What should we do for our class project?

For our class project, I think we should do a mixture of things. I think creating a video blog would be a great way to have visual representation of the neighborhood as well as including information about the history. I think it would be the best way to represent the culture and history of the neighborhood. Some people like to have visuals, and I think a vlog can keep people attention longer then a written pamphlet. We could conduct interviews with many different people of the neighborhood, stall owner’s, business owners, and the people that live there. We could conduct it kind of like a tour of the neighborhood like we did with Curtis.

Hollins Market Tour reflection

Before our tour of Hollins Market, there was a lot I did not know. I though the market was 1 building, just a market, but it is an entire neighborhood. Our tour guide Curtis was extremely nice and well informed of the area. He spoke of some remolding of the area that I think would bring more modernism to the area, but the history of the area is rich, and intriguing as is. We ran into an older barber in the barber shop that had a ton of information about the history of the market, I think interviewing him about the history and community would be extremely beneficial for our project. My favorite part, as you probably already know, was the stables. I found it really fascinating that there was still a horse stable in the middle of the city for over 100 years. Not only was the stable still open but it was still running by the original family. Of course, the newest generation was the one running it, but the son was able to give us a lot of information about his family and stable history. I did not really like the puppetry building, I found it a little creepy and probably would never go for a show. The owner though seemed nice and had a lot of information about the history of the neighborhood. Both men would also probably be able to provide us a lot of information about the history of the community for our research purposes.  The market itself has been home to many families since its opening, there were 2 stalls in the market that had been there for well over 50 years and had stayed in the same family. For these family’s running a stall in the market isn’t just a job, it’s a legacy that has been passed down for generations. My favorite part was learning about how these stalls and the stable had been in the same family for generations. I find it really fascinating when a business stays in the same family for many generations, its not only a part of community history but a part of their family history as well. We have done one tour of the Hollins Market, but I would be interested in doing another now that I have had time to reflect on the area and think of more questions.

Hollins Market 1920-1930

Hollins Market was built in 1838 and did not receive any major renovations until almost 80 years later. March 1920, fire marshals had determined the Hollins Market roof to be made of asphalt-saturated felt and asphalt and conducted a test to determine the combustibility. Fire marshals recreated a miniature model of the roof and determined it to be extremely flammable. In August of 1920, Hollins Market finally received contract to replace its old deteriorating plaster ceilings after years of bits and pieces of plaster falling on patrons and in market stalls. The contract was awarded to Henry Bensel for $6,814, this covered the cost of replacing the ceilings with metal one that covered the entire interior. Late in 1922 the halls of Hollins Market had been deemed unsafe. Though the Market received a contract to have the ceilings replaced 2 years prior, they had yet to be replaced. The halls and celling were in such bad condition due to the basketball games being held there. July of 1923, Superintendent of markets, Henry E. Hones visited six markets, including Hollins Market, for sanitary inspections and found conditions to be greatly improving. He did find a few stalls that he ordered for improvements but did not feel the need to take legal action.

In September of 1923 patrons were writing letters to the editor of the Baltimore sun because the promises of a comfort station at the market still had not been met. By the following February, patrons and merchants of Hollins market were becoming outraged at the lack of attention paid to their market; other markets were receiving funds and keeping up the needs of the market. The patrons and merchants were demanding someone they could vote into office that would keep up on their needs at the market.  In the spring of 1924, Hollins markets had 6,000 stalls in 11 markets and seen more than one fourth of its stall holders in behind in rent and lacking licenses. Henry E. Hoenes, general superintendent of the markets, issued a notification for delinquents who hadn’t paid by May 1 to pay by the following Monday of have theirs licenses cancelled, and stall repossessed.

In August of 1929, Hollins markets received contracts to be painted inside and out. The money was awarded to Warren W. Haslett in the amount of $1,275. Previously laws had allowed the people 10 grace days in which to take out their licenses and pay their dues, but Hones had given them 30 days grace. An interesting even from this time period occurred in October 1929, when a couple was fined a jailed for public intoxication near Hollins market. The couple was grieving the recent loss of a son, they were fined a total of $31.90 but could not pay and went to jail in default. Though this event was not specifically related to Hollins Market, I find this information telling its time. The couple was only trying to grieve a great loss and were punished for their grief.

I think I would like to do a zine for our class project. I do better with writing and creating things then I do with talking. Plus I don't really like my voice on videos. I think a zine would let us show some artistic abilities and be more creative then a podcast.