Reservoir Hill, Baltimore facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Reservoir Hill Historic District
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Reservoir Hill Historic District, March 2012
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 Location in Baltimore
Location in Maryland
Location in the United States
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| Location | North Ave.--Madison Ave.--Druid Park Lake Dr.--Mt. Royal Terrace, Baltimore, Maryland |
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| Area | 200 acres (81 ha) |
| Architectural style | Early Republic, Late Victorian |
| NRHP reference No. | 04001376 |
| Added to NRHP | December 23, 2004 |
Reservoir Hill is an old and interesting neighborhood in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. It is located near Druid Hill Park, a large park in the city. The area is known for its beautiful historic homes.
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Exploring Reservoir Hill's History
Reservoir Hill has some amazing examples of old house styles. These include Victorian, Italianate, and Second Empire homes. You can see grand Victorian mansions looking over Druid Hill Park. There are also brownstones and smaller brick rowhouses. Many of these homes show what Baltimore looked like long ago.
Part of Reservoir Hill is a special historic district. This means it is protected because of its history. It is even listed on the National Register of Historic Places. People are working hard to restore the neighborhood. They want it to look as grand as it once did.
Getting Around Reservoir Hill
It is easy to get around Reservoir Hill. You can walk to several public transport stops. These include the North Avenue station for the Baltimore Light Rail. There is also the Penn-North station for the Baltimore Metro Subway. Pennsylvania Station is also nearby. This station is used by Amtrak trains on the Northeast Corridor.
A Neighborhood of Many Cultures
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, many immigrants came to Baltimore. It was the second biggest port for new arrivals in the U.S. after Ellis Island. Many of these families settled in Reservoir Hill. They came from places like the Russian Empire. This included many Jewish and Ukrainian people. Today, most residents in the neighborhood are African-American.
A synagogue built in 1922 by the Chizuk Amuno Congregation is still here. It is now home to Beth Am. This is one of two non-Orthodox Jewish groups in Baltimore.
Mount Royal Area
A special part of Reservoir Hill is called Mount Royal. It is located across North Avenue. This area has very well-preserved homes. They are generally more expensive. A part of Mount Royal has been named the Mount Royal Terrace Historic District. This is a special recognition by Baltimore City.
Famous People from Reservoir Hill
Many interesting people have lived in Reservoir Hill.
- The famous writer Gertrude Stein lived here for a short time. Her home was on Linden Avenue. It is also known as the David Bachrach House.
- Karl Shapiro, a poet who won a Pulitzer Prize, was born on Brooks Lane. He became the fifth Poet Laureate for the Library of Congress in 1946.
- People involved in important historical events also lived in the area. These include Whittaker Chambers and Alger Hiss. Hiss grew up on Linden Avenue. Chambers lived on Mount Royal Terrace.
Life on Mt. Royal Terrace (1890-1940)
Records from the Enoch Pratt Free Library show that many people on Mt. Royal Terrace lived in their homes for a long time. It was a close-knit community. Neighbors knew each other well. Many residents worked in blue-collar jobs. They were factory workers, construction workers, electricians, police officers, and nurses. Old newspapers from the Baltimore Sun tell us a lot about their lives.
Many residents of Mt. Royal lived quiet, hardworking lives. Samuel W. Filbert is a good example. He lived on 2200 Mt. Royal Terrace with his wife. Samuel worked in construction for a family business. He was the general manager until he joined the military. His career changed because of World War I. Samuel became a soldier in the 4th Maryland Regiment. He was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel. He became a respected military figure in the area.
Samuel W. Filbert's life shows what it was like for many people in Baltimore. They were hardworking and loyal to their community. Many families passed their homes down to their children. The years between 1890 and 1940 were tough. The Great Depression affected many lives. Many people lost their jobs. Joining the military was an option for young men. Even with these challenges, Mt. Royal remained a strong community.
Eutaw Place and Madison Park
Eutaw Place and Madison Park is another historic area in Reservoir Hill. It is on the western side of the neighborhood. This part has many grand houses on Eutaw Place and Madison Avenue. There are also three large apartment buildings. They are located across from Druid Hill Park.
Reservoir Hill's Population
Here is a look at the people who live in Reservoir Hill, based on the 2020 Census:
- Total Population: 5,263
- Black/African-American: 79.1%
- White/Caucasian: 12.8%
- Hispanic/Latino (of any race): 2.6%
- Two or More Races: 4.6%
- Asian/Pacific Islander: 1.0%
- Native American: 0.4%
- Other: 0.1%
