Y is for Y-Junction

Y is for Y-Junction or a “fork in the road”


Fork in the Road

– a perfect descriptor of my situation in trying to decide which “Y” town to write about.  Do I write about the obvious?  The ONLY town in Maryland beginning with the letter “Y”?  Or do I go against the norm?  The great New York Yankees manager Yogi Berra famously said, “When you come to a fork in the road, take it!”  So, I did…..

My decision involved two towns - Yarrowsburg and Wye Mills.  I know, I know…..Wye Mills begins with the letter “W.”  However, the word “Wye” sounds like the letter “Y” and pronounced like the word “why.”  Although Yarrowsburg fit my tiny town criteria (population 141) and is historically significant, no buildings, structures, events, or food choices of note were available.  Ultimately, I made the decision to write about Wye Mills. 

However, I would like to recognize Yarrowsburg as the sole area in Washington County named for an African-American - Polly Yarrow.  Polly was a highly regarded 19th-century midwife living nearby.  If you are interested in reading more about Polly and her family, James H. Johnson’s book From Slave Ship to Harvard is the true story of the six generations of an African-American family in Maryland, which is actually about Polly’s father-in-law - Yarrow Mamout.  In this book, Mr. Johnson traces Yarrow’s family from the colonial period and the American Revolution, through the Civil War, to Harvard, and finally today.

My route to Wye Mills was short
– less than 45 minutes.  Located on the Maryland’s Eastern Shore, Wye Mills is an unincorporated town located in Talbot County situated just 20 feet above sea level!  It is home to 400 people who continually keep a strong sense of the town’s past alive. 

The town of Wye Mills evolved from a mill town that supplied General George Washington’s troops at Valley Forge with ground wheat during the American Revolution.  How did Wye Mills get its name?  The name originated from the two grist mills and one sawmill originally located at this crossroads between Talbot and Queen Anne’s counties (only one grist mill now stands.)  In 1706, Queen Anne’s County was formed out of Talbot and Kent Counties, and the existing grist mill served as a primary survey point on the dividing line between 

Wye Grist Mill Marker

Talbot and the new county of Queen Anne’s.  Therefore, the mill straddles the county lines.  This mill is the Wye Mill, which has been in near constant operation since 1682.  More about the Wye Mill in a bit…..

I arrived in Wye Mills eager to work on my “To See” list.  Within a few minutes, I saw the Old Wye Church.  Since 1721, 

Old Wye Church

the Old Wye Church has been standing alongside the main road going through town.  Originally, it was part of St. Paul’s Parish in nearby Centreville as one of the thirteen Establishment Act parishes of 1692.  The present Wye Parish was created in 1859 out of the original St. Paul’s Parish. 

The Church was extensively renovated in 1854, and in 1947, restoration efforts began again with a service of rededication taking place on 13 July 1949.  Because of vestry notes from 1723 recording how the church appeared when it was built in 1721, more information was available for the Old Wye Church restoration than for any building in historic Colonial Williamsburg!  

Hanging Side Pulpit and Box Pews

The notes gave insight into the description of box pews, a hanging side pulpit, the reader’s and clerk’s desks, and many other details.  The Palladian window behind the altar was included in a sketch of the original interior.  Also included in the sketch was the Royal Arms on the gallery.  The Royal Arms is a feature of churches representing the monarch’s role as head of the Church of England.  The Arms could have been made in the form of a painting, embroidery, wood, stone, or iron.    

I reached the old church and found it to be elegant in its simplicity.  This still thriving, nearly 300 year old Episcopal church was very well-maintained.  However, before conducting a closer look at the historic sanctuary, I decided to take a short walk around the grounds admiring the calm, serene retreat and paying respect to those buried in the adjacent cemetery.  The entrance is actually at the church’s rear facing away from the main road and parking lot.  The view from the entrance was amazing!  There was a long brick walkway leading to a tranquil sitting area.  The area overlooked a wooden bridge crossing into an open meadow where a beautiful surprise awaited.

Waiting for me was a 5 ½ foot tall wooden Celtic cross.  After being mounted on its base, 

Celtic Cross

the cross rises 7 ½ feet above the ground, and is easily visible to everyone coming out of the church.  This particular cross has very special meaning to the church (and the town) as it was fashioned out of a piece of the Wye Oak.  You will figure out what I am talking about as you continue to read.   

Walking back towards the church, I was hoping (and praying) it was open.  As luck would have it, the door was open, so I went in and looked around.  The interior was absolutely beautiful.  As with the outside, the inside had that same simple elegance.  What instantly caught my eye were the box pews.  I had never seen these before and I absolutely loved the hinged doors.  However, I realized that some of the 

Altar

people sitting in these pews would have their backs to the altar.  I wondered if this was a concern to the parishioners.  If you have the time and you are interested in the fascinating history of pews, benches, and chairs in a church, please access this periodical.  An excerpt from page 271 of the publication addresses my concern:

Facing each other in a square box pew has the obvious disadvantage that some people have to turn their back on the [clergy], but much the same happens today in a secular context with the round-table seating arrangements we have at award ceremonies and business conferences, so perhaps it was not too disruptive. Nevertheless it incurred the displeasure of the Victorian church reformers, for all the obvious reasons.

The Old Wye Church is of the Georgian era (1714-1830) – a time when they used box pews.  

Box Pews and Royal Arms

The Victorian era (1837-1901) followed and it appears box pews were no longer desirable, hence the use of benches in present day churches.  

Looking around, I saw the spectacular Royal Arms located on the front of the gallery.  These Arms are made of carved oak, are the church’s original, and were enormous!  Additionally, the Old Wye Church followed the custom for the Royal Arms to be located at the west end of the church over the west door. Without a doubt, the Old Wye Church’s very presence 

Old Wye Church Royal Arms

speaks exclusively to tradition. 

The next stop on my list was to visit the historic site Wye Mills was named for – the Wye Grist Mill (history of the mill can be found here and here.)  The Wye Mill is the oldest surviving grist mill on the Eastern Shore, is Maryland’s oldest commercial structure in continuous use, and is the oldest continuously operating water powered grist mill in the United States.  

Wye Mill

As mentioned above, the Wye Mill has been grinding grain since 1682.  In addition to its mill operations, the mill houses a small museum. 

The mill was not operating nor was it open for touring – I was just a couple of months too early.  It is open from mid-May through mid-November.  There are also specific grinding days, as well.  However, there were a couple of other displays on the mill property to see.  One of the displays 

Turbines

was the turbines the mill once used.  The concept behind a turbine is very similar to that of a waterwheel, except a turbine spins around a vertical axis and is powered by water pressure rather than gravity.  In 1916, it was determined that (tidal) backwater in the tailrace restricted movement of the water wheel, so the wheel was removed and replaced with two turbines.  In 1918, the mill was sold and the new owner discontinued the use of the turbines.  It was found the abundant sand and gravel underlying the mill property and tailrace apparently clogged the turbines.  

Pair of Wye Mill's Burrstones

As a result, the new owner reinstalled the original steel wheel.  A pair of the mill's old “burrstones,” which worked with the turbines, was on display.  Once the turbines were removed, the stones were removed as well.

Another interesting display on the mill’s property was a replica of a typical Colonial-era “corn crib.” 

Corn Crib

The designated marker reads in part:

[This corn crib] was built as an Eagle Scout project in 2012 by Scott Bell.  It includes material reclaimed from a Colonial-era corn crib located on Kent Island, and is representative of what may have been used here at Wye Mill.  The granite blocks on which it rests are thought to be ballast from a 17th or 18^th [century] sailing vessel. The wide boards on the ends of the crib are typical of the work done by 18th and 19th century water-powered saw mills such as the one that was in operation on this site from the late 1700's until 1875.

Saving the best for last on the property, I walked over to the Wye Mill.  As I stood looking at the impressive structure and thinking of its historical significance, two things filled my mind –admiration and awe.  

Wye Mill Water Wheel

Although I wasn’t able to take a tour (today), research allowed me to arm myself with some of the mill’s information for when I return during milling season.  During the months the mill operates, the floodgate to the creek is opened and twice monthly the milling begins.  The giant water wheel turns, the stones grind, belts spin, gears turn, rafters and beams creak, and the wheat and corn are ground exactly the way millers did back in the 1600s – it’s a step back in time. 

The museum shows three different ways to grind corn.  The first way may have been an American Paleoindian approach.  You have two rocks, 

Wye Mill Water Wheel

put a piece of corn on one rock, and you pound it with the second rock.  The second way is as the Wye Mill does - stones move against each other grinding the corn, which is a technique used since Ancient Rome.  And finally, there is fun, more modern-day approach involving dried corn, a “candy machine” with grinders, and a quarter.  The “candy machine” is filled with dried corn and for a quarter you get to work the grinders and make your own meal.  The Wye Mill is a working piece of history I look forward to visiting in the near future.

From the mill, I wandered over to the Miller’s House located a few hundred feet away.  

Miller's House

This house dates back to 1740 and served as the residence for the miller.  Currently, the house is vacant and isn’t in the best condition.  Plans have been in the works to restore this house to its original beauty. 

Now, I would like to talk about a unique food item that has been a classic Mid-Atlantic tradition stemming back to the plantation era.  Am I talking about the Maryland Blue Crab?  No.  Natty Boh beer?  Again, no.  I am talking about the beaten biscuit.   Unfortunately, these biscuits are no longer commercially produced.  However, I would like to describe how they were made.  The cardiovascular workout experienced during the preparation of these biscuits is well-known.  

Beaten Biscuits

The dough is placed on a wooden slab and beaten for at least 30 minutes with an axe handle, a wooden club, a hammer, or a rolling pin.  Beaten biscuits are not leavened, meaning, yeast is not used, so you have to beat them in order to incorporate the air that a leavening agent would normally add.  In fact, a sign that the dough has been beaten long enough is that you can hear the air bubbles that have formed begin to pop.  Additionally, classic marks left by fork tines in the top of the biscuit allow the bread to cook properly as well as give its distinctive appearance.  The finished product is a golf ball sized biscuit, which could be kept for a long time due to their sturdy nature; hard and stiff on the outside, doughy and chewy on the inside. 

I mention the beaten biscuit, because Wye Mills holds the distinct honor of once housing the world’s only commercial source of beaten biscuits in Maryland - Orrell’s Maryland Beaten Biscuits.  Founded in 1935 by Ruth Orrell, this business became a way to earn extra money in order to send her son, Dick Orrell, to college.  She made the beaten biscuits out of her kitchen and her husband, Herman Orrell Jr., delivered the biscuits to customers on his milk route.  Over time, Orrell’s biscuits became so popular they were making more than 10,000 of the little gems per week.  In 1960, Ruth was 

Former Location of
Orrell's Maryland Beaten Biscuits

still using her original hammer and had thoughts about closing the business – she was tired.  It was then a Baltimore patron made her a machine that mimicked the action of a hammer, so the business continued.  Unfortunately, the business finally had to close its doors in late 2013 with the death of Dick Orrell.  It had been in continuous operation out of the same Orrell kitchen for close to 80 years with every single biscuit made by hand. 

I read these beaten biscuits did not go "stale."  Instead they "dry up," which was a 10 day process.  Even then the biscuits were said to have several culinary lives left.  They could be pulverized in a food processor and put in a meatloaf, or used as breading for pork chops or chicken.  You could even make pancakes by mixing a cup of the ground-up biscuit crumbs with an egg, milk, oil and baking powder.  Apparently, they were very good.

Courtesy of Pinterest

By now you are probably asking for the recipe because you are craving a good old-fashioned upper body workout, right?  Unfortunately, some things are still kept secret.  The recipe was handed down through the Orrell family for many generations, and although the business is closed, family members will still not share the coveted recipe.  However, I am providing a similar recipe for Maryland Beaten Biscuits in case you would like to try your hand at making them.  The most important thing to remember about making beaten biscuits is the longer you beat the dough, the better the biscuit. 

Speaking of biscuits, I was hungry for lunch.  However, Wye Mills is not known for their commerce.  The one store the town had is now a residence.  Knowing this, I thought to pack a lunch and decided to head over to Wye Landing so I could eat by the water.  Wye Landing is a public boat launch for access to 

Wye Landing

the Chesapeake Bay for local boaters.  There is also a public park with picnic tables.  I decided to park in the lot leading to the boat launch as it was closest to the water.  I was also the only one there, so I had the quiet, peaceful view of the water, sun, trees, and birds all to myself.  It was the perfect spot to spend an afternoon.

Much as I would have loved to spend all afternoon at the landing, I needed to continue working on my "To See" list.

Schoolhouse

I began driving to the Wye Oak State Park.  This 29 acre State park protects the nearby stream valley from development and includes the Wye Oak Schoolhouse.  This is a small, 1 ½ story brick structure, which has been furnished and restored to its status as a colonial period one-room schoolhouse.  The building is recorded as the second oldest existing schoolhouse in Talbot County, Maryland.  In 1952, The Queen Anne Garden Club restored this little house strengthening the foundation, repairing windowpanes, and laying a new walkway.  They also restored the interior furnishing it with a period piece

Inside of Schoolhouse

schoolmaster’s desk and stool, a long pine table and benches, and a dunce stool.

The schoolhouse is not the only item of interest in this park - it sits in quiet memory next to an area where a giant once stood.  The giant I am referring to is The Wye Oak, which was declared Maryland’s honorary State tree in 1941.  This tree was the largest White Oak in the United States.  Sprouting in the 1500s, it was more than 460 years old, measured 31 feet, 8 inches in circumference, was 96 feet tall, and had a crown spread of 119 feet covering nearly 1/3 acre.  

Postcard of the Wye Oak

Tragically, the tree was destroyed by a severe thunderstorm on 6 June 2002.  It is believed that the acorn that became this tree germinated around the year 1540!  The Wye Oak was still bearing a maturing crop of acorns when it was toppled. 
Per wiki article:

Upon its falling, immediate efforts were made to salvage and preserve the tree's remains. 

Pieces of the tree that had fallen in previous years had been used to sculpt works such as the statue of two children planting a tree located in the Tawes State Office Building in Annapolis.  A very large section of the lost tree became a new desk for the Maryland governor's office.  Wood was also distributed to some 40 artists and craftspersons who have used the tree's remains to create carvings, sculptures, oil paintings, a 3-dimensional collage, furnishings, and serving pieces.

Remember I mentioned the Celtic cross at the Old Wye Church?  Here is a very interesting article about the history and the dedication of this cross.  The Wye Oak will definitely not be forgotten!

In 2012, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) began offering the Wye Oak’s descendent seedlings for purchase.  

Pavilion with Section of Wye Oak

Thousands of Wye Oak offspring have already been planted not only across Maryland, but around the United States. The seedlings come with a Certificate of Authenticity and a history of the tree.  Without a doubt, there is a strong desire for this beloved tree’s history to live on.

The Wye Oak State Park has a beautiful pavilion, which memorializes the Wye Oak.  The marquee is located behind the area the massive 

Section of Wye Oak

tree once stood and pays an amazing tribute to a symbol of Maryland’s pre-colonial past.  On display is a section of the tree’s trunk 8 ½ feet tall, is roughly 8 feet at its widest point, and weighs about 5 or 6 tons.  Cuts were made in the trunk that allows visitors to see the rings, which tells the tree’s age.  This article describes how a crew was able to move this chunk of the tree, from the Maryland DNR at nearby Kent Island, back to its original home in Wye Mills. 

Tragic as this loss was for many Marylanders, all is not forgotten.  

Wye Oak Sapling

On 6 June 2006 (exactly four years after the catastrophic event,) one of the Wye Tree’s saplings was planted in a special ceremony in the remains of the trunk of the original tree.  It would be nice if the original tree’s longevity was passed down to all of its saplings!

With my “To See” list complete, I decided to get back on the road to drive home.  My visit to Wye Mills was an unexpected pleasure.  Just as in Robert Frost’s poem, I chose “The Road Not Taken” when deciding which of two towns to write about, and I found my choice to be a very good decision. 

It made all the difference…….

Double Crested Cormorants
 



 

 

 

 

X is for Xploring

X is for “X”ploring things beginning with the letter X

Baltimore

located in Baltimore.  Unfortunately, with the number of Maryland’s incorporated and unincorporated towns totaling well over 600, not one town’s name starts with the letter X.  I decided to take a 30 minute drive to the State’s largest city (Baltimore) and begin my quest to find as many things as possible starting with the letter X.  This was definitely going to be a lot of fun! 

Our Playground at Stadium Place

My first stop was to see one of two xylophones NOT affiliated with an existing orchestra in the City.  Both xylophones were located in areas easily accessible to the public for their viewing and playing pleasure.  The first xylophone was located in “Our Playground at Stadium Place.”  This playground is located on the site of the former Memorial Stadium - the previous home to baseball’s Baltimore Orioles and NFL’s Baltimore Colts.  The communities around Memorial Stadium felt very strongly that some of the space should remain open to the public after the historical stadium was torn down in 2001.  Following its demolition, the 33-acre site became home to a mixed-use development named Stadium Place, which included plans for a playground.  In 2005, the playground was born on the place many Baltimoreans, Orioles fans, and Colts fans hold near and dear to their hearts.  But what makes this playground even more special?  This impressive playground was 100 percent built by local volunteers.  Even more amazing, the playground’s design was drawn after hearing input from the community’s children! 

The playground is a miniature town built of recycled plastic "lumber.”  It has a pirate’s ship, a theater, a shopping village, towers, swings, and jungle gyms galore.  

Pirate's Ship

At the original groundbreaking ceremony, there was even a volcano sculpture from which a local 3^rd grader gave an impressive speech dedicating the playground.  The playground was an instant success with families in surrounding neighborhoods, so when vandals burned down the park in September 2008 kids (and parents) who loved this maze of brightly painted wacky structures were devastated.  In May 2009, this community raised thousands of dollars and organized thousands of volunteers to rebuild the playground - over a nine day period.  It was restored to be even better than the original park.

I arrived at the incredible playground not sure what I was looking for xylophone-wise.  

Xylophone

I knew of the ones with colored metal bars children play with and I knew of the ones the “pros” play in orchestras.  What kind of xylophone was I going to find in an outdoor playground?  The playground was just opening when I got there and I asked the caretaker where the xylophone was located.  He took me over to the pirate’s ship where I found the xylophone mounted to the side of the bow.  Honestly, the instrument perched there was not what I expected and was actually pretty interesting.  Unlike the xylophones 

Xylophone's Mallet

I was familiar with, there was not one mallet to strike each bar – each bar had its own attached mallet.  I attempted to play a tune, but sadly, it did not result in a standing ovation.   With my orchestral dreams crushed, I decided to search for the next “X” item on my list.  I mentioned earlier there were two xylophones on my list – you will just have to wait for the second one. 

The current St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church was not far from my location, so I ventured over there.  I say current, because the church is actually situated on its fourth location.  In 1863, the church purchased a nearby building and it was dedicated in 1864.  In 1932, the church moved again to another location in Baltimore.  Finally, in 1968, the church was moved a fourth and final time to its present site.  Here is some history about the church. 

The historic St. Francis Xavier Church was the first Catholic Church in the United States established for African-Americans and began in the basement of St. Mary’s Seminary Chapel in Baltimore.  

St. Mary's Seminary Chapel

Since slavery prohibited African-Americans from receiving a formal education, many learned to read and write in this Catholic Church school.  The school was taught by the Oblate Sisters, who were the first religious order of Black Catholic nuns. 

What became of St. Francis Xavier’s previous locations?  St. Mary’s Seminary Chapel still stands and was designated a National Historic Landmark on 11 November 1971.  The building purchased in 1863 is currently the East Baltimore 

St. Francis Xavier Church

Deliverance Church.  There may have once been a structure where the church relocated to in 1932, but the building no longer stands - a parking garage took its place.  The existing church is absolutely beautiful and pays homage to St. Francis Xavier’s past congregations.  I found the church to be extremely significant in stature and stands boldly against the Baltimore skyline.  The main thoroughfare in front of the church is named “E. Oliver Street.”  However, due to the enormous impact the church has had on the City and in history, one block of the

street along the church frontage has been permanently renamed “St. Francis Xavier Way.”

Hunger was slowing approaching so I began my hunt for XS – a bar/fusion/breakfast/brunch restaurant, which opened in 2004.  The restaurant takes up all four levels of a Brownstone and the inside is beautiful.  There is exposed brick wall and art work on each floor, which really gives the place character.  The kitchen and a bar are located on the first floor along with a café style seating area.  The second floor has about 

XS - Middle Brownstone

three or four tables and the third floor is larger still with another bar and many more tables.  The fourth floor has more seating and can also be used for party events.  It is all very open in that you can see over the balconies and can hear the DJ from every floor. 

The restaurant is “Seat Yourself.”  I decided to climb the stairs to check out the third floor as the few tables on the second floor were full.  Fun fact:  you have to walk up a lot of stairs to get to the seating areas and unfortunately, there isn’t an elevator to assist.  Therefore, XS is definitely not for people who have trouble with stairs.  

Inside XS - 3rd Floor

As I perused the menu, I found XS offers the most eclectic range of food.  Anything can be ordered at any time of day.  Sushi for breakfast?  Chicken and waffles for dinner?  You betcha!  A waiter soon came over and took my order.  I settled on sushi – the “Monster Roll.”  As I waited for my meal, I watched my waiter in admiration as he ran the stairs and probably prayed his customers didn’t forget to let him know they wanted, say, extra ginger for their sushi!  

I didn’t have to wait long at all – lunch had arrived and then sadly, it was gone.  The Monster Roll was beyond amazing and I was extremely happy with my pick.  I am really looking forward to sampling more of their 

Lunch - Monster Roll

menu items in future visits.  Overall, XS is a very interesting place that is worth a look – if not for the food, for the scenery alone.  With my hunger satisfied, I left XS and resumed my search for more Xs on my “To See” list. 

The next X item on my list was a form of art called xylography, which is a type of relief printing with wood.  An artist carves an image into the surface of a block of wood.  This leaves the printing parts level with the surface of the wood while removing the non-printing parts.  Depending on the origination of the art, this art is also called woodblock (primarily found in Asia) or woodcut (primarily found in Europe.)

Woodblock prints can be dated all the way back to the first half of the first century.  Its origins mostly lie in China, South Korea, and Japan and are highly associated 

Courtesy of Walters Art Museum
"Woman in Blue Combing Her Hair"
(Woodblock)

with the Buddhist religion.  The earliest woodblocks were used not on paper, but on cloth. 

Woodcut is the oldest technique used for old master prints in Europe and was developed as far back as 1400.  Woodcuts were used to produce block-books particularly from the 14th to the 16th century.  Both text and illustration were printed by making impressions of an entire page from a single piece of wood.  In Europe, this method for creating books was phased out in favor of the movable type printing press, though woodcuts were still used for illustrations for many years. 

The biggest distinctions between the woodblock and the woodcut are the type of ink used and the way it is applied to the wood.  Woodblocks are typically produced using water-based inks with specific brushes and even specific brush strokes, whereas woodcut artists often use oil based inks that are primarily applied to the wood with a small roller called a brayer.  

Examples of both types of xylography can be found in the Walters Art Museum (woodblock) and the Baltimore Museum of Art (woodcut.)  

Courtesy of Baltimore Museum of Art
"Baltimore.1992."
(Woodcut)

Unfortunately, visits to each of the facilities resulted in disappointment.  Hashiguchi Goyo’s woodblock print, “Woman in Blue Combing Her Hair” is at the Walters Art Museum, but the gallery is closed to the public due to renovation.  Bobby Donovan’s woodcut print, “Baltimore.  1992.” was resting in the museum’s archives and I was unable to see that, as well.  I was a bit frustrated, but decided I would not let this setback ruin my day.  So, I happily engaged myself in the hunt for more of Baltimore’s X things. 

My next stop was to see that second xylophone I spoke about earlier.  On the way to its location, I occasionally drove past what appeared to be vacant buildings. 

Some of these buildings had large Xs on the outside of their walls/doors.  What were these Xs and why were they there?  Research told me the large X means that firefighters should not enter the building if responding to a fire as the building is structurally unsound.  It is a universal sign known to public safety officials as a deterrent to entry.  However, if an X goes up on a building, it doesn’t mean it cannot come down.  Once the structural problems are fixed, the X can be removed.  The buildings I passed with the large Xs appeared to be sound; however, looks can be deceiving.  As much as I wanted to get a closer look, I thought it would just be better to continue on my journey to find that second xylophone.  

The second xylophone was located in Pierce’s Park along the waterfront in Baltimore.  An excerpt taken from Jennifer Walker’s, “Moon Baltimore” describes the park:

“This new green space is part public art, part children’s playground and it’s ideally situated in the thick of downtown right between the Inner Harbor and Harbor East.  Named after a local businessman Pierce John Flanigan III, 

Pierce's Park Marker

Pierce’s Park was built with sustainability in mind; thus there are indigenous trees, native plants, and three rain gardens to educate children about the benefits of capturing runoff rainwater.  But naturally, kids find more pleasure in the park’s stainless steel xylophone known as the “musical fence,” [an] above ground tunnel made of interwoven branches, and sculptures designed for play, such as the huge stainless steel cornucopia for them to run through.”

The one acre park was dedicated in 2012 and is maintained by the Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore, which is focused on developing a “Healthy Harbor.”  Events are held throughout the year to include:  yoga in the park, food trucks, crafts, festivals, performances by local bands, and many other fun activities for the entire family.   

Xylophone

This little park reminded me a lot of Central Park in New York – only on a MUCH smaller scale! 

It didn’t take too long to locate the xylophone.  This particular xylophone was an upright xylophone with several mallets in two buckets located below.  The mallets had long cables affixed to them, which were attached to a permanent stake in the ground to prevent them from becoming lost.  Unfortunately, people weren’t

Mallet

stopping dead in their tracks as I played this xylophone, either.  So, I retired my mallet and walked away with the disappointing realization that my playing percussion instruments professionally (or even out in public) was not meant to be!

The last X thing in Baltimore I want to tell you about is actually not in Baltimore at all.  It has to do with Article XI of the 1867 Maryland Constitution.  In 1796, Baltimore City became an incorporated municipality within Baltimore County.  As a governmental unit, the City separated from Baltimore County in 1851.  On 17 August 1867, Maryland’s fourth constitution was signed and adopted.  Added was Article XI, which established the City of Baltimore as its own entity providing it with a Mayor, a City Council, and providing several additional sub-articles within Article XI regarding the operation of the City.  Additionally, the City of Baltimore is the only city in Maryland that is governed by its own Article in the Maryland Constitution. 

As I was constructing my list of Baltimore’s X things, I wondered where the original 1867 Constitution 

Original 1867 Maryland Constitution

was kept.  Further investigative research led me to contacting the Maryland Department of Legislative Services in Annapolis.  I was told the original document was kept in the Collection of Maryland State Archives in Annapolis in a temperature controlled room.  With an appointment, patrons can visit to view scans of the original constitution with the assistance of the Reference Archivist during open hours.

When I called to make an appointment I spoke to Maria, the Director of Special Collections and Conservation.  She would be the Archivist who would show the 1867 Constitution to me.  I told her I was hoping to see Article XI and the reason behind the request.  She told me she would have the document out of the vault and on a table waiting for me.  However, it wouldn’t be a scan.  I was going to see the original 1867 document!  Would it be framed under glass?  Not at all!  

Article XI (City of Baltimore)
Original 1867 Maryland Constitution

Article XI of the 1867 Constitution would be taken out of its folder and proudly displayed on the table in all its glory.  I could take as many pictures as I wanted, but the flash would have to be turned off.  I could even touch the document, if I wanted!  I was glad I called the week before my visit, because there is a process an Archivist has to go through in order to show rare original documents and that could take some time.  Requests must be made at various levels to obtain permission to release the documents for viewing.  All four of the Maryland Constitutions are incredibly large.  Because of their volume, each page is cataloged / numbered for reference.  A couple of days prior to my visit, Maria sent me copies of pages she thought would fulfill my request.  This way, she wouldn’t request incorrect pages from the vault. Once she received my verification, she submitted the request. 

The night prior to my appointment, I could hardly sleep.  This was just too exciting – I was going to be INCHES from the Maryland Constitution!  

I didn't even have to zoom in for this shot!

So, it didn’t surprise me at all that I was ½ hour early for my appointment with Maria.  I signed in with the building’s receptionist and Maria was paged.  Minutes later, she escorted me to the room where an important part of Maryland’s past awaited my arrival.  And there they were!  Three large folders holding several pages roughly 20” x 24” in size were just waiting to be unwrapped.  This was going to be like Christmas!!!! 

Maria opened the first folder, which housed the cover page of the 1867 Maryland Constitution.  She explained it would probably be a nice touch to begin my picture series with a picture of this – it definitely was.  

Signature Page
Article XI

Article XI (City of Baltimore) was in the next folder followed by the signature pages of the 1867 Maryland Constitution in the third.  I spent roughly 15 extremely memorable minutes talking with Maria and taking pictures of this amazing piece of history.  She mentioned that if anyone wanted to see documents like this to definitely contact her.  I told her I would pass the word, thanked Maria for her valuable time, signed out of the building, and began my drive home.  This experience is something I will never forget – it definitely left me awestruck! 

As I drove home, I looked back on the day and how much fun I had during what I call “my treasure hunt.”  It was a day of discovery and everything I unearthed had its own unique story. 

Now, you know I couldn’t write an article covering “X” things in Baltimore without citing the adage, “X Marks the Spot.”
So, here ya go!  A poem written by Amber Reynolds & Edward Glassman entitled, “X Marks the Spot” is a perfect descriptor of the day’s journey through Baltimore:

Life is too short to stay in one place.

Travel as far and wide as possible.

Let your heart wander and your mind hope for the unknown.  Leave familiarity behind and let yourself explore the extraordinary.

Acquire something new from every place and don’t forget to leave something good behind.

Wherever you choose to go, go with all your heart.

Don’t look back, just go.

Oh, and did I forget to mention?.........