Open house at the gargoyle home Baltimore, Maryland

The“Gargoyle House”in Historic Bolton Hill

About three years ago I was invited to a good friends “Open House” her and her husband has just bought a Historic 1880's Mansion known as the “Gargoyle House” because of the funny looking carved stone creatures that hang from the top of the home. We got a chance to see the home before restoration which is always a good thing. The “Gargoyle House” is located in lovely Historic Bolton Hill the first neighborhood I moved to when I first lived in Baltimore right after Hurricane Katrina. This beautiful neighborhood reminded me a lot of New Orleans architecture. As some of the homes have cast iron galleries on the fronts.

Bolton Hill is rich in Historic homes the neighborhood is a remarkably intact mid to late 19th century district listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is an urban neighborhood of tranquil, tree-lined streets lined with an outstanding collection of restored mid to late 19th century three-story and four-story townhouses, urban mansions, churches and public buildings. At the time this neighborhood was built Baltimore was a very rich city.

Carved stone Gargoyle looking down from the home

Founded in 1729, Baltimore is the largest U.S. seaport in the Mid-Atlantic and is situated closer to major Midwestern markets than any other major seaport on the East Coast. Because of this grain coming from the West came to Baltimore’s port first to be exported passing up other big city’s like Philadelphia and New York city.    Baltimore's Inner Harbor was once the second leading port of entry for immigrants to the United States and a major manufacturing center.

The“Gargoyle House”in Historic Bolton Hill

Baltimore grew swiftly in the 18th century as a granary for sugar-producing colonies in the Caribbean. The profit from sugar encouraged the cultivation of cane and the importation of food. The Caribbean was so busy growing sugar and little of anything else the grain grown in American was imported into the Caribbean to feed the people and was greatly depended on at this time making Baltimore a very wealthy city.

The front door of The“Gargoyle House”in Historic Bolton Hill

A distinctive local culture started to take shape, and a unique skyline peppered with churches and monuments developed. Baltimore acquired its moniker, "The Monumental City" after an 1827 visit to Baltimore by President John Quincy Adams. At an evening function Adams gave the following toast: "Baltimore: the Monumental City- May the days of her safety be as prosperous and happy, as the days of her dangers have been trying and triumphant."

Baltimore exhibits examples from each period of architecture over more than two centuries, and work from many famous architects such as Benjamin Latrobe, George A. Frederick, John Russell Pope, Mies Van Der Rohe and I. M. Pei.

Front parlor of the home. My favorite thing in the home was this American carved Greek Revival Classical gilt wood mirror over the carved marble mantel.

. My favorite thing in the home was this American carved Greek Revival Classical gilt wood mirror

Detail of carved Neoclassical carving on top of the mirror

Ornate Plaster ceiling medallion

Wood and tile fireplace in the Dinning room

Ornate Plaster ceiling medallion with faces looking down in the library

Original Victorian wallpaper in the Library

Bay window in the Library with original stain glass   

Bay window in the Library with original stain glass   

Ornate Plaster ceiling medallion with faces looking down

Newel post light fixture original to the home    

Wood and tile fireplace in the Dinning room

Detail of Wood and tile fireplace in the Dinning room

Detail of Wood and tile fireplace in the Dinning room

Ornate Plaster ceiling medallion in Dinning room

Front parlor

Front parlor

The food was good

19^th century writing on plaster in a upstairs bedroom left by the people that put up the original wallpaper. Some complaining about low payment to wallpaper the room.  Found under layers of old wallpaper

19^th century writing on plaster in a upstairs bedroom left by the people that put up the original wallpaper. Some complaining about low payment to wallpaper the room.  Found under layers of old wallpaper

late 19th century oil portrait

Bedroom wall in silk

One of the many bedrooms

Newel post light fixture original to the home    

Newel post light fixture original to the home    

My friend Christina showing the original wallpaper in the library  

The Kitchen

Friends in the parlor

Front Hall

Friends in the parlor

The original basement floor

The stone walls of the basement

Alcove in basement

What was amazing was the basement was full of late 19^th century trunks belong to the original family that built the home.

What was amazing was the basement was full of late 19^th century trunks belong to the original family that built the home.

One could see the amazing places this family visited a hundred years ago  

This case/trunk was made in France

This case/trunk was made in France

What was amazing was the basement was full of late 19^th century trunks belong to the original family that built the home.