From Bricks and Pianos to Football

From Bricks and Pianos to Football. Gwynns Falls Trail. , More than a million bricks were used to construct M&T Bank Stadium in 1998. This reflects not only Maryland’s architectural heritage, but also the history of the site, a one-time colonial brickyard. Alexander Russell produced bricks here, using clay from the banks of the Middle Branch, for some of Baltimore’s earliest landmark buildings, like Johns Hopkins Hospital and the Shot Tower. Russell Street on the west side of Camden Yards is named for him. In the northwest corner, the J.S. Berry Brick Factory manufactured firebricks for ovens and kilns. By the 1870s, the clay was depleted and the brickyards closed. From many years, railroads and the Knabe Piano Factory, which ran two blocks along S. Eutaw Street, dominated the industrial complex.

[Captions:] , Before the football stadium was built, the site was occupied at different time by Knabe Piano Factory and Sweetheart Cup Company, among others.

Note the brick construction (right) of M&T Bank Stadium , 1 Oriole Park , 2 the B&O Warehouse , 3 and Camden Station , 4 William Knabe opened his piano factory (below, right) in 1855. Knabe pianos were known for their fine craftsmanship and melodious tone. Camden Station (below) was constructed in the 1850’s, using bricks from the yard where the football stadium now stands.