Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-19
Fifty Years Ago
In The Star.


Fifty years ego the city Of Baltimore
was celebrating the 1S0th anniversary
OF its founding. The festivities began
on October IL and lasted for one week,
PsIt;mora,. and during that period
Yuh;Iaa devoted much space to
"uOAV' the various programs
which were presented, The feature
| which attracted most attention, how
ever, was the brilliant display Of iIlu-
mlnation along the main thorougflfareS
which ON the first day were the scene
Of the grand parade. In It's issue OF
October IL, 1850, The Star printed the
following account of the street scenes
In the morning hours Of the opening
day:
Baltimore commenced today the
celebration Of the settlement and found
ing Of the city $50 years ago. The sun
rose in cloudless sky, the haze Of an
in every respect the morning was
suspicious and the entire day proved
most favorable. At sunrise $50 guns
| were fired from the United States ships
Vandalia and KearsaTge, lying in the
harbor on Fort McHenry. The city in
every direction was dressed in holiday
attire, and the principal streets, en-
bracing the line of march, brilliant
with dags and streanerS and beautiful
banners. Before o'clock the streets
were Allied with people, and by every
space on Baltimore street and thu route
Of procession was occupied. Hundreds
Of platforms, many Of them seating sew
eral thousands Of persons, had been
erected at many points, and al were
crowded. It Is impossible to estimate
the number Of people Of every condi-
| ton, old and young, men, women and
children, who thronged the streets, the
balconies, windows and house tops for
miles, all aglow with excitement, en-
thusiasm and patriotism. The program
for this. the opening day Of the jubilee,
was grand procession TO illustrate his
tory and industry and the progress of
Baltimore in her life Of $50 years In all
branches Of science, Of industry and
trade"
The next day. October IL, 1880, The
Star printed the following description
Of the grand display Of illumination In
connection with the jubilee:
After the grand parade yesterday In
Baltimore, which was an effort worthy
OF the city, there was q magnificent IL
Elimination last night. The Gazette
says: Along Baltimore street the scene
has never been equaled In this city.
AAA0AS&lAS40 WO0O~
ward on the north side In a dense and
compact mass, while on the south pave
ment similar throng slowly wends to
the east, all casing upward with wonder
and pleasure depicted on their cOunte-
nances,s every feature of which is dis
tinctly visible as the advancing masses
progress westward, where the center Of
attraction finds q permanent location
near the arch Of the Shoe and Leather
Board Of Trade. The thousands cannot
md footing on the sidewalks and take
unbroken double line Of vehicles - all
laden with Spectators-they push on
with irresistible force until the desired
point OF vantage Is reached. Before
treversing this distance, however, cali
cium lights, side by side with their cleo
trio rival, contribute to the glare OF
thousands Of thousands of feet of gas
Jets, which proved q fascinating spec
tacle for those whose tardy footsteps
clogged the way Of the masses behind.
The Baltimore 81 Ohio Railroad and
Pennsylvania Railroad Buildings each
stand out in the glare of the electric
lights, while from the side streets the
spectators see double rows Of lights,
lanterns, ETC., which cast o dim glamour
over the waving decorations forming
the background. The Shoe and Leather
Board Of Trade arch Is solid mass Of
light, having q silvery tinge in the body,
with q bright edging on top Of blazing
gas jets. As seen from far and near,
the dome Of the City Hall presented
the most dazzling spectacle OF all. The
IL ribs extending upward from the base
to the top of the dome were covered
with jets, while around the top and base
were wreaths of flame. There were
2,l00 gas Jets In all, each Of the IL win
dows beneath the dome being also sur
mounted with Jets. The Washington
and Battle monuments were also bril-
Iiantiy illuminated with innumerable gas
Jets and attracted great deal Of al