When Baltimore's Black Population swelled from the
beginning of the great migration beginning at the turn of the 20th
Century, the City decided to erect strict boundaries of where Blacks
could live. The result was two districts (one in West Baltimore the
other in East Baltimore) where "colored housing" was permitted. The area
in West Baltimore became what is now known as Old West Baltimore.
Before the boundaries were drawn, the area was predominantly Black
already and although Whites did have the option of staying in Old West
Baltimore, they waived that right. The boundaries of Old West Baltimore
were Eutaw Place to the east, Baltimore St. to the south, North Avenue
to the north, and Fulton Avenue to the west. Thus Old West Baltimore was
born.
South and east of West Baltimore's Black
Neighborhoods in Bolton Hill and Hollins Market, there are still
relatively large White Populations living there which makes
the significance of Fulton Avenue that much greater. It seems that most
migration by Whites of all income levels went west of Fulton Avenue.
Working class Whites remained just west of Fulton Avenue in what is
today known as Greenlawn and Midtown Edmondson while more middle class
Whites opted for new "Daylight" Row Houses being built in Edmondson
Village. Jews in the area were still quite restricted as to where they
could move. Although they left Old West Baltimore, they took a more
northwest route to Easterwood Park, Mondawmin, Penn North, and
eventually to Park Heights and Forest Park. For the first half of the
20th century the western border of Baltimore's Black Ghetto remained
uncrossed. But it all started on Fulton Avenue.
By 1950, the White and Jewish Neighborhoods directly
west of Fulton Avenue had begun to lose population as suburban housing
became more available to Whites of all income levels. Baltimore's Black
Population had grown many times over due to the continuation of the
great migration and Soldiers returning from World War II. However, the
boundaries of Baltimore's Black Neighborhoods did not budge. This
resulted in serious over crowding and unsanitary living conditions east
of Fulton Avenue. Then one day in 1950, a Black Family moved into a
house on the western side of Fulton Avenue and what followed was a
demographic shift so dramatic and so fast that it defies logic. And it
all started on Fulton Avenue
Once that first Black Family moved across Fulton
Avenue, Baltimore turned into a chess board. Those playing chess were
Real Estate agents saw an opportunity to placate on the fears of the
still segregated Neighborhoods. At that point, Whites did not want
integration but Blacks could not continue living in overcrowded and
unsanitary conditions that was the order of the day in Old West
Baltimore. As a result, blockbusting occurred and within 20 years
all of the Neighborhoods west and northwest of Old West Baltimore went
from completely White to completely Black. And it all started with that
first family crossing Fulton Avenue. Would this have happened without
blockbusters? Yes, but I think it wouldn't have happened so fast and
Whites wouldn't have felt the urgency to sell low and Blacks could have
payed the same price for a house that Whites pay. Blockbusters became
VERY rich due to these circumstances. And it all started on Fulton
Avenue.
Today Fulton Avenue has seen better days. There are
boarded up row homes and vacant trash ridden lots throughout. However,
it is far from the worst street in Old West Baltimore. Given that Fulton
Avenue was ground zero in the rewrite of Baltimore's Demographics I
believe it should be designated as an Historic landmark. One great event
on Fulton Avenue was the restoration of the median that was the actual
demarcation line between the White and Black Neighborhoods. Fulton
Avenue's row homes must be rehabbed rather than demolished. There will
be new housing but that will be built because homes were already
demolished. I'm issuing an order that no further housing be
demolished New housing will be held to the same architectural standards
as existing homes so that new housing and existing housing can
not distinguished from one another.
It all started on Fulton Avenue, had that first
Black Family not crossed the median who knows how history will have
played out? Well, it's safe to say that Baltimore's Black Neighborhoods
will have expanded and these once White Neighborhoods would have
eventually become Black Neighborhoods but could the migration have gone
east into Bolton Hill? Or south into Hollins Market? Who knows? One
thing we do know is the facts and the fact is, it all started on Fulton
Avenue. And that concludes my series on Old West Baltimore
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11 comments:
Fulton Avenue is currently a part of the Old West Baltimore National Historic Register District. Are you suggesting that the street alone receive historic designation?
I'm suggesting that it receive special significance within the existing Old West Baltimore Historic Register. I suggest the same for Pennsylvania Avenue.
Is there an existing process for this?
I own a property on fulton ave and I would love this area to be designated as historic given the history. I am also intrigued by the idea of this block showcasing the historic value by preserving buildings and restoring. Can we create a petition and get signatures for this. I will buy another property on the block as well if so!!
Which hundred block is your property?
Interesting my siblings told me they lived on that Fulton st for 10years until they moved to north Baltimore I enjoyed reading about the street thanks for the article
I hope that Fulton Ave will be restored. I grew up at 1902 Fulton. Fulton Ave. was beautiful until The systematic drug plot was implemented to destroy black neighborhoods
all over the USA. My father was a carpenter (Winkey Home Improvement). Fulton was mostly home owners we lived there for 30 years.
The drugs started in 1980 and it has completely destroyed families, communities, housing and it continues to today. If the government would have left us alone. Baltimore would be a beautiful thriving city today. So Sad.
Thank you for sharing this history, my mother and numerous family members grew up here. My mother and others attended Western High School. Must have been a lovely place in those days, everyone looked out for each other.
I found your article about Fulton Ave. and very much enjoyed it. My father was pastor of Fulton Ave. Baptist Church1 N. Fulton Ave. from 1954 to 1971.
I also purchased a home on Fulton ave(800 block) a little over a year ago. What can I do to be of service
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