Midtown-Edmondson, Baltimore facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Midtown-Edmondson
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Neighborhood of Baltimore
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Mosher St. Swell-Front Rowhouses
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 Midtown-Edmondson
Location in Baltimore
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| Country | United States |
| State | Maryland |
| City | Baltimore |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
21217
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| ZIP code |
21223
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Midtown-Edmondson is a neighborhood in western Baltimore City with a long and interesting history. Built mostly between the 1880s and the 1910s, it has a mix of beautiful brick rowhouses, shops, and historic industrial buildings. It's a community that has seen many changes over the years and is known for its strong spirit.
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Where is Midtown-Edmondson?
The city of Baltimore considers the neighborhood to be bordered by North Bentalou Street on the west and North Monroe Street on the east. The northern border is marked by the CSX train tracks and West Lafayette Avenue. The southern border is West Mulberry Street.
The Story of Midtown-Edmondson
Early Homes and Streetcars
The first homes in Midtown-Edmondson were built around 1887. At first, they were designed as summer homes for people to escape the heat of the city. But when electric streetcars started running down Edmondson Avenue in the 1890s, everything changed.
The new streetcars made it easy for people to travel to and from downtown Baltimore. Soon, builders began constructing many of the beautiful rowhouses you can still see today. These homes were perfect for the city's growing number of middle-class families.
Famous Buildings and Businesses
The neighborhood has always been a mix of homes and workplaces. Along the main streets, like Edmondson Avenue, many rowhouses were turned into shops. You could find everything from bakeries and hardware stores to laundries and drugstores.
The American Ice Company
Built in 1911, the American Ice Company building is a reminder of the area's industrial past. Before most people had refrigerators, they used iceboxes to keep food cold. Companies like this one would manufacture huge blocks of ice and deliver them to homes and businesses.
The factory was built next to the railroad tracks, which made it easy to ship ice around the city. The building was damaged in a fire in 2004, but there are plans to redevelop the property while saving the historic structure.
The Ward Bakery
The Ward Baking Company building was built in 1925. It was a large, modern factory that baked bread for the Ward Bread Company, which had bakeries in other big cities like New York. Today, the handsome brick building is no longer a factory and has been used as a church.
A Time of Change and Community
During the 1940s and 1950s, the neighborhood went through a big change. For many years, where people could live in Baltimore was often determined by their race. But during this time, many African American families began moving into Midtown-Edmondson.
This was an important moment in Baltimore's history. It gave many middle-class African American families their first chance to buy their own homes. These new residents formed strong neighborhood groups and became active in the civil rights movement, working to make the city a fairer place for everyone.
Working Together for a Better Neighborhood
After the death of the great civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968, Baltimore, like many American cities, went through a period of sad and difficult civil unrest. In the years that followed, the community in Midtown-Edmondson showed its strength by working together.
Residents formed groups to support each other and improve their neighborhood. They started community programs to provide food and clothing to families in need. Many local businesses also played a big role in supporting the community.
Super Pride Groceries: A Community Staple
In 1970, a businessman named Charles Thurgood Burns started Super Pride Groceries. He bought a failing grocery store and turned it into a successful business that served the needs of the local community.
Mr. Burns had started in the grocery business as a kid, selling vegetables from a cart. His Super Pride chain grew to seven stores and employed over 400 people. The stores were known for sponsoring Black History Month events and supporting local arts. Super Pride was a beloved part of the community for 30 years before it closed in 2000.
The Edmondson Community Organization (ECO)
In the 1990s, residents created the Edmondson Community Organization (ECO) to help make the neighborhood a better place. In 1995, a building that had been a nightclub was given to the ECO. The group, led by its president Charlotte M. Perry, used the building to host community meetings and provide positive activities for residents. The ECO building is still a meeting place for the community today.
A Recognized Historic Neighborhood
Because of its unique history and architecture, Midtown-Edmondson is recognized as an important place. In 2014, parts of the neighborhood were included in the Edmondson Avenue Historic District. A year later, the neighborhood was nominated to become its own historic district. This special status helps protect the area's historic buildings for future generations to enjoy.
Getting Around: Public Transit
It's easy to travel to and from Midtown-Edmondson using public transportation.
- Buses: Several city bus lines run through the neighborhood, including routes 15, 23, and the Route 40 QuickBus.
- Trains: The West Baltimore (MARC station) is located in the neighborhood. The MARC train provides service to other parts of Maryland and to Washington, DC, seven days a week.
Government and Community Leaders
The residents of Midtown-Edmondson are represented by leaders at the community, city, state, and federal levels.
- Community: The Midtown-Edmondson Avenue Improvement Association (MEAIA) is the neighborhood's main citizens' group. They meet monthly at the ECO building.
- City: The neighborhood is part of Baltimore City's 9th City Council District.
- State: It is in Maryland's House of Delegates District 44a.
- Federal: Midtown-Edmondson is part of Maryland's 7th congressional district. A U.S. Representative in Washington, D.C. represents the district.
