Inner Harbor, Baltimore City, Maryland - personal photograph
I started wondering, did any of our ancestors lived in close proximity of the disaster? Did they have to evacuate? Could they see the flames?
To discover possible answers, created these maps. Found ancestor addresses on R.L. Polk & Co.'s Baltimore City directory for 1904. This directory is located on Internet Archive. The red circle on the maps represent the fire zone.
Map of Baltimore, 1905 - Historic maps of Baltimore City and Area - map-maker.org
This map represents my son-in-law's ancestors. His family resided west of the Jones Falls (blue line separating west and east side of fire zone)
As you can see, these families resided close to the "danger zone". Most likely could see the flames several blocks away. Smoke would be rising, elevating the feelings of fear.
- Orange circle - Frederick N. Walther (2nd great-grandfather) and family. Born 12/23/1847. About 57 years old at time of fire. Occupation, candy-maker. Residing 1322 Columbia Avenue.
- Purple circle - Francis (Frank) Wissel (3rd great-grandfather) and family. Born 03/1836. About 68 years old at time of fire. Occupation, paperhanger (owned business). Residing 501 W. Saratoga Street.
- Brown circle - Gottlieb Karcher (2nd great-grandfather) and family. Born 02/1857. About 47 years old at time of fire. Occupation, harness maker. Residing 247 N. Schroeder Street.
The Wissel family was closest to the fire. How frighting it must have been, seeing the flames and smoke. Inching steadily towards their home.
- Purple circle - Charles F. Wakefield, Sr. (great-grandfather) and family. Born 10/26/1868. About 36 years old at time of fire. Occupation, trimmer. Residing 608 N. Caslte Street.
- Brown circle - Catherine Judd Eck (2nd great-grand aunt) and family. Born 01/02/1858. About 46 years old at time of fire. Residing 106 N. Ann Street.
- Green circle - Anna E. Gaphardt (grandmother) and family. Born 12/12/1901. About 3 years old at time of fire. Residing 608 Montford Avenue.
Accounts detail the fire processing in their direction. Heading towards the Jones Falls (blue line separating west and east side of fire zone).
From Digital Maryland: Great Fire of 1904 we learn the following:
"Monday, 12 noon
...The only hope of saving East Baltimore was the Jones Falls. Thus a fire department stand was established along the east side of the Falls. Starting around 11 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. nine engines from New York City, along with two more engines from Wilmington, were placed along the Jones Falls. A total of 37 steam fire engines took water from the Falls from Baltimore Street south and established a wall of water to halt the advancing flames. "
It worked! The fire was stopped! Prevented from heading to a heavily populated part of Baltimore. Just think, if not for this action, our family history could have been greatly altered.
"Monday, 12 noon
...The only hope of saving East Baltimore was the Jones Falls. Thus a fire department stand was established along the east side of the Falls. Starting around 11 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. nine engines from New York City, along with two more engines from Wilmington, were placed along the Jones Falls. A total of 37 steam fire engines took water from the Falls from Baltimore Street south and established a wall of water to halt the advancing flames. "
It worked! The fire was stopped! Prevented from heading to a heavily populated part of Baltimore. Just think, if not for this action, our family history could have been greatly altered.
Did your ancestor reside in Baltimore during the "Great Fire"? Any other historical event in your family history? Map it!
Helpful sites for discovering disasters that may have occurred where and when your ancestors were alive. Also, finding old maps.
GenDisasters.com
Disasters: Natural & Man-Made on Cyndi's List
Old Maps Online
David Rumsey Map Collection
Helpful sites for discovering disasters that may have occurred where and when your ancestors were alive. Also, finding old maps.
GenDisasters.com
Disasters: Natural & Man-Made on Cyndi's List
Old Maps Online
David Rumsey Map Collection
Additional reading about the 1904 Baltimore Fire:
Baltimore Fire 1904 - Baltimore City Police History
Great Baltimore Fire of 1904 - Digital Maryland
Aftermath of the Great Baltimore Fire of 1904 - Digital Maryland
An excellent way to visualize your ancestors in relationship to a major event. Well done!
ReplyDeleteVirginia, thanks for leaving a comment on the post. I'm a visual person, seeing these maps and the proximity of our ancestors makes more of an impact then reading the facts.
DeleteInteresting. The map really illustrates how close some of my ancestors lived to each other. Guess that's not much of a surprise since there was much less mobility in those days... You were probably going to end up meeting your spouse in your neighborhood.
ReplyDeleteYes, before mobility the marriage opportunists were limited to the area you resided. Either the next street or farm down the road. Also, if you were of a specific religion or ethnicity. Glad you read the post. I found it interesting how close your ancestors were to the fire. Interestingly, one of them went on to be a fireman.
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