Albemarle Rowhouse (18BC48)

The Albemarle Rowhouse project was one of the first projects undertaken by the BCUA in 1984 and 1985. Excavations were undertaken in the basements of five 19th-century rowhouses and the rear yards of a middle and upper-class neighborhood in the Jonestown section of Baltimore. This project area is in Baltimore City Block 1358 just east of Jones Falls. This summary discusses the archaeological background of the entire project, which excavated three sites (18BC48, 49 and 50) and then more specifically what was found at 18BC48.

Historical Research

Historical research for the houses at 44-50 Albemarle Street was conducted in advance of archaeological work (Akerson 1989). The first taxable improvements on this block occurred as early as 1795. The rate of improvements increased in the first quarter of the 19th century, with block residents consisting largely of business owners and their families (Akerson 1989:iii). These residents appeared to be wealthy and the archaeological findings reflect this. The second quarter of the 19th century saw increasing density of housing and by the second half of the century, the block residents were largely German, Irish, Russian and Italian immigrants. The rowhouses went from being only residences to serving both commercial and residential functions. Commercial uses of the structures in the late 19th and early 20th centuries included a bar, stores and a plumber.

The lots adjacent to the corner of King George (Lombard) and Albemarle Streets which came to form 44, 46, 48 and 50 Albemarle Street started out as two large lots numbered 196 and 197. Lot 197, at the corner of Lombard and Albemarle was assigned to George Davey in 1782 and was improved by the year 1795 (Akerson 1989). It was listed as 34 Albemarle Street. The lot is shown as having a three-story brick house under construction in George Davey's 1795 will. John Dalrymple purchased the lot at public auction in 1796 and the lot remained in that family until 1829 (Akerson 1989:8). The lot was subdivided in 1834.

Lot 196, directly to the north, was still vacant in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, but in the hands of the heirs of Edward Oldham. By 1813, Lot 196 had been subdivided into two equal size lots, which were numbered 32 (44) and 33 (46) Albemarle Street (i.e. 18BC48 and 18BC49 respectively).

Archaeological Investigations (Entire Project)

The BCUA conducted archaeological excavations on this block in the spring and summer of 1984 and August of 1985 (Akerson 1989:1, Weber n.d.). Although archival research was completed on the rowhouses that make up these three sites, there does not appear to be any final archaeological report that has been prepared. An undated and uncredited summary of field findings was prepared, most likely by Carmen Weber, and filed with records of the BCUA.

The investigations were conducted in four phases, but are summarized together here. In the first phase, three 10 x 10 ft units were placed (one in each of the three rowhouse cellars at 44, 46 and 48 Albemarle Streets) in possible chimney areas. The units were subdivided into four 5 x 5 ft units. The goal of digging these units was to discover kitchen activities in each cellar. Additionally, in July of 1984, a series of test trenches were placed through the 3 properties' rear yards in order to discover features and understand stratigraphy. Several pit features at 18BC498 and 18BC49 were excavated, as well as exploration of an arched brick and stone vault discovered at 18BC50. In the third phase of work (August and September of 1984), examination of the yard features at 18BC48, 49 and 50 continued, as well as examination of features (at 18BC50) discovered in association with 802 and 804 East Lombard Street. The fourth phase of work in August of 1985 involved the excavation of Features 15 and 18 at 18BC50. No final report of this work appeared to have been completed and this report has been generated from reading a number of documents contained in the BCUA files for this project.

18BC48 (44 Albemarle Street)

The two-story brick row house at 44 Albemarle Street (street address 32 Albemarle Street) had been built around 1810 as the household of a wealthy individual. Hannah Fearson at 44 Albemarle Street lived there from 1835 to 1855. Fearson was widowed in 1838, when her husband, Captain Jesse Fearson died (Akerson 1989:8). By the time the census was taken in 1850, 83 year old Hannah had Irish and German boarders or servants as part of her household, as well as a 40 year old daughter, also named Hannah (Akerson 1989:8). Excavations in her basement kitchen showed a heavy reliance on mutton, suggested to be tied to her Irish background.

The property (as well as 46 Albemarle Street) was assigned to August Fehte in 1865. Fehte was a coach trimmer and lived at the house at 44 Albemarle Street. In the 1870 Census, Fehte was shown as a 39 year old white male working in a carriage factory. He lived there with his wife and four children (Akerson 1989:9), as well as a cigar maker and another man who were possible tenants. The Fehte family stayed at this location until possibly 1904, with businesses as varied as blacksmith, barber, and picture framer.

Archaeology

Testing at 44 Albemarle Street included excavations within the backyard and the basement of the rowhouse. The 10 x 10 ft until placed against the west (rear) wall of the rowhouse in the basement uncovered traces of the base of a chimney and an associated cooking area. Several successive soil floor layers were sealed under a concrete floor. The artifacts found in these layers consisted primarily of faunal bone, but also included coarse earthenwares, Chinese porcelain, creamware and pearlware, indicating that food preparation was taking place in the cellar.

The rear part of the yard showed the remains of two brick foundations for outbuildings and a possible privy or well (Weeks 1989:5). The smaller of the two buildings (Feature 4) measured 5 x 5 ft and was identified as a privy. It was excavated and contained artifacts dating to the mid to late 19th century. A ciruclar features that appeared to be a privy/well (Feature 5) was in the northwest corners of the back of the lot. No testing took place on the privy/well. The larger structure (Feature 2?/ER29) was located at the southwest corner of the main house.

BCUA also has a summary of the identification of wood samples taken, and a quantitative comparison of the faunal and floral remains from the features known as the privy, cistern, and stable. I could find no reference to a stable building in any other of the documents in the files.

(Written by Patricia Samford)