There was once a time when overhead Street Lights all carried a decorative, often ornate character to them. However, the period following World War II began to witness a overall loss of this interesting charachter. Most lights were replaced with the trademark standard fixtures that dominate the country to this day, heads similar to those seen on the crafts from "The War of the Worlds" (wonder how many children had nightmares about being attacked by the new streetlights!?!). Other varieties appeared in the some of the quainter areas of the city that bore slight resemblances to earlier designs, but were still unmistakably modern in overall appearance, particularly with regard to the light source itself.Here in 2001, the area has witnessed some reversion to older designs in spots (covered on a separate page), but a handful of older designs linger. In fact, many of the replacement designs are becoming increasingly scarce as rust begins to affect them. Long gone are the classics such as the "Bishop's Crooks" and the like, but if you know where to look (up), you might be suprised to see a ghost or two of the area's past illuminating your way, or at least watching guard over the scene in a silent, dark reserve:
SOME BACKGROUND:
GAS LIGHTS
Among the earliest of lights of the 20th Century are Gas Lights. These fixtures carry a deeply sentimental flavor to them, and were still common well into the 1950's. The last one was ceremoniosly snuffed at the corner of Fawn Street and Slemmer's Alley in 1957, finally bringing to a close this chapter of the city's street illumination story - almost. A couple of gas wicked lights have returned to offer gentle illumination to Camden Street near Camden Station, (and Baltimore and Commerce Streets) offering an interesting glimpse into these lost days.
Vintage Gas Lights of Old,...
...and Gas Lights of today.INCANDESCENTS
Beginning in about 1911, Incandescent lights began to appear across the city, in their first attempt to replace the old Gas burning fixtures. These came in various fixture sizes, and were often somewhat ornate in their decoration. Here are two examples:
Bishop's Crook (Gooseneck) lights were more common on more major thorofares, and often carried intricate design work along with them.
Alley Lights, such as this one, were more common on back ways, and quiet residential streets.Another of the interesting designs that debuted in 1924 was the Novalux light. This design carried a classic look to it, and wound up being the predominant light spotted on the streets of Baltimore by the 1940's. While most were painted green, others were attired in a "Barber Pole" scheme of green and white in a swirling diagonal pattern from top to bottom. These lights were still very much in evidence into the 1960's, but were rapidly replaced around 1967 with overhead and pedestal mounted vapor lights which tried to replicate the classic look of these originals.
FLOURESCENTS AND VAPOR LIGHTS
To streetlight afficianados, these lights generally spelled the end of THE era of classic Streetlights. Among the earlier designs of this genre were the "Spherolites" - an acorn shaped head that still retained an interesting look to them. These debuted in the mid 1950's, along with the earliest versions of the streamlined heads. Flourescent heads debuted in 1955 along Lexington Street, and carried yet another lamp head variety.
Spherolites could be also spotted in a variety that mimiced the older Bishop's Crook "Gooseneck" style lights.Still for most of the conversions, the lamp of choice were the standard vapor type heads that still remain most common today. These were supplemented by the pedestal type lights that replaced the Novalux designs. The last of the classic designs in major service appear to be a set of "Gooseneck" lights that illuminated Mount Royal Avenue until about 1977, when they were replaced by modern (and ugly) boxy style lights. The era of the classic streetlamp had apparently vanished, almost....
MANY THANKS TO JAMES GENTHNER, BUSTER HUGHES, AND KEVIN MUELLER FOR INFORMATION AND LEADS RECEIVED IN MAKING THIS PAGE COMPLETE.
SURVIVORS
CLICK ON ANY PHOTO FOR A LARGER, HIGH QUALITY VIEW
Perhaps among the most interesting, and forgotten streetlights of the city are two "Novalux" survivors from an era long gone. This pole, and a more decrepit companion, sit outside the walls of a Naval Reverse Center at Fort McHenry. Neither illuminate, but are still fascinating reminders of days past.
Two more Novaluxes of a different pedestal design can be found on Reisterstown Road at Auchentroly Terrace, at the front of the Druid Park Apartments. The lights, combined with the neatly trimmed hedge, give a stately feel to the place.
For a real glimpse into the past, one only need to head into Druid Hill Park, along the long winding road looping along the South lawn of the Mansion House, where numerous Novalux fixtures persist. The diffusers have long since been replaced with translucent plastic, but still retain the vintage feel of the Novalux design.
Many of the Druid Hill Novalux lights are missing diffusers and bulbs. However, this sole example lacks diffuser, but still proudly shows the bare bulb beneath.
Still another Novalux survivor persists at a private residence in the 4600 Block of Keswick Road. One would be hard pressed to guess the pole style!
Who says the city can't care for and restore vintage lights. These entry lights at North and Mount Royal Avenues are proof that classics can persist in this day and age.
A gem waiting to be discovered. This light marks the entry to the 1917 vintage Ellicott Driveway at Frederick Road. The pedestal and lamp housing are still in decent shape, and would look quite nice if given the love of the lights at Mount Royal Avenue.
Among the more interesting lights in service are these which reside in Druid Hill Park in the vicinity of the Zoo. The interesting scalloped heads, and the Acorn shaped diffusers (complete with dead bugs inside) are a nice touch. These may be an updated version of the spherolites.
Survival of the Spherolite. This trooper persists in a small courtyard in St. Patrick's Church property, located on the Northeast corner of Broadway and Bank Street, and is believed to be the only one of its kind in the city.
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CORRECTION -----------------> WAS believed to be the only one of its kind in the city!
Proving that you should never leave any stone unturned is this Spherolite found at Bayard and Hamburg Streets in Southwest Baltimore. Interestingly, it's only 2 blocks from where I work!
Another interesting light type that sees use on the Baltimore Streetcar Museum property are these cluster lamps which once lit many terminal and carhouse properties in Baltimore.
Something of a cross between trolley relic and streetlight relic are these fixtures on Eastern Avenue between Haven Street and Clinton Street. Thirty-five old span wire poles were outfitted with globe lights for unique illumination. Most of these are intact and still working.
When the City converted the last gas fixtures to Incandescent lights in 1957, the residents of tiny Tyson Street insisited on the retention of the original fixtures - the result, three were retained and converted to incandescent power - only one still survives in original form today however.
FRANKENLIGHT: This fixture near Read Street on Tyson was one of the original preseved conversions to incandescent fixtures. At some point near 1990, the lighting fixture was damaged or vandalized, resulting in the application of a modern "throwback" style used throughout Bolton Hill. The pole, however, tells the true origin of the fixture.
Not necessarily survivors, but instead special lights that were reinstalled are these two gas lights gracing the front of Camden Station. This and another lamp at Baltimore and Holliday are of the original shell design, yet use a triplicate burning wick design for the inner works.
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NEW - The Baltimore and Holliday light, mounted on a Baltimore fluted pole.
This overhead light on Green Meadow Parkway appears to be of an earlier vintage, judging from the somewhat boxier design of the fixture head. A similar one rests on Barre Street in Washington Village, among few other places.
Getting rarer as they become less standard are mercury-vapor alley lights of the bucket design, as seen here along a path in Roland Park.
STREETLIGHT HEAVENDespite the heavy conversion by the city of virtually all of its older style lights to modern or throwback styles, there is one place in the area where the true originals continue to function. Streetlight heaven can be found by taking Riverside Drive in Southeast Baltimore County to Tin Mill Road, following this to Penwood, and proceeding across H Street. A sample of the findings follows:
AMAZING!!! Three ornate bracket style lamps survive within the abandoned grid of the milltown, almost certainly making them the only survivors in the area. The most frightening thing is that a Scrapyard exists only a few hundred yards away!
Reflecting the evolution of overhead lamps is this guy-wired Mercury specimen off of 5th Street.
Another interesting peanut shaped specimen near 5th Street.
An abandoned parking lot contains these helmeted beauties. Note the ballasts mounted on the poles.
Yet another interesting light type is this one, seen on a parking lot.
The curved finishes to this mercury light's mounting give clear hints to it's incandescent past!
KNOW THE WHEREABOUTS OF SOME VINTAGE LIGHTS?!? CONTACT US!!!
