral Sir Alexander F. I. Cochrane, “driven by his gressive collapse,” will be supplanted starting as Village in Parkville two years ago. hate of Americans” yet driven off by them during soon as sale of the pier is consummated; the brick The Carlson family invites Ben’s his “essay” to put down what the admiral called superstructure, in “remarkably good condition,” friends to gather upstairs at Ber- “the nest of pirates” here. Cochrane had headquar- will be cleaned and pointed to original condition, tha’s on Sunday, March 30, from tered at Tangier Island off Virginia’s Eastern Shore window frames in their old elegance, but using 1 to 4PM. The Preservation So- and already had tinkered with the slave trade double-paned glass; a 128-room luxury hotel will ciety and friends will gather in the there--having decreed that U.S. slaves deserting be created along the lines of the most recent plans garden of the Robert Long House to the British would thereby gain freedom. But devised by non-starter developers over the last 12 on Sunday, June 1, to dedicate its not many tried and few succeeded. When he left years. The historic upper-level ballroom, already garden to Jean. She established it with plants appropriate to the for the Caribbean after defeat here, his fleet-wide renovated during the production of “Homicide” in house, which will be 250 years machinations with corrupt captains took on lucra- the 1980s, is to become available for public events old in 2015. The Society seeks tive dimension, shielded under the Royal Navy’s and a street-level restaurant is to cater to the com- contributions to a fund to maintain code of silence. munity as well as to guests. the garden. Jean’s family held a In visits to British Washington developer Steven Siegel intro- service for her March 2 at Chest- libraries and intensive duced the new team, Sagamore Development nut Grove Presbyterian Church in follow-ups by mail, Co., owned by Plank--and named for his Baltimore Phoenix, Md. Footner reconstructed County race-horse farm--also including Point resi- the maneuvers, and dents Todd Harvey and Pat Sutton. They described LETTER TO THE EDITOR: phony entries, in the a hotel targeting wealthy clientele, world travelers still-extant logbooks predominantly in the 30s-50s age range, who Please Restore the of the ships that car- come here because they want to see Fell’s Point. Quince ried the “freed men” To achieve that, they asked community groups to Concerning my letter of out- to slave markets in the support them in what they described as the sole rage at the depredations of the islands. Some crucial issue holding up purchase of the pier--whether the Robert Long House garden [not inscriptions in the logs actually had been excised waterfront Promenade should extend around the published but passed along to through Cochrane’s long reach. pier. the Preservation Society], I am The self-published book is on sale at the Visi- The city created the Promenade circling the pleased to report that some ef- tor Center, Frame House and Brassworks, all along harbor by requiring all properties touching on it fort is being made to restore the Thames St., for $35.50. Footner also has published a to create and maintain the 18-ft. walkway at their garden--although the ridiculous paperback edition of “Sailor of Fortune: The Life and water’s edge. In the case of Rec Pier, an additional ship’s model still stands where Adventures of Commodore Barney, U.S.N.,” by Hulbert use for the walkway was to be emergency access the quince tree used to be. Footner, his father. $20. for fire equipment to reach the pier’s (Continued) --Constance Methvin Skipjack Sigsbee Decked Out Privateer Days April 11-13 By Joe Hauser Main Street’s Privateer Festival, This winter, the captain, crew, and contracted enlarged for the 200th birthday boat builder Mike Rogers are replacing the deck of of the 1814 victory here, will be Living Classrooms’ 1901 skipjack Sigsbee, with the held in and around the Square plastic-canopied boat out of the water thanks to on the weekend of April 11-13, “celebrating the illustrious legacy the marine railway at the Maritime Park on Thames of the privateer schooners and St. “The old deck kept the students dry and safe for their prowess at sea,” said Direc- the last 20 years,” said Captain Joe Persinger, “and tor Sean Brescia. “In partner- the new deck will hopefully serve as a platform for ship with the Baltimore National the next 20 years.” Heritage Area, the National Parks The nonprofit Living Classrooms Foundation Service and Fort McHenry, we’re owns and operates this traditional Chesapeake developing a great range of living Bay working sailboat to teach sometimes troubled history exhibits and programs, teens marine sciences and the disciplines that in addition to entertaining pirate- themed activities that have grown sailing instills. However, none of the students has by popular demand over the past found steady work in the deck replacement. Sigs- several years. We believe this will bee was built in Deal Island as part of the strike the right balance between oystering fleet that by state conservation Photo by Lew Diuguid historical significance and themed law was largely limited to sail power. Original Boatbuilder Mike Rogers puts Sigsbee entertainment.” For more, Joy pieces from 1901 are down to the steering on firm footing. Giordano, 410.241.8111, or info@ wheel, and the mast step. fellspointmainstreet. Rogers now lives in Maine but was raised in Timonium and hung out at Fell’s Point. He recalled Rec Pier - cont. from front Schedules thrilling his late fellow boatsman Bob Keith by re- end. Sagamore says the skirt around the pier is too Trash and Recycling building a bugeye on the bay, but then aggravating narrow for a wheelchair, let alone a fire truck. A Current days for trash pickup him by sailing it away to Maine. Sigsbee, big for a wider cantilevered walk would be possible, while are Tuesdays and for recycling are skipjack, was the first of its kind to be operated very expensive, said Siegel, but he estimated 2 Thursdays. Residents are limited to under a female captain, in the 1980s. This is its first years would be needed to obtain permits, particu- setting out three 32-gallon cans of major rebuild since the educational organization larly from the Corps of Engineers controlling the waste between 6PM on Mondays obtained the vessel in 1990 after it sank in the bay. harbor--compounding the risk of collapse. “We will and 6AM on Tuesdays. It took on an inboard motor along the way. With build fire suppression systems into the building,” Neighborhood Meetings efforts still afloat for financial support, the crew he added.