Baltimore invents red lining
Baltimore City Council enacts the first racial zoning ordinance explicitly barring African Americans from moving into majority-white blocks.
1900 – 1940
Crisfield: Seafood Capital of the World
Drawing on the bounty of the Chesapeake Bay, Crisfield, with a population of 25,000, becomes the 2nd largest and southernmost community in Maryland in 1904.
Fannie May Salter, last female lighthouse keeper
Fannie May Salter (1882-1966) takes over the duties of the Turkey Point Point lighthouse keeper in 1925 upon her husband’s sudden death. She retires in 1947 as the last female lighthouse keeper in the country.
Mathew Henson reaches North Pole
After 18 years of attempts, the Robert Peary Expedition claims to be at the North Pole. Matthew Henson (1866-1955) is the first in the party to reach the Pole.
First bookmobile is in Washington County
The Washington County Free Library in Hagerstown, second oldest in the U.S., sends out America’s first bookmobile to remote parts of the county. The wagon, with 2500 books on board, is pulled by horses, Black Beauty and Dandy, and driven by Joshua Thomas, the library janitor.
Gustav Grunn, German immigrant, develops Old Bay seasoning
Gustav Brunn, German immigrant, rescued from a concentration camp, arrives in Baltimore with a spice grinder. He develops a popular seafood seasoning mix, names it after a Chespeake Bay steamer, and sells the formula for Old Bay to McCormick & Co.
Marylanders dominate baseball’s third base
William “Judy” Johnson finishing his 17th baseball season with the Negro League, is named the League’s best 3rd baseman. Brooks Robinson, finishing 23 seasons with the Orioles, is named the best 3rd baseman in Major League history.
Greenbelt, largest and most successful of the New Deal towns
Greenbelt opens and becomes the largest and most successful of New Deal “greenbelt” towns. A model for others, it continues practice of segregated housing.
Billie Holiday, iconic jazz vocalist
Billie Holliday (born Eleanora Fagan in Baltimore) revolutionizes the style and approach to jazz singing. She releases her first hit at 17, “Riffin’ the Scotch”, recorded with Benny Goodman.
Lillie May Carroll Jackson is the mother of the Civil Rights Movement
Lillie Mae Carroll Jackson, Mother of the Civil Rights Movement, with daughter Juanita, begins “Buy Where You Work” Campaign. She makes Baltimore branch of the NAACP the largest and most effective.
