January 3, 2018

Hello, 2018!

Please excuse the lack of Christmas and New Years greetings from me, and for my usual round up of the year’s favorites. The flu/cough combination has come down hard on me and many of my friends, and I spent the week between Christmas and New Years flat on my back, with Figue acting as my nursemaid. I must say that she makes an excellent warming pad. image

As you might imagine, my holidays were pretty dreary, but they were bracketed by fun meals with good friends, so that was good.

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When I was looking through my Instagram feed, three images in the past few weeks indicated to me that yes, I do indeed have a “type” that I like – in fireplaces! image

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A little project I am playing with is hunting up some of the early 1900’s public schools in Baltimore. There was a concerted effort to use quality architects for these buildings, and when I found a gorgeous building designed by the architects of my offices, I had to see if there were others. It’s been fun visiting sections of the city where I’ve never been before.

Aside from the completely inappropriate doors, this looks like an English country schoool. Love the copper cupola, too.image

Another set of bad doors, and a good cupola with copper lattice. image

I am really glad they are renovating this instead of tearing it down. image

Here’s another section of it, with Romanesque arches and griffons adorning the walls. image

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I like to have a yearly project, and I think I am going to continue the 2017 project of exploring my hometown. I got hold of the Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties and have been working my way through all 5,000 listed properties in Baltimore City alone! I whittled down the list to about 2100 buildings, and will be looking for them over the next year. I hope you will come along with me!image

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Finally, and better late than never, one of my favourite Christmas carols is “Oh Little Town of Bethlehem” and as I was leaving a party on Christmas eve, these dark and quiet city streets brought the song’s words to mind. image

Happy New Year, too!

3 comments:

  1. Hello Meg, Sorry that you haven;t been well. I hope you got all of that and that 2018 will be a healthy and a good year for you.

    Many of the older schools that I know of in Cleveland and environs have been destroyed; perhaps in the more deteriorated neighborhoods there are some older buildings left that they have not allocated money to replace, but I fear for them--the usual solution seems usually to tear down. A few schools have been converted into apartments, so at least the exteriors remain.
    --Jim

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  2. Glad you are on the mend. I love old schools. I want to go back to Yonkers, New York and see my old grade school P.S. 16. Pretty building and it had a lovely setting. Have a Happy and Healthy New Year.

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  3. Hope you feel better! Have a great 2018. Looking forward to your posts of Charm City.

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