1840s Carrollton Inn
Encyclopedia
The 1840s Carrollton Inn and Plaza, located in Baltimore
, Maryland
consists of two historic building
s and their complementary 1980 additions built to resemble the previous federal style buildings. The oldest of the row house buildings dates back to the late 18th century and anchors the east side of the block
containing the Carroll Mansion
(not part of the inn), the winter home of Charles Carroll of Carrollton
, signer of the Declaration of Independence.
These buildings and others were assembled by the City of Baltimore in the 1980s and became the Baltimore City Life Museums until its closure in 1997 due to financial issues. The 1840s Carrollton Inn opened in July, 2007 with 13 boutique rooms. Each room has whirlpool baths
, fireplace
s, antiques and decorator furnishings.
The main entrance to the building is through the historic doorway at 50 Albemarle. The home was bought by John Dalrymple from the heirs of George Davy, in 1796 for $3,300. Dalrymple was probably a principal in the construction of the remainder of the buildings on Lombard and Albemarle. Along with James Mosher, he was co-architect and builder of the First Presbyterian Church (1791) at Fayette and Guilford. The three story brick house retains it Flemish bond brick work and splayed brick lintels. One mantel is original to the house. A noteworthy feature is the huge fireplace in the basement which was used for cooking. This building was sold to John Hutchinson, a wheelwright
in the 1840s. Grocers and other businesses used the house until the last private owner, renting to a variety store, closed shop in 1983. After renovation by the Baltimore City Life Museums, The Hutchinson’s life was portrayed in living history in “The 1840s House.” The adjoining 1860 smaller house to the west features six over six wood windows and shuttered first floor windows set in segmented arches and was also used for living history on the first floor.
Though the remaining buildings were demolished by the City Life Museums for public safety, the architects chose to construct buildings close to the originals in exterior appearance. The new addition adjacent to the Carroll Mansion closely resembled an early 1900 photograph and housed the Center for Urban Archaeology
. The three buildings on Albemarle damaged by fire and demolished were rebuilt and housed the “Courtyard Gallery” and the museum offices.
In 1996 the Fava building, on the north side of the courtyard, was opened as the Morton K. Blaustein City Life Exhibition Center. Four floors of exhibits and galleries illustrated Baltimore’s distinct history and culture over three centuries. Its signature feature was the reuse of the cast iron facade of the 1869 G. Fava Fruit Company. Over 100 cast iron buildings existed in Baltimore before the Fire of 1904.
Today less than 12 remain. The Fava facade, Baltimore’s largest, stood until 1976 when it was condemned to make way for the Convention Center. Its reuse in the Blaustein City Life Exhibition Center won numerous awards.
The buildings were retained as city property until 2003 when the space was bought by the Pomykala family, who combined the row homes into the 1840s Carrollton Inn and created the 1840s Plaza. The Fava Building houses on the first three floors, Gardel’s Restaurant and Supper Club, noted for Latin dancing and night life in the after hours. The top floor with its panoramic views of Baltimore is home of the popular 1840s Ballroom, scene of numerous weddings, parties and conferences. The space contains a 90 foot mural wall of Baltimore life in the 1840s plus an English pub bar.
The gated courtyard gardens on the lower level create a promenade between the Fava Building and the Carroll Mansion. Designed to give a hint of the past, they include boxwood, flowers of the Carroll period, and a herb garden. Underneath the brick, where Charles Carroll of Carrollton’s stable was sited, is a hypocaust
. This, perhaps, was used to keep the water warm for the horses in the cold winters. The upper courtyard with its tall flowering trees and boxwood is enclosed by the 1840s Carrollton Inn.
In 2001, all of these buildings were added to the Baltimore City Landmark list as an expansion of the Carroll Mansion Landmark designation.
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
consists of two historic building
Building
In architecture, construction, engineering, real estate development and technology the word building may refer to one of the following:...
s and their complementary 1980 additions built to resemble the previous federal style buildings. The oldest of the row house buildings dates back to the late 18th century and anchors the east side of the block
City block
A city block, urban block or simply block is a central element of urban planning and urban design. A city block is the smallest area that is surrounded by streets. City blocks are the space for buildings within the street pattern of a city, they form the basic unit of a city's urban fabric...
containing the Carroll Mansion
Carroll Mansion
The Carroll Mansion is a historic building and museum located in Baltimore, Maryland, USA.-History:...
(not part of the inn), the winter home of Charles Carroll of Carrollton
Charles Carroll of Carrollton
Charles Carroll of Carrollton was a wealthy Maryland planter and an early advocate of independence from Great Britain. He served as a delegate to the Continental Congress and later as United States Senator for Maryland...
, signer of the Declaration of Independence.
United States Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was a statement adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, which announced that the thirteen American colonies then at war with Great Britain regarded themselves as independent states, and no longer a part of the British Empire. John Adams put forth a...
These buildings and others were assembled by the City of Baltimore in the 1980s and became the Baltimore City Life Museums until its closure in 1997 due to financial issues. The 1840s Carrollton Inn opened in July, 2007 with 13 boutique rooms. Each room has whirlpool baths
Hot tub
A hot tub is a large tub or small pool full of heated water and used for soaking, relaxation, massage, or hydrotherapy. In most cases, they have jets for massage purposes. Hot tubs are usually located outdoors, and are often sheltered for protection from the elements, as well as for privacy....
, fireplace
Fireplace
A fireplace is an architectural structure to contain a fire for heating and, especially historically, for cooking. A fire is contained in a firebox or firepit; a chimney or other flue allows gas and particulate exhaust to escape...
s, antiques and decorator furnishings.
The main entrance to the building is through the historic doorway at 50 Albemarle. The home was bought by John Dalrymple from the heirs of George Davy, in 1796 for $3,300. Dalrymple was probably a principal in the construction of the remainder of the buildings on Lombard and Albemarle. Along with James Mosher, he was co-architect and builder of the First Presbyterian Church (1791) at Fayette and Guilford. The three story brick house retains it Flemish bond brick work and splayed brick lintels. One mantel is original to the house. A noteworthy feature is the huge fireplace in the basement which was used for cooking. This building was sold to John Hutchinson, a wheelwright
Wheelwright
A wheelwright is a person who builds or repairs wheels. The word is the combination of "wheel" and the archaic word "wright", which comes from the Old English word "wryhta", meaning a worker or maker...
in the 1840s. Grocers and other businesses used the house until the last private owner, renting to a variety store, closed shop in 1983. After renovation by the Baltimore City Life Museums, The Hutchinson’s life was portrayed in living history in “The 1840s House.” The adjoining 1860 smaller house to the west features six over six wood windows and shuttered first floor windows set in segmented arches and was also used for living history on the first floor.
Though the remaining buildings were demolished by the City Life Museums for public safety, the architects chose to construct buildings close to the originals in exterior appearance. The new addition adjacent to the Carroll Mansion closely resembled an early 1900 photograph and housed the Center for Urban Archaeology
Archaeology
Archaeology, or archeology , is the study of human society, primarily through the recovery and analysis of the material culture and environmental data that they have left behind, which includes artifacts, architecture, biofacts and cultural landscapes...
. The three buildings on Albemarle damaged by fire and demolished were rebuilt and housed the “Courtyard Gallery” and the museum offices.
In 1996 the Fava building, on the north side of the courtyard, was opened as the Morton K. Blaustein City Life Exhibition Center. Four floors of exhibits and galleries illustrated Baltimore’s distinct history and culture over three centuries. Its signature feature was the reuse of the cast iron facade of the 1869 G. Fava Fruit Company. Over 100 cast iron buildings existed in Baltimore before the Fire of 1904.
Great Baltimore Fire
The Great Baltimore Fire raged in Baltimore, Maryland, United States, on Sunday, February 7, and Monday, February 8, 1904. 1,231 firefighters were required to bring the blaze under control...
Today less than 12 remain. The Fava facade, Baltimore’s largest, stood until 1976 when it was condemned to make way for the Convention Center. Its reuse in the Blaustein City Life Exhibition Center won numerous awards.
The buildings were retained as city property until 2003 when the space was bought by the Pomykala family, who combined the row homes into the 1840s Carrollton Inn and created the 1840s Plaza. The Fava Building houses on the first three floors, Gardel’s Restaurant and Supper Club, noted for Latin dancing and night life in the after hours. The top floor with its panoramic views of Baltimore is home of the popular 1840s Ballroom, scene of numerous weddings, parties and conferences. The space contains a 90 foot mural wall of Baltimore life in the 1840s plus an English pub bar.
The gated courtyard gardens on the lower level create a promenade between the Fava Building and the Carroll Mansion. Designed to give a hint of the past, they include boxwood, flowers of the Carroll period, and a herb garden. Underneath the brick, where Charles Carroll of Carrollton’s stable was sited, is a hypocaust
Hypocaust
A hypocaust was an ancient Roman system of underfloor heating, used to heat houses with hot air. The word derives from the Ancient Greek hypo meaning "under" and caust-, meaning "burnt"...
. This, perhaps, was used to keep the water warm for the horses in the cold winters. The upper courtyard with its tall flowering trees and boxwood is enclosed by the 1840s Carrollton Inn.
In 2001, all of these buildings were added to the Baltimore City Landmark list as an expansion of the Carroll Mansion Landmark designation.