Pratt I (18BC91) and Pratt II (18BC92)
Site History
This project was undertaken prior to the construction of the Maryland Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. Located north of the central business district, Block 564 is bounded by Cathedral Avenue, West Franklin Street, Park Avenue and Mulberry Street.
History
Structures occupying the five lots on the corner of Block 564 were originally built in the second quarter of the 19th century, between circa 1828 and 1846. Four of the buildings were originally used as residences but were re-purposed in the 20th century as commercial enterprises.
By the Civil War, the Cathedral Hill area had become an upper middle class residential district. The neighborhood was also the location of the St. Mary's Female Orphan Asylum (107-111 West Franklin Street). After the War, commercial and professional development altered the character of the neighborhood; commercial development continued to expand after the 1904 fire.
Archaeological Investigations
Documentary research was undertaken by Goodwin and Associates on five lots on the corner of Block 564. Phase IB testing was undertaken in the rear yards of lots 113 and 115 West Franklin Street.
Archaeological testing took the form of backhoe trenches excavated in the rear yards in 30 cm levels, or following natural stratigraphy if possible. Three trenches were excavated in each of the rear yards. Testing revealed two privy vaults that had been constructed in the 19th century. Excavation revealed that the fill of both features dated to the 20th century. One intact deposit of cultural remains dating from the first quarter of the 20th century was discovered at 115 West Franklin Street, but no other deposits that were intact were revealed through excavation.
18BC91 (Pratt I) – A single course wide brick oval shaped privy pit was found on the lot associated with 113 West Franklin Street. This privy had been emptied of its contents, filled with clean fill and capped with several slabs of granite.
18BC92 (Pratt II) – Feature 3, a brick-lined privy, had been cleaned out and filled with architectural debris that had been placed there late in the 19th century (Goodwin et al 1991:42). A layer of intact midden or debris located above Feature 2 (a brick cap to the privy) contained artifacts from the occupancy of Dr. Alexis B. McGlannon. McGlannon and his wife Sally purchased the house at 115 West Franklin Street in 1918. McGlannon was a professor of surgery at the University of Maryland Medical School. McGlannon died in 1940 and his widow lived on the property until 1943. Feature 2 was a brick cap that was placed over the privy in the early 20th century.
The two sites were deemed to not contain anything further of archaeological significance.
References
1991 Phase IA Historical Background Study and Phase IB Archeological Investigations of the Maryland Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Baltimore, Maryland. R. Christopher Goodwin and Associates, Inc. Frederick, MD. On file at JPPM.
