Rodgers Forge, Maryland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Rodgers Forge Historic District
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Brick rowhouses in Rodgers Forge
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 Location in Maryland
Location in the United States
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| Location | Roughly bounded by Stanmore Road, Stevenson Lane, York Road (Md. Route 45), Overbrook Road, and Bellona Avenue, north of Baltimore, Maryland |
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| Area | 150 acres (61 ha) |
| Built | 1925 |
| Architect | Beall, Frederick; James Keelty & Sons |
| Architectural style | Tudor Revival, Colonial Revival, Modern movement |
| NRHP reference No. | 09000783 |
| Added to NRHP | September 24, 2009 |
Rodgers Forge is a special historic neighborhood in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. It is located just north of Baltimore City and southwest of Towson, Maryland. This area is mostly made up of homes like rowhouses, apartments, and single-family houses. You can also find some shops and businesses here. Rodgers Forge is known for being a friendly and safe place to live.
In 2004, Rodgers Forge became famous because Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps lived there. In 2013, Baltimore Magazine called it one of the best neighborhoods in Baltimore County. The magazine praised its good public schools, active community groups, and easy access to shopping and fun in Baltimore and Towson. Rodgers Forge has also been named one of the safest neighborhoods in Baltimore. In 2019, it was the first community in Maryland to work to remove old, unfair language from historic property documents.
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Exploring Rodgers Forge History
Rodgers Forge gets its name from a blacksmith shop built in 1800 by George Rodgers. This shop was located where York Road and Stevenson Lane meet today. It even served as a U.S. post office! Because of this, the area became known as Rodgers Forge. For example, in 1923, a golf club nearby was first called The Rodgers Forge Country Club.
Building the Neighborhood
In 1934, a builder named James Keelty (Sr.) started building homes in Rodgers Forge. He built over 600 red brick rowhouses before World War II paused construction. After the war, his sons, James Keelty Jr. and Joseph Keelty, continued the work. By 1956, a total of 1,777 homes were finished. In 1939, a new row home cost about five thousand dollars.
During the later building phase, a large hill was removed to make space for new homes and apartments. This is why gardeners in the neighborhood sometimes find less topsoil!
Life in the 1950s
In the 1950s, Rodgers Forge was a lively place. Kids rode bikes everywhere, and summer nights were warm because most homes didn't have air conditioning. People enjoyed chasing lightning bugs and watching butterflies in their yards. In 1953, many people saw a huge event: the emergence of Brood X cicadas. These insects appear every 17 years!
Becoming a Historic Place
In 2009, the entire Rodgers Forge neighborhood was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This happened because it is a great example of community design and architecture from the early to mid-1900s. Experts noted its excellent planning, architecture, and construction. Rodgers Forge is considered one of the best-designed rowhouse neighborhoods in the Baltimore area from that time.
Today, about 4,000 people live in Rodgers Forge. It is a very popular place for families to live in the Baltimore area.
Notable People from Rodgers Forge
Many interesting people have lived in Rodgers Forge:
- Charles Adam Fecher: An author and editor.
- F. Scott Fitzgerald and Zelda Fitzgerald: Famous American novelists who lived here in the 1930s.
- William J. Frank: A member of the Maryland House of Delegates, which makes laws for the state.
- Mary Claire Helldorfer (Elizabeth Chandler): An author who wrote the New York Times Best Seller Kissed by an Angel.
- Ralph H. Hruban: A professor and expert in pancreatic cancer research at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
- David H. Hubel: A winner of the 1981 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his discoveries about how our brains process what we see. He lived in Rodgers Forge in the 1950s.
- Michael Phelps: The American competition swimmer who has won the most Olympic medals of all time.
- Johnny Unitas: A famous football player.
- Henry N. Wagner: A pioneer in nuclear medicine research.
Schools in Rodgers Forge
Rodgers Forge has access to both public and private schools.
Public Schools
Students in Rodgers Forge attend schools that are part of the Baltimore County Public Schools system:
- Rodgers Forge Elementary School
- Dumbarton Middle School
- Students also attend Towson High School.
Private Schools
- Dumbarton House, which is home to the Baltimore Actors Theatre Conservatory.
- St. Pius X Catholic School.
Major Roads in the Area
Several important roads run through or near Rodgers Forge:
- Charles Street
- Bellona Avenue
- Stevenson Lane
- York Road
