Albemarle Rowhouse (18BC49)

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 18BC49.

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.

18BC49 (46 Albemarle Street)

Next door, at 46 Albemarle Street's two story rowhouse (street address 33 Albemarle Street) was Mary Haley, who was the widow of a sea captain, Henry Grant. She was assigned the lot in 1810 and had improved the lot by 1813 (Akerson 1989:10). Mary Haley died in 1833 at the age of 88 and was shown as a native of Ennis, County Clare, Ireland, but who had resided for many years in Baltimore.

Peter La Font, a gentleman and accountant, was assigned the property in 1826. He died in 1833. Widow Madame Mary La Font lived at this address for another 20 years until 1853 (Comer n.d.). The property was assessed in 1837 as a lot, a two-story brick dwelling, some plate, furniture and an enslaved woman named Elizabeth (35 years old). The 1850 census shows La Font as a 71-year old female with an assessed real estate value of $1500 (Akerson 1989:10). A cameo and a French coin were found in the basement at 46 Albemarle Street. Grocer John H. Dittman lived there from 1856-1859.

Both houses (44 and 46 Albemarle Street) were later taken over by a German family headed by Frederik Fehte, who operated several businesses from these structures — tailor, coach outfitter, barber and blacksmith, as well as residing in them. The Baltimore Central Building Association No. 3 assigned the property to Fehte in 1864. Artifacts reflective of sewing trades were found in the cellar of the house.

Archaeology

Archaeological testing at 46 Albemarle was conducted in the basement of the rowhouse and its backyard. Feature 1, a brick pad measuring 5.3 x 3.6 ft inside the cellar, may have been associated with the 1860s blacksmithing operation. Artifacts found in association with the pad dated it to the mid to late 19th century. At the rear of the property was a smaller brick building (F1/7 ER 6/32), also containing a brick floor and a deep, round pit (Feature 3/ER 10) that was likely a privy (Weeks 1989:5). Also examined was a wood lined pit (Feature 6) filled with coal ash and stone.

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)