Ghosts of Engraved Inset Street Signs

"Engraved Street Markers"
All Photos by Adam Paul
with MAJOR informational contributions by Daniel Gibbs

In a world where street signs are most prominently placed for the visibility of motorists, the concept of a marker visible almost exclusively by pedestrians pretty much seems inane. However, such markers were often used throughout many parts of the city in the early days, and a number of these markers still persist, occasionally telling of former street names no longer used. Others indicate the original marketing name of the block of real estate to which they are inset. While a number of these have vanished or quite possibly been covered by formstone or retail fronts, a handful of these are still plainly visible to take the observer back to the slower paced era when they debuted.

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At Park Avenue and McMechen Street in Bolton Hill lies this marker for 1534 Beethoven Terrace, the original name of this block of Apartments. Today, the building is known as "The Beethoven"

On the Southwest corner of Carey and Lexington Streets lies this inset engraving of Waverly Terrace for this unique block of homes.

Just one block South of Waverley Terrace, on the opposite side of Carey Street lies this marker for "Linden Place"
A few blocks to the West on Fulton Avenue at Baltimore is another faded marker on this abandoned building denoting Chesapeake Terrace. This is likely the most endangered of all the markers.

This stone inset into the Northwest Corner of Charles and 23rd Streets must have been designed with the tall person in mind, as it takes a healthy zoom to make it out. Interestingly, note the sharp lingustic original name of 23rd Street.

Shirk Street is not the only neat old street name in the old Charles Village, as this marker for Maryland Avenue and Brown (22nd) Street attests.
Bolton Hill is home to this street marker at the Western Corner of Wilson and Bolton Streets. Unlike the Charles Village specimens, neither of these streets carries a different name today.

The art of engraved signs is not dead, as this example in newly redone rowhomes at Fulton and Lafayette Avenues attests.
Downtown is also home to an engraved Street marker, seen here on the Northeast Corner of Howard and Baltimore Streets.

For years it was fondly called the "Book Block," but as this marker on the Northwest corner of Maryland and 25th Streets, this distinctive block was once called "Huntingdon Place" as the Diagonal street through Remington once officially curved.
Another neat stone at Lexington and Arch Streets reads "1880 RIEMAN BLOCK." 1880 in this case is the date, and NOT the block number, unlike the Beethoven. Just below this marker lies a WAY COOL painted advertisement.

Noting the other old terraces, one wonders wehter this old application of brass lettering at Calvert and Eager Streets refers to street or building name. Regardless, it seems that this refers to the old spelling "BELVIDERE" instead of "BELVEDERE."

Raised letter signs have their vintage charms as well, such as these on the Provident Bank Building and Baltimore Trust Building.

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At Park Avenue and McMechen Street in Bolton Hill lies this marker for 1534 Beethoven Terrace, the original name of this block of Apartments. Today, the building is known as "The Beethoven"
On the Southwest corner of Carey and Lexington Streets lies this inset engraving of Waverly Terrace for this unique block of homes.
Just one block South of Waverley Terrace, on the opposite side of Carey Street lies this marker for "Linden Place"	A few blocks to the West on Fulton Avenue at Baltimore is another faded marker on this abandoned building denoting Chesapeake Terrace. This is likely the most endangered of all the markers.

	This stone inset into the Northwest Corner of Charles and 23rd Streets must have been designed with the tall person in mind, as it takes a healthy zoom to make it out. Interestingly, note the sharp lingustic original name of 23rd Street.
Shirk Street is not the only neat old street name in the old Charles Village, as this marker for Maryland Avenue and Brown (22nd) Street attests.	Bolton Hill is home to this street marker at the Western Corner of Wilson and Bolton Streets. Unlike the Charles Village specimens, neither of these streets carries a different name today.
The art of engraved signs is not dead, as this example in newly redone rowhomes at Fulton and Lafayette Avenues attests.	Downtown is also home to an engraved Street marker, seen here on the Northeast Corner of Howard and Baltimore Streets.
For years it was fondly called the "Book Block," but as this marker on the Northwest corner of Maryland and 25th Streets, this distinctive block was once called "Huntingdon Place" as the Diagonal street through Remington once officially curved.	Another neat stone at Lexington and Arch Streets reads "1880 RIEMAN BLOCK." 1880 in this case is the date, and NOT the block number, unlike the Beethoven. Just below this marker lies a WAY COOL painted advertisement.