The Harlem of Annapolis

The Harlem of Annapolis. . , As a cultural center the "Old Fourth Ward" was called "the Harlem of Annapolis." Throughout the early 20th century--the Jazz Age (1890-1920), Prohibition (1919-1933), the Roaring Twenties (1920-1929), the Great Depression (1929-1939), the New Deal, (1934-1940), and the Second World War (1941-1945), community life flourished in the "Old Fourth Ward." In dance halls and hotels along Washington Street black musicians introduced new and popular jazz music., Neither home nor work, the Washington Hotel and other social centers welcomed people to mingle, relax and unwind. Saloons, and during Prohibition "speakeasys," rarely closed, and dance halls offered respite from the grinding poverty of the period. A lively theatrical culture was centered there and by the 1940s grew to include performances by some of the most celebrated black entertainers of the era. Ella Fitzgerald, Pearl Bailey, Cab Calloway, Duke Ellington and many others, delighted local residents and city visitors throughout the dark days of World War II and beyond., Yet throughout this period the "Old Fourth Ward" remained always a residential neighborhood. Parents, the Neighborhood Watch of the day, kept a sharp eye on street life. In the era before air-conditioning, residents sought relief from the head outdoors. Evenings saw neighbors seated on front steps of porches, children playing under the watchful eyes of adults, youngsters courting, and old folks philosophizing. Former residents of the "Old Fourth Ward" remember life there with nostalgia.,

"O'Brien's Alley was a family…where every parent in the community took part in your upbringing…you could NOT escape those eyes! On Sundays you could always smell hot rolls baking and fish frying." , Lt. Robert Beans, 2006

, Life in the Old Fourth Ward should not be romanticized. There was poverty, crime, vice, and substandard housing. There was also terrible injustice. The City Jail at 52 Calvert Street, now the Arundel Center, cast its dark shadow on December 21, 1906, when prisoner Henry Davis was seized by a mob and lynched., The 1950's began a new era for the entire community. Although the neighborhood continued to grow, many of the professionals left for larger homes and more suburban life in Parole., Although Urban Renewal in the 1960-70's took its toll on the buildings of this neighborhood, today the "Old Fourth Ward" survives as a distinctive Annapolis neighborhood. It is still anchored by its churches, its fraternal organizations, and the Stanton School, now the Stanton Community Center--saved from the wrecking ball by community action. Most of all, the "Old Fourth Ward" reflects the resilience of its residents who have endured and survived by drawing on the shared strength of friends and neighbors.,

"It's not where you live, but how you live." , Bertina Nick, Community Activist, 2004

, [Captions:] , The Old Fourth Ward 1940's jazz era comes to life again in this 32' exterior mural on the Stanton Community Center. Contemporary community figures, adult and children--mix here with musical celebrities who played the neighborhood clubs long ago. Shown in this excerpt are: (front row from left) Zastro Simms, Sally Beans, Robert Beans, Edna and Ricardo Queen; (middle row from left) Janice Hayes Williams dances with George Phelps, Leroy Evans, John Chambers, Samuel Gilmore, while Theophilus Babtiste, Norvain Sharps and Jack Johnson enjoy the jazz singer and band in the background, as Sheila Davis and Jean Naylor share a conversation, and Butch Queens stands on the far right., Corner of Northwest and Calvert Streets showing Alsop's Restaurant on the corner, the YMCA, formerly the USO on Northwest Street. MSA SC 1890-02-30149, Collection of the Maryland State Archives. The neighborhood welcomed service men and women with parades on West Street and gatherings at the USO during World War II. Unknown photographer, Sailors and Kids, YMCA Block Party, c. 1940-45. MSA SC 2140-1-1278, Collection of the Maryland State Archives., Before public recreation facilities were available, pick up street games delighted youngsters of all ages. Irving Ochs, African American Children Playing Basketball, c. 1955. MSA SC 140-1-403, Collection of the Maryland State Archives., Thomas Baden, Jr., Service Men and Women Marching on West Street, c. 1949. MSA SC 3544-1-04, Collection of the Maryland State Archives.