Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-05-12
VOL. XXXVII.
For The Freeman.
"The Monumental City.o

beautiful Doric column to the Father Of
His Country" which when built between
the years 1915 and 1880. stood alone a
towering shaft in the midst of noble
wood. Now the monument is in the CEN
tire of Mount Vernon Place, one of the
most charming localities of any city in
America. 1t is surmounted by statue
of Washington sixteen feet high, and the
whole stands two hundred and twelve feet
from the ground. From the top fine
view of the city may be had. The city
was first laid out in 1880, ON tract of
sixty acres of land. Within the present
boundaries are twelve and one-half square
miles of land and two of water.
Baltimore street, the principal thorough
fare running east and west, is a little over
four miles long, and is the dividing line
for numbering houses on streets running
north and south, while Jones Falls, Il
small stream in the centre of the city, is
the dividing line for numbering houses
east and west,
By reason of It's geographical situation
on the Atlantic coast, near Chesapeake
bay, as we'll rs by lis railroad connections
with the great west and south, it is the
chief city of Maryland. The striking
characteristics of the city are its bright
ness, clearness Of sky. blue water, active
harbor, numerous elegant churches and
the homclike, hospitable traits of its peo-
pie. Since 1865 over fifteen thousand
houses have been built, mostly over the
northwestern boundary. and closing
around Druid Hill Park, crossing some of
its highest elevations, one hundred and
ninety to two hundred and twenty feet
above tide water. Horse railways connect
the city and its suburbs. and afford rapid
and convenient modes Of reaching any
and every desired point.
Public squares provided with walks and
rustic seats, shade trees, grass plats and
springs of limpid water are plentifully
scattered throughout the city. Many of
these squares are without enclosure, and
it is an indication of the order of the in
habitants that flowers grow unmolested in
the open air. adding their fragrance to
the other attractions of the city's public
resorts.
| Among the most attractive of these
green spots may be mentioned Lafayette,
Madison, Harlem and Union squares, in
the northwest. For south Baltimore,
Broadway in the cast and Eutaw Place
northwest, are broad and most beautiful
ly paved avenues, parked in the centre
with grass, and adorned with flower beds,
rare marble vases with trailing vines and
growing plants, and fountains constantly
sending forth their feathery plumes.
The most notable localities are Federal
Hill and Fort McIIonry, the latter of
which possesses natural interest rs the
scene of the bombardment in 1914, when
the British land and naval forces We're
Irepulsed in their attack on Baltimore. 1t
was during this bombardment that Fran
els S. Key, a prisoner on II British vessel
OF the fort wrote the Star Spangled
Banner" which WAS published and sung
publicly in Baltimore IL few days after
ward, and soon became the national air.
Fort Mcllenry, originally IL brick fort,
has in later years been greatly strength
ened by earth works. 1t is now provided
with extensive modern barracks, heavy
guns, and garrisoned by several compa-
nies of artillery. The grounds are large
and handsome. Every Sunday evening
the band plays. and the public are admitted
to open air concerts. The fort is reached
by the ferry at the foot of Broadway.
OF the prominent public buildings the
City Hall, completed in 1875, deserves
, special attention. 1t is indeed IL marble
} palace. in the Renaissance style of archi-
, lecture, centrally located, and covering Il
block of ground. The cost of the pile,
including ground and furniture, was
S2,271, 1856. The structure is four stories
high, French roof, with iron dome, reach
} ing two hundred and sixty feet from the
, ground. A balcony two hundred and fifty
, feet from the street affords magnificent
g view of the city. A clock with four dias
= and bell weighing six thousand pounds
3 are in the dome, which is one hundred and
seventy feet in circumference. All the
g departments of the city government are
t gathered in the building.
Space will not admit of description o
} the numerous beautiful churches of the
, city, many of which are of white marble
Q others of different colorod stones.
, The First Presbyterian church. built by
the pastor, j. e. Backus, in memory O.
4 his deceased wife, is marvel of architec
, tural beauty. 1t is of brown stone, with
4 towers rising from the pavement, in grace
full lines. The spire is two hundred and
sixty eight feet high, and the side towers
seventy-eight and one hundred and twenty
eight feet high. Am told the cost of twas
S250,0OO.
: Mount Vernon NJ. Il. church is exceed
: ingly beautiful. Its spirc is nearly IL.
, lofty as the Washington monument. neal
r which it rises. The material isl dfferen
s colored stones, and the architecture strik
> ingly beautiful. The expense of it was
+ something over 100000.
s The last of the many public monument!
' of the city was that erected in 1875, by tn,
II public schools of Baltimore, to Edga
!. Allan Poe, the poet, whose remains ar,
t buried in the old Westminster Presbyteri
It an church yard. The grave is only few
J, feet from the church steps. The monu
@ ment is simply pedestal or die block
r with an ornamental cap, wholly OF mar
, BILE, resting on two marble slabs and
: granite base. A medallion portrait by tn,
= sculptor Vock is chiseled on the front o
;, the die block, and the inscription is simply
It Edgar Allan Poe: born July 90, 1919