On Saturday, April 20th, the New Auchentoroly Terrace Association and Baltimore Heritage co-hosted Auchentoroly by Foot. Over 50 residents and visitors participated in the walking tour about the history and future of Auchentoroly Terrace and Druid Hill Park. Community leaders, local historians, and resident artists spoke about the area’s development, Civil Rights legacies, artistic heritage, and the current transportation safety efforts. Featured speakers included New Auchentoroly Terrace Association President Ms. Barbara Anderson-Dandy, Mondawmin Neighborhood Improvement Association President Sandra Almond-Cooper, former CHAP commissioner and resident Donna Cypress, “The Mayor of Greater Mondawmin” Mr. Nathaniel Freeman, muralist Gary Mullen, and public artist, resident, and OSI Community Fellow Graham Coreil-Allen.
Ms. Barbara opened the tour and welcomed participants to historic Auchentoroly Terrace. Ms. Almond-Cooper and Ms. Cypress shared the history of former resident and Maryland’s first African American female Senator Verda Welcome. Ms. Cypress also shared the story of the first integrated tennis match held 1948 next to the Conservatory in Druid Hill Park. Coreil-Allen shared information about the Victorian-era architecture unique to Auchentoroly Terrace, including mansions and rowhouses built between 1876 to the 1920s. Mr. Freeman talked about the history of the neighborhood where he has lived since the the 1940s. Muralist Gary Mullen talked about his his process creating the 18 new mural panels along the wall at Fulton Avenue and Auchentoroly Terrace. Coreil-Allen also shared the history of the highways around Druid Hill Park and the TAP Druid Hillinitiative to improve access to Druid Hill Park while transforming surrounding highways into complete streets safe and accessible for all, including people on foot, bus, wheelchair, bicycle, and escooter.
Click here to download the full Auchentoroly by Foot historical narrative distributed on the tour.
Unless otherwise noted, all photos by Bryan O’Neill.