Hebrew Orphan Asylum (Baltimore, Maryland) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Hebrew Orphan Asylum
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 Location in Baltimore
Location in Maryland
Location in the United States
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| Location | 2700 Rayner Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland |
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| Area | 1.884 acres (0.762 ha) |
| Built | 1876 |
| Architect | Lupus & Roby |
| Architectural style | Victorian Romanesque |
| NRHP reference No. | 10000868 |
| Added to NRHP | October 28, 2010 |
The Hebrew Orphan Asylum is a very old building in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. It used to be a home for children who didn't have parents. Later, it became a hospital.
This building has had a few different names over the years. It was known as the West Baltimore General Hospital and the Lutheran Hospital of Maryland. Today, a group called Coppin Heights Community Development Corporation is working to turn it into a center for healthcare.
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A Building with a Long History
The Hebrew Orphan Asylum building was finished in 1875. It was built after a fire destroyed an older building called the Calverton Mansion in 1874. The orphanage had actually started in 1872, using the Calverton Mansion as its first home.
How the Orphanage Started
The Hebrew Orphan Asylum relied on gifts from people in the Jewish community in Baltimore. Many wealthy German Jewish families who lived in the city helped support it. The story of this orphanage is closely connected to the growth of the Jewish community in Baltimore. This community grew a lot as many people moved to America from Europe in the 1800s and 1900s.
From Orphanage to Hospital
The building changed its purpose several times. From 1923 to 1950, it served as the West Baltimore General Hospital. After that, it became the Lutheran Hospital of Maryland, operating from 1950 until 1989.
While some other buildings that were part of the orphanage and hospitals were taken down in 2009, the main four-story brick building is still standing.
What the Building Looks Like
The Hebrew Orphan Asylum is a red brick building with a style called Victorian Romanesque. It faces south and has a large porch. There are tall, round towers at each corner.
The middle part of the building is four stories high. On each side of the middle, there are three-story wings. The building was designed by architects Lupus & Roby and built by Edward Brady.
The Land Before the Orphanage
The land where the building stands has its own history. In 1815, a country home called "Calverton" was built there for a banker named Dennis Smith. Later, from 1820 to 1866, this building was used as the Baltimore City and County Almshouse. An almshouse was a place that cared for poor people.
The almshouse had a main house for the people who ran it. It also had large sections on each side for men and women to live. There was even a special area for people with mental health needs.
The Building's Later Years
The Hebrew Orphan Asylum moved to a new place in 1923. That's when this building became the West Baltimore General Hospital. It stayed a hospital until 1950. Then, it became the Lutheran Hospital of Maryland and was used until 1989.
During its time as a hospital, more buildings were added to the area. Only one of these, a maternity ward built in 1945, is still there. This building is now called the Tuerk House and helps people with addiction.
The original Hebrew Orphan Asylum building has been empty since 1989. Coppin State University has owned it since 2003.
Recognized for Its History
In 2010, a group called Baltimore Heritage worked with Coppin Heights Community Development Corporation. They helped get the Hebrew Orphan Asylum listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This is a special list of important historical sites in the United States.
The building was officially added to the list on October 28, 2010. It was even featured as a special listing by the National Park Service on November 5, 2010.
