Until the late 1800s, this was a rural part of northern Anne Arundel County. As the area industrialized, a working class community moved into rows of townhouses (Baltimoreans call these rowhouses) and the area was annexed by Baltimore City along with neighboring Brooklyn and Curtis Bay in 1919. By the 1960s and 1970s it had become apparent that residents were suffering long term illnesses, such as cancer, with greater frequency than the general population. Community activists sought to have the government condemn the properties and move the residents away. Of course, there were some who wanted to stay. However, by 2000, the community of about 300 residents had been largely removed. The houses and related residential service buildings have been demolished over the past five years. It is now envisioned as a brownfields development site. For more information see: http://www.sierraclub.org/environmental_justice/stories/maryland.asp http://www.citypaper.com/news/story.asp?id=4927 http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1525/is_5_84/ai_62896175 http://www.bcpl.net/~jgreenst/bcb_hist/comphist.html

Submitted by: Alan Engel