Annapolis Roads on Chesapeake Bay 1925–1934 - Part 3 :The Club and the Golf Course

So we finish with part three of the requiem... The golf course, one of the few classic links courses available to the public, now to be private fields for a private school. Rather incomplete, but I felt I should publish this now in some form... More to write and revise later, now time to mourn the loss of a historical treasure...

Annapolis Roads on Chesapeake Bay

1925 – 1934

The Club

View from the Severn River from Washingtonian Magazine May 1929

                 Plans for a “Golf and Yacht Club” at Annapolis Roads first began to formally come together in 1928. A fund was established by a group of Washington and Maryland men, to be managed by the Munsey Trust Company, for the financing of the a golf course and an “excellent anchorage for water craft, up to 18 feet draft” to provide “the best there is in golf and water sports within an hour’s ride of [Washington].”ⁱ Eventually the club was organized as two separate clubs, The Beach and Tennis Club and The Annapolis Roads Golf Club, though joint memberships were available. The Beach and Tennis Club leased the clubhouse known as the “Beach and Tennis Club” and The Annapolis Roads Golf Club leased the “Tavern” or golf clubhouse and the golf course from the Annapolis Roads Company.ⁱⁱ By the summer of 1928, the club was open.



                  From their start, the clubs were a destination for much of Washington Society. In its first summer of operation, the Beach and Tennis Club was a favorite spot for the Austrian Ambassador and Mme. Prochnik, entertaining there almost every Sunday.ⁱⁱⁱ Even Gov. Albert C. Ritchie became an early member of the Beach and Tennis Club.^iv The club was host to a number of socialites and debutantes from Baltimore, Washington and Annapolis, senior Naval officers, Congressmen and Senators, the Spanish Ambassador Senor Don Alejandro Padilla y Bell, the Turkish Ambassador Ahmed Moutar Bey, the Bolivian Minister, the Brazilian Ambassador, the Minister of Persia, the Swiss Minister and other foreign diplomats.^v Saturday night dinner dances were a regular feature of the social life of the club. By December 1929, the Golf Club was so successful that limits were placed on the number of members.^vi

                  On July 1, 1934, the Annapolis Roads Club reopened under new management.^xii With the foreclosure of the property by the Equitable Company, the club was then leased to the New Annapolis Roads Club, Inc, headed by S. G. Loeffler and managed by Edward I Farr.^xiii All life memberships and other holdings under the old club were eliminated with the property transfer.^xiv Rates for membership were also reduced at this time. The club remained private until 1951 when Ray and Roy Shields, managers of the club, opened it to the public.^xv

Ariel View of Annapolis Roads

(Courtesy of James G. Gibb)

The Golf Course

1928-1929 construction

drawings 1928-29 18 holes planned only 9 holes built

 The Annapolis Roads Golf Course Circa 1940

From the very beginning of the project, the bankers who were to finance the construction felt “the golf course as of essential importance in the consideration of the income returns. The favorable location of the golf course, the suitability of the site, the soil etc, [were] of prime importance to them, in fact of almost equal importance as the hotel itself.”^xvi

Gallagher felt it to be “especially desirable to extend the Golf Course southeastward and on to the marsh below the bluff. By so doing, holes No. 1, No. 9, and No. 18 can be laid close to the hotel, as they should be to be thoroughly satisfactory.”^xvii He further did “not regard the fairgreens crossing through the hotel grounds in order to reach the marsh as a drawback to their use by other patrons of the hotel.”^xviii He also felt “that golf would not entirely monopolize this ground and there would be large sections of it well to one side of the course so that those not playing the game could enjoy the wooded shores.”^xix

Gallagher also felt “that a larger area than 134 acres [would] be needed to secure an 18 hole golf course. In fact, the sketch [he sent comprised] 170 acres [for] the golf course.”^xx It also appeared clear to Gallagher “that the golf course should, if possible, be laid out all on one side of the main road to the hotel, so as to avoid crossing of the road, which would be necessary if the road to the hotel followed around the shore of Lake Ogleton as originally proposed. This could be avoided by not extending the course down into the marsh, but the loss of this acreage would have to be gained elsewhere, and this cannot be done without crowding the lot development.”^xxi

Gallagher suggested golf course architect Charles H. Banks of New York City, with whom Olmsted Brothers had several design projects in common, to Armstrong in March 1926.^xxii Banks came from the “National School of Design” which was perhaps the most significant school of design to the Golden Age of Golf.^xxiii The school was established by Charles Blair Macdonald and believed in designing a golf course “that had no weak holes and which could be enjoyed by all skill levels of golfers.”^xxiv It “incorporated the strategy of the best holes from the British Isles.”^xxv Macdonald hired surveyor and landscaper Seth Raynor to handle engineering duties in conjunction with the construction of the National Golf Links in 1907.^xxvi Raynor’s job was to take handle the engineering and construction details of Macdonald’s plans, eventually designing and routing courses on his own.^xxvii Banks was an English teacher at the Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, Connecticut, and met Raynor while we was building the course for the school. Banks then served as construction assistant to Raynor on ten projects before starting his own firm after Raynor’s death in 1926.^xxviii

                On June 12^th 1926, Gallagher and Armstrong met with Banks in his New York City office. Banks desired a “position for [the] 18^th hole that would command a view of the Bay and be a “knockout” as to situation and thus terminate the course with a real effect.”^xxix He also “pointed out that too much of the course, as [Gallagher and Armstrong] had suggested …on their preliminary plan, ran east to west and was therefore difficult for play on account of the sun.”^xxx Banks desired “to run more of the greens in the other direction although the land [was] limited to do this in every case.”^xxxi Banks then visited the site with Carr’s survey team on June 28^th to get a better feel for the ground on which he was to layout the course.^xxxii

In May 1927, Gallagher resumed his discussions with Armstrong about the golf course. He feared that there would be “difficulty in working out a wholly satisfactory golf course because of limitations of the land, and it [was] really a question of whether it would not be better to sacrifice less land for this purpose by adopting a nine-hole course only and going further inland across the county highway on cheaper land for a regulation course.”^xxxiii Gallagher felt the nine-hole course would provide a “satisfactory opportunity” for golf and allow her to provide “tennis and other types of recreation without crowding. Above all, [he felt] it would provide more lots for sale”^xxxiv Gallagher admired Armstrong’s desire to furnish a fine eighteen hole course, he was worried that doing so might prevent her from realizing her other aims, namely building a hotel, which seems clear would require financing almost exclusively from cottage lot sales.^xxxv This nine-hole course could also be regarded as temporary provided Armstrong could assure that she “could establish an eighteen hole course further inland” and then at such time “the nine-hole course could be abandoned and all the land turned with lots for residences.”^xxxvi Armstrong, obviously motivated by financial needs, agreed with Gallagher that the “land was too valuable for a golf course” and building only nine holes in the center of the property with the additional nine holes being “continued across [Old] Bay Ridge Road on to the 46 acres.”^xxxvii But she wanted to wait until she could conclude a satisfactory arrangement with the adjoining property owner before which would provide “9 holes where there present golf course [was] laid out and room for another 18 holes on the adjoining property.^xxxviii



                  By December 1927, the Munsey Trust Company engaged Banks for the design and construction of the course.^xxxix Banks felt the land reserved for the golf course ”too limited for a first class course.”^xl There is no doubt that this was true as the plans still contained Lafayette and Cevera Lanes and the associated cottage lots. During a meeting with Harold Keats of the Munsey Trust Company in Washington, Banks suggested “building two or three holes to the south of [Old] Bay Ridge Road.^xli With Keats favorable to the plan, Banks wanted to talk with Gallagher about changing the lotting to facilitate this arrangement for the course. Banks felt “that they [were] making a great mistake if they [restricted] the golf course to such an area to such an extent as to make a first class layout impossible.”^xlii He desired to design a “course of good average length with well balanced holes of suitable variety” and wanted to avoid placing the holes so close together “that the golf course will be stripped of most of the trees.”^xliii Though it is not clear under what circumstances it occurred, it appears that Banks and the Munsey Trust Company won out in the battle over lots or the course. A number of lots were eliminated from the general plan published by the Munsey Trust Company, which was now acting as Developer and Sales Agent, at the main entrance to the development along with the “Village Green” and Lafayette and Cevera Lanes.^xliv A full eighteen holes were designed, though only the front nine were actually built, and it was not until after 1952 that the land across Old Bay Ridge Road, which was planned for three holes, was built upon.



                     Construction of the course began by February 1928 and was undertaken by Washington contractor F. Irwin Ray. ^xlv Initially nine holes of were built and it was hoped that they would be ready for play by September 1^st.^xlvi Even before it was completed is was said that it would “have the largest greens of any golf course in the United States….. and [would] be a composite eighteen holes of the finest golf courses in the world.”^xlvii By June 1929, the first nine holes of the course were open.^xlviii



                        On October 7, 1929, greenskeepers of the Middle Atlantic division and grass experts of the Department of Agriculture held a meeting at Annapolis Roads after inspecting the much talked about greens during the day. According to the department experts, head greenskeeper Adolph Gerle attained near perfection and his greens were the finest in this section of the Mid-Atlantic, being all pure bent grass of the Metropolitan strain.^xlix

Apparently Banks plans were retained and surveyors were employed by October 1929 to map out the additional nine holes to bring the course up to the planned eighteen holes.^l Construction had actually begun on the back nine holes when the Great Depression prevented completion of the course.^li

The first hole at Annapolis Roads was originally designed as a 400 yard dogleg left, but was only built to 376 yards.^lv Now the hole plays to 372 yards when played as the 10^th hole. The forward tee was installed around 1954 by the Shields Brothers as the 10^th hole at 361 yards. This forward tee is now the 1^st hole and plays to only 367 yards.

1st Hole From Charles Banks Drawing

The second hole was most likely a “Leven” (pronounced “leave in”) hole and was modeled after the old 7^th hole of the old Leven Links, Leven, Fife, Scotland.^lvi This hole is one of the great par four strategies in golf and was considered one of the finest par four holes in the East.^lvii It is typically a short par 4, usually 330-360 yards and the example at Annapolis Roads was originally designed as a 380-yard dogleg left though was built to 422 yards.^lviii Banks followed his style of omitting the berm or rampart used by Macdonald to obscure the green. In this example, he reversed the green layout creating a cavernous bunker on the left front of the green, and used the excavation from the bunker to pile up the face of the bunker, creating a similar strategy but with a menacing appearance.^lix The fairway bunker or waste area, which is normally present in this design, was omitted here.^lx Now the hole plays to 445 yards when played as the 12^th hole. The back tee, installed around 1954 to create a new 2^nd hole by the Shields Brothers, plays to 414 yards.

2nd Hole From Charles Banks Drawing

The third hole was was possibly copied from the 17th "alps" hole at Prestwick in Scotland. The example at Annapolis Roads was originally designed and built as 360 yard dogleg left.^lxi Now the hole plays to 358 yards when played as the 3^rd hole. The rear tee, installed around 1954 to create a new 12^th hole by the Shields Brothers, originally played to 300 yards and now plays to 383 yards.

3rd Hole From Charles Banks Drawing

The fourth hole was a “Redan” and was modeled after the 15^th hole at North Berwick Golf Club (East course) East Lothian, Scotland.^lxii This hole is considered the perhaps the finest par-3 design in the world and perhaps the most complex.^lxiii In it's classic style it is usually 190-215 yards and the example here was designed for 193 yards but was built to 195 yards.^lxiv Annapolis Roads contained all of the classic design traits of this hole. Now the hole plays to 189 yards when played as the 13^th hole. The forward tee, installed around 1954 to create a new 13^th hole by the Shields Brothers at only 145 yards, but now plays as the 4^th hole.

 4th Hole From Charles Banks Drawing

             The fifth hole was unique to Annapolis Roads.  It was originally designed for 573 yards and built to 570 yards.^lxvi This version seems to have been altered in house by shortening its length between December 1929 and May 1930 and was then playing to 544 yards.^lxvii In 1929, this hole had a “green of the punch bowl type, with a huge trap in the middle and a steeply inkling approach away from the green.^lxviii Now the hole plays to 529 yards when played as the 14^th hole. The forward tee, installed around 1954 to create a new 14^th hole by the Shields Brothers at only 510 yards, now plays as the 5^th hole at 516 yards.

5th Hole From Charles Banks Drawing

The sixth hole was a “Knoll Hole” and was modeled after the 4^th hole at Scotscraig Golf Club, Tayport, Fife, Scotland.^lxix In its classic style it appears as a short par 4 averaging 300 yards and here the example was originally designed for 327 yards though it was built to 334 yards.^lxx  Now the hole plays to 330 yards when played as the 15^th hole. The forward tee, installed around 1954 by the Shields Brothers to create a new 15^th hole at only 260 yards, now plays as the 6^th hole at 321 yards.

6th Hole From Charles Banks Drawing

The seventh hole is another example of the “Road Hole.” Here the original length was designed for 433 yards though was built to 445 yards.^lxxi This is a reversal of the typical Macdonald and Raynor version of this green, with a “Road Bunker” guarding the left and rear of the green and a deep pot bunker slightly to the right of the centerline of the green.^lxxii This rendition of the hole also located the tee along the centerline of the fairway, omitting the typical dogleg, though as on the 5^th hole, the fairway bunkering is again present. This hole, like the 5^th, apparently also had an “enormous trap….. in the center of the green.”^lxxiii This hole was considered one of the finest par four holes in the East, and was selected by the Sun Papers as one of the 18 best holes in Maryland.^lxxiv The hole still plays to 445 yards when played as the 7^th hole. A more forward tee was installed around 1954 by the Shields Brothers to create a new 16^th hole at 375 yards. This tee has since been replaced by the current rear tee which plays to 500 yards.

7th Hole From Charles Banks Drawing

The eighth hole was an “Eden” and was modeled after the 11^th hole at St. Andrews (High-Hole-In), St. Andrews Old Course, Fife, Scotland.^lxxv In its classic style it is usually 160-170 yards and here the original length was designed to150 yards, though it was built to 165 yards.^lxxvi  Now the hole plays to 163 yards when played as the 8^th hole. A more forward tee was installed around 1954 by the Shields Brothers to create a new 17^th hole at 110 yards. This tee has since been replaced by the current rear tee which plays to 175 yards.

8th Hole From Charles Banks Drawing

8th Hole
(Washingtonian Magazine May 1929)

8th Hole

(Author's Collection July 2006)

The ninth hole was was originally designed for 405 yards but was built to 413 yards.^lxxvii Now the hole plays to 416 yards when played as the 18^th hole. The forward tee, installed around 1954 to create a new 18^th hole by the Shields Brothers at 340 yards, now plays to only 337 yards as the 9^th hole.

9th Hole From Charles Banks Drawing

The back nine holes of the course were never built. The land for holes 11, 12 and 16 through 18 was never developed and remains in the same state it was before the Annapolis Roads project began. The land for holes 13 through 15 was platted in 1952 for lots as part of Annapolis Roads effectively ending any plans to construct the full 18-hole course envisioned by Banks.^lxxviii In the following paragraphs you will find a review of the planned holes for the back nine and idea of what they would have looked like had they been completed.

The tenth hole was originally planned as a 381-yard dogleg left. The green was to be guarded by water immediately in front and bunkers on either side.

The eleventh hole was to be a “Double Plateau” hole. It is most likely based on the natural plateau greens found in the British Isles.^lxxix It is typically a long par 4, often the longest two-shot hole on the course.^lxxx This Annapolis Roads example was originally planned as a 426-yard slight dogleg right.^lxxxi It was to feature moderate fairway and greenside bunkering, with a Principal’s Nose-type bunker set about 100 yards in front of the green.^lxxxii There are no bunkers in front of green, except for Principal’s Nose bunker already mentioned, to visually obscure portions of the target.^lxxxiii The green on this type of hole would have probably featured the connected double plateaus, such as Banks built during the same time at the Knoll County Club in New Jersey, with the upper putting surface being located in the front-left and right-rear of the green.^lxxxiv

The twelfth hole was to be a “Short” hole. It was modeled after the 5^th hole at Brancaster (now Royal West Norfolk), Norfolk, England.^lxxxv This hole typically was a par 3 averaging 130-140 yards and the example at Annapolis Roads was originally planned to be 133 yards.^lxxxvi Banks would use deep greenside bunkering to completely surround the green and creating an “island” effect.^lxxxvii Typically the green formed a plateau, which was elevated 5 feet above the natural terrain.^lxxxviii This style hole would also normally feature most complex putting surfaces on the entire course with “dished depressions, rear shelves, and false fronts,” which would segment the green.^lxxxix

The thirteenth hole was to be another “Leven” hole. This example at Annapolis Roads was originally planned for 340-yards. The fairway bunker or waste area was also omitted in this example.^xc

The fourteenth hole was originally planned for 480 yards.

The fifteenth hole was to be a “Bottle Hole” and was a C. B . Macdonald modification of the original 12^th hole at Sunningdale’s Old Course, Berkshire, England.^xci It typically appeared in various lengths of par 4s and this Annapolis Roads example was originally planned as a 427-yard slight dogleg right.^xcii 

The sixteenth hole was to be a “Biarritz” hole and was modeled after the 3^rd hole (the Chasm) of the Barritz Golf Club, Barritz, France.^xciv In was typically 220-245 yards and the example at Annapolis Roads was originally planned to be 225 yards.^xcv Narrow strip bunkers were to be placed to guard the sides of the green and fairway.^xcvi This hole was also planned to have an enormous green, which would normally have a “deep swale either in front of or incorporated into putting surface.”^xcvii

The seventeenth hole was originally planned for 346 yards.

The eighteenth hole was originally planned for 423 yards.

The first tournament played on the course was the Middle Atlantic Professional Golfers Association Amateur Professional Tournament on July 30, 1929.^xcviii The course was characterized as being “extremely fast, due to the hard baked fairways, but all the greens [were] so large that it almost required a brassie shot to reach the cup, besides which the trays are as deep as a house and as the pins were placed behind these traps one of the contestants had no less that eight three-putt greens, not because the putting surface was inaccurate, for all the greens were in fine condition, but because it was impossible to accurately gauge putts that on any course would have been the length of an approach shot from off the green.”^xcix

           Under the leadership of Talbot T. Speer, chairman of the golf committee, the First Annual Invitational Tournament was planned for October 12 and 13, 1929. Invitations were sent to 24 clubs in the Mid-Atlantic area, including the Greenbury Point Club, Naval Academy Golf Club and Sherwood Forest Golf Club, all of the Annapolis area, with each club asked to choose three members to compete. Because of the shorter daylight hours in October and the fact that there were only nine holes upon which to play, it was felt that the course could only support approximately 75 to 80 players in the tournament. Eighteen holes would be played each day, with the low net score being awarded a cup put up by Colonel Charles Denby of Washington. In addition to the Denby cup, prizes were also awarded for the low net each day, low gross for the tournament and each day as well as for the most pars and most birdies.^c


                  Walter McCallum, of the Annapolis Roads Club, won the tournament with Frank Roersch of the Washington County Club as runner-up.^ci Of note was what can only regard as an amazing eagle 3 on the par 5 570-yard fifth hole by Perry P. Rover of the Indian Springs Club, which was the only eagle of the tournament. He accomplished this with two long drives and a 115 yard mashie shot which he holed.^cii


                   The course closed from December until March 1930 for greens and fairway work. “The club’s greens… attracted the attention of golfers throughout this section and were said to be the finest in this part of the country, despite the fact that they were not a year old. [They intended] that the fairways [would] be comparably as fine and to that end [they were] building up the soil [that] winter, planning a water system to see them through the summer’s droughts, and reseeding and sodding the worst places. [They were] also giving the greens a very heavy top dressing.”^ciii

i The Washington Post, April 1, 1928 pg 22

ii Agreement between Armstrong Company, the Munsey Trust Company and the Annapolis Roads Company April 1929.

iii The Washington Post, October 14, 1928, pg 23

iv The Washington Post, August 12, 1928, pg S8.

v The Washington Post, April 21, 1929, pg M14; The Washington Post, June 9, 1929; The Washington Post, August 18, 1929, pg S7; The Washington Post, August 20, 1929, pg 7.

vi The Washintopn Post, December 19, 1929, pg 19.

vii The Washington Post, April 14, 1929. pg M25

viii Ibid.

ix The Washington Post, August 18, 1929, pg S7

x The Washington Post, July 2, 1933, pg R2

xi The Washington Post, August 14, 1932, pg R2

xii The Washington Post, June 24, 1932, pg R7

xiii Ibid.

xiv Ibid.

xv The Washington Post, February 15, 1951, pg 21

xvi Rella Armstrong to Percival Gallagher February 19, 1926.

xvii Percival Gallagher to Rella Armstrong March 1, 1926

xviii Ibid.

xix Ibid.

xx Ibid.

xxi Ibid.

xxii CRP to Rella Armstrong March 24, 1926

xxiii Geoff Shackelford, “The Golden Age of Golf Design,” pg 31.

xxiv Ibid.

xxv Ibid.

xxvi Geoff Shackelford, “The Golden Age of Golf Design,” pg 43.

xxvii Ibid.

xxviii Geoff Shackelford, “The Golden Age of Golf Design,” pg 45.

xxix Report of Conference in Mr. Banks Office by Percival Gallagher June 12, 1926

xxx Ibid.

xxxi Ibid.

xxxii Ibid.

xxxiii Percival Gallagher to Rella Armstrong May 9, 1927

xxxiv Ibid.

xxxv Ibid.

xxxvi Ibid.

xxxvii Rella Armstrong to Percival Gallagher May 24, 1927

xxxviii Ibid.

xxxix Charles Banks to Olmsted Brothers December 9, 1927

xl Ibid.

xli Ibid.

xlii Ibid.

xliii Ibid.

xliv CRP to Rella Armstrong January 23, 1927. Rella Armstrong to Percival Gallagher February 10, 1928. The Munsey Trust general plan is a undated plan found in the Olmsted Associates Job File 7591, Folder 1; Agreement between Armstrong Company, the Munsey Trust Company and the Annapolis Roads Company April 1929.

xlv Rella Armstrong to Percival Gallagher February 10, 1928; The Washington Post, May 11, 1928, pg 4.

xlvi The Washington Post, April 1, 1928, pg 22.

xlvii Ibid.

xlviii The Washington Post, June 9, 1929, pg M23

xlix The Evening Capital, October 7, 1929, pg 1

l The Evening Capital, October 5, 1929, pg 5

li The Washington Post, February 21, 1954, pg R24

lii James G Gibb, “History and Historical Significance of the Annapolis Roads Golf Course,” Unpublished Paper (June 2005), pg 1.

liii Ibid.

liv James G Gibb, “History and Historical Significance of the Annapolis Roads Golf Course,” Unpublished Paper (June 2005), pg 2.

lv Charles Banks Plan for Annapolis Roads; 1930 Dated Score Card for Annapolis Roads.

lvi George Bahto, “The Evangelist of Golf,” pg 40.

lvii Ibid; The Washington Post, February 21, 1954, pg R24.

lviii Ibid; Charles Banks Plan for Annapolis Roads; 1930 Dated Score Card for Annapolis Roads.

lix George Bahto, “The Evangelist of Golf,” pg 133.

lx George Bahto, “The Evangelist of Golf,”

lxi Charles Banks Plan for Annapolis Roads; 1930 Dated Score Card for Annapolis Roads.

lxii George Bahto, “The Evangelist of Golf,” pg 41.

lxiii George Bahto, “The Evangelist of Golf,” pg 90.

lxiv George Bahto, “The Evangelist of Golf,” pg 41; Charles Banks Plan for Annapolis Roads; May 22, 1930 Dated Score Card for Annapolis Roads.

lxv George Bahto, The Evangelist of Golf,” pg 47

lxvi Ibid; Charles Banks Plan for Annapolis Roads; The Washington Post, October 14, 1929, pg 16; May 22, 1930 Dated Score Card for Annapolis Roads.

lxvii Undated Score Card for Annapolis Roads.

lxviii The Evening Capital, October 14, 1929, pg 5

lxix George Bahto, “The Evangelist of Golf,” pg 52.

lxx Ibid; Charles Banks Plan for Annapolis Roads; May 22, 1930 Dated Score Card for Annapolis Roads.

lxxi Charles Banks Plan for Annapolis Roads; May 22, 1930 Dated Score Card for Annapolis Roads.

lxxii George Bahto, “The Evangelist of Golf,” pg 102.

lxxiii The Washington Post, August 4, 1929, pg M20.

lxxiv The Washington Post, February 21, 1954, pg R24; Undated Score Card for Annapolis Roads.

lxxv George Bahto, “The Evangelist of Golf,” pg 44.

lxxvi Ibid. Charles Banks Plan for Annapolis Roads; May 22, 1930 Dated Score Card for Annapolis Roads.

lxxvii Charles Banks Plan for Annapolis Roads; May 22, 1930 Dated Score Card for Annapolis Roads.

lxxviii James G. Gibb, “Annapolis Roads Development, 1926-2003,” The Bay Breeze (Winter 2004) pg7..

lxxix George Bahto, “The Evangelist of Golf,” pg 48.

lxxx Ibid.

lxxxi Charles Banks Plan for Annapolis Roads.

lxxxii Ibid.

lxxxiii Ibid.

lxxxiv George Bahto, “The Evangelist of Golf,” pg 48.

lxxxv George Bahto, “The Evangelist of Golf,” pg 51.

lxxxvi Ibid; Charles Banks Plan for Annapolis Roads.

lxxxvii Ibid.

lxxxviii Ibid.

lxxxix George Bahto, “The Evangelist of Golf,”

xc George Bahto, “The Evangelist of Golf,”

xci George Bahto, “The Evangelist of Golf,” pg 49.

xcii Ibid; Charles Banks Plan for Annapolis Roads.

xciii George Bahto, “The Evangelist of Golf,”

xciv George Bahto, “The Evangelist of Golf,” pg 42.

xcv Ibid; Charles Banks Plan for Annapolis Roads.

xcvi Ibid.

xcvii Ibid.

xcviii The Washington Post, July 30, 1929, pg 15.

xcix Ibid.

c The Evening Capital, October 5, 1929, pg 5

ci The Evening Capital, October 14, 1929, pg 1

cii The Washington Post, October 14, 1929, pg 16; The Evening Capital, October 14, 1929, pg 5

ciii The Washington Post, December 19, 1929, pg 19

All Rights Reserved.

Annapolis Roads on Chesapeake Bay 1925–1934 - Part 2: The Architecture

So we continue with part two of the requiem... Most of these images have never been published and were the result of sleuthing over many years...

Annapolis Roads on Chesapeake Bay

1925 – 1934

The Architecture

Proposed Hotel – Front Elevation Rendering

(Courtesy of the United States Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site)

The hotel, referred to in architectural plans as “The John Paul Jones,” was to be the main focus of the development and as early as 1923, the office of John Russell Pope had prepared designs for the hotel.ⁱ Perhaps best known for his work on public buildings such as the Baltimore Museum of Art, University Hall at Johns Hopkins University, and the University Baptist Church, Pope was very active as a residential architect, though Annapolis Roads was his only known residential development project. Daniel Higgins, who managed the business affairs of the firm, was the main contact for the project from Pope’s office.ⁱⁱ

The John Paul Jones was to be a four story Colonial Revival style hotel was to be in a U shape, with the opening of the “U” facing towards the waterfront. A small entrance lobby wing extending 63 feet with a Porte Cochere was planned for the front of the hotel opposite the commanding view. The ground floor was to have a matching 38 foot by 128 foot ballroom and dining room in each of the wings reaching towards the water, with an enclosed porch capping each of these ends. The interior of the “U” was lined with a covered walkway outside both the ballroom and dining room. At the base of the “U” was to be a 38 foot by 84 foot lounge. There would also be card rooms, shops and offices, as well as a 38 foot by 53 foot grill room planned for the ground floor near the entrance. An 82 foot by 41 foot kitchen wing was to be placed to the left side of the hotel when viewed from the entrance.ⁱⁱⁱ

Gallagher felt it best to locate the hotel set back from the bluff overlooking the water on the site of what is now L’Altura.^iv He thought that, “the importance of the hotel [she was] proposing [called] for an environment such as is provided by this natural wooded and picturesque water frontage.”^v He also believed “that it would be wiser for [her] not to develop so much of this land in house lots but to include a fair measure of it in the general grounds of the hotel.^vi Gallagher also suggested placing the hotel “as to look a little south of east and down the Chesapeake. In this way it would be possible to avoid a too direct view of the tall towers of the government wireless station which, while interesting, rather hurts than otherwise the natural scene.”^vii

Development in Vicinity of Hotel

(Courtesy of the National Park Service, Frederick Law Olmstead National Historic Site)

With Armstrong wishing to subsidize the construction of the hotel with the sale of cottage lots, she set about preparing for a real estate office to be built on the property and suggested two positions on the property. ^viii Apparently her real estate men objected to an early proposal to locate the office near the entrance gate and felt that the “steady stream of cars going to Bay Ridge” on Saturdays and Sundays would produce enough “dust and noise [to] make that site undesirable.”^ix “As the purpose of the office [was] to serve as office and rest room for prospects, [they believed] it [would] be more advantageous to have it near the center of the property.”^x Armstrong planned to begin construction of the building in mid-September 1926. The structure was to be a copy of the Old Treasury building on State Circle in Annapolis and the office of John Russell Pope prepared a front elevation drawing of the building.^xi Gallagher suggested it be built “at the end of the main drive and where there should be a wide turnaround before the entrance of the hotel. This turning space [would] be useful…, especially with the office facing upon it, which [seemed to him] the natural position for it.”^xii But despite her communicating active pending plans to Gallagher to build this office in the fall of 1926, it was never built, once again illustrating the severe under capitalization of the project.

Proposed Real Estate Office – Front Elevation Rendering

(Courtesy of James G. Gibb)

The Beach clubhouse was apparently built under the supervision of the Munsey Trust Company and was built in 1928 on the site planned for the John Paul Jones Hotel.^xiii It was a four-story white wooden building, with four levels of decks on the bay side of the structure but only one story at the landward side as it was built into the steep face of the embankment.^xiv The clubhouse featured a dining room and grill, which were enjoyed year round.^xv It also featured locker rooms and showers, which occupied two of the floors.^xvi Shortly after midnight June 8^th, 1953, it was consumed in a fire of undetermined origin, which started in the top floor housing an office and furniture.^xvii

Beach Clubhouse facing West 1929

(Courtesy of James G. Gibb)

Beach Clubhouse facing East 1929

(Courtesy of James G. Gibb)

Tiled Esplanade of the Beach Clubhouse circa 1929

(Courtesy of James G. Gibb)

Beach Clubhouse

(Courtesy of James G. Gibb)

Beach Clubhouse

(Courtesy of James G. Gibb)

The “tavern” (also know as the golf clubhouse) was a brick/stucco Colonial Revival building with a gambrel roof designed in 1927 by the office of John Russell Pope. The building was built sometime between November 1927 and May 1929. Though originally suggested to be located using lots 18 through 22 along Carrolton Road on the Golf Course side (now part of Section A), it was eventually sited on lots 11, 11A, 12 and 12A of Section C adjacent to Otter Lake. It stood until about 1970 when it was torn down.^xviii

Design for Tavern – Front Elevation Rendering

(Courtesy of James G. Gibb)

Gate Walls and Gatehouse (gate shown in the up position)

(Courtesy of Bill Gibbs)

All plans for residences or other buildings were to be submitted to John Russell Pope or his office and this provision was placed in the contracts of all lot sales.^xxii In most cases, individual owners bought cottage lots directly from The Annapolis Roads Company. The owner would then have a cottage designed and built once those plans were approved. In the Case of the cottage at 1205 Eden Lane, which was bought by Irwin S. Porter, a Washington architect, he most likely designed the cottage himself.^xxiii Two lots were purchased from Home Improvement Company of Baltimore, which apparently had an arrangement to purchase the lots directly from The Annapolis Roads Company and re-sell them to individuals with a cottage. The re-sale occurred and the cottage was completed at a later date. These two lots were D6 purchased by Arthur C. Grafflin of Baltimore and D19 purchased by Clinton S Bradley of Pittsburgh.

Porter and Lockie served as local consulting architects with Bradbury and Mohler providing home construction.^xxiv

Porter Summer Home (Built November 1928 – April 1929)

(Courtesy of Bill Gibbs)

i Percival Gallagher to Rella Armstrong February 26, 1926

ii Ibid.

iii Plan 7591-6, The John Paul Jones, Annapolis, MD, First Floor Plan Sheet 1; Scale 1/8"=1'.

iv Percival Gallagher to Rella Armstrong February 26, 1926

v Percival Gallagher to Rella Armstrong March 1, 1926

vi Ibid.

vii Ibid.

viii Rella Armstrong to Percival Gallagher August 29, 1926

ix Ibid.

x Ibid.

xi Ibid.

xii Percival Gallagher to Rella Armstrong September 9, 1926

xiii The Washington Post, June 9, 1953, pg 20.

xiv Ibid.

xv The Washington Post, March 24, 1929, pg S7; The Washington Post, June 9, 1929, pg M23.

xvi The Washington Post, June 9, 1953, pg 20.

xvii Ibid.

xviii James G. Gibb, “Designing Annapolis Roads, 1926-1934,” The Bay Breeze (Winter 2002), pg 3.

xix Agreement between Armstrong Company , the Munsey Trust Company and the Annapolis Roads Company April 1929.

xx Ibid.

xxi Agreement between Armstrong Company , the Munsey Trust Company and the Annapolis Roads Company April 1929.

xxii Agreement between Armstrong Company , the Munsey Trust Company and the Annapolis Roads Company April 1929.

xxiii Anne Arundel County Circuit Court (Land Records) FSR 43, pg 28.

xxiv The Washington Post, May 11, 1928, pg 4

xxv James G. Gibb, “Annapolis Roads Development, 1926-2003,” The Bay Breeze (Winter 2004) pp 6-7.

xxvi The Washington Post, March 24, 1929, pg S7

xxvii The Washington Post, April 14, 1929, pg M25

xxviii The Washington Post May 19, 1929, pg M21

xxix The Washington Post, August 14, 1932, pg R2

All Rights Reserved.

Annapolis Roads on Chesapeake Bay 1925-1934 - Part 1: The Development

This is not a complete piece by any means, but something I felt I needed to post now seeing the demise of the last of the historic community. For those who cling to what they see as an Olmstead Brothers designed community, you will find that it is not what you imagine and once had the imagination for much more. With the closure of the Annapolis Roads Golf Course on September 29, 2013, the last remnant of this grand vision vanishes from history leaving just its road layout as the last remaining historic feature.

So we begin with part one of the requiem...

Annapolis Roads on Chesapeake Bay

1925 – 1934

The Development

Paul Armstrong purchased the 341-acre Belmont Farm on November 13, 1907, possibly using it as a country retreat.ⁱ Armstrong was a playwright and screenwriter and spent some of his time in New York City. He died in 1915 and his widow Rella Abell Armstrong became trustee of his estate for their three daughters.ⁱⁱ

About 10 years after his death, Mrs. Armstrong decided to develop the property. In 1925, she approached the Olmsted Brothers, of Brookline, Massachusetts to plan for the development of her property as a hotel resort.ⁱⁱⁱ This firm was responsible for the planning of Roland Park in Baltimore and Wardour in Annapolis, as well as many other public and private landscape plans throughout the country. Work on the project was assigned to Harvard educated Percival Gallagher.

On December 22, 1925 Armstrong sold the property to The Armstrong Company, which she set up to handle the development and of which she was president.^iv By January 1926, J. Revell Carr had started survey work.^v Gallagher felt that “to fix upon the location of the hotel [was] of the first importance as it [would] determine the location of the road as it leaves the building.”^vi This road was to be the main road into the development, now known as Carrolton Road. The bank from which Armstrong wanted to borrow the money for the project was positive about the project, but they regarded “the golf course as of essential importance in the consideration of the income returns.”^vii

            Gallagher felt that was “unwise to give over so much of the rough wooded land, adjacent to Lake Ogleton, for residence lot purposes, because of the extreme roughness of the topography making it not only a costly operation to carry roads through it, but doubtful whether much of the land could be utilized for house sites without destruction of a great deal of the natural conditions.”^viii He proposed “instead of extending the residence lot development continuously along the southerly edge of the property following the edge of Lake Ogleton around to the hotel, that the lot development follow around to the northeast along the main road to the hotel, with a belt of lots along the “Railroad” way.^ix This “Railroad” way was the former right-of-way of the Bay Ridge Railroad. Gallagher also planned for “a well defined entrance to the property on the “Railroad” way as one approaches it from Annapolis.”^x He felt the “need to mark the principal entrance by some spaciousness other than what the ordinary street demands and the suggestion of a small village square [seemed] appropriate.^xi It was his belief that he could “secure, in the design of your property, a distinctive character which [would] enhance rather the natural charm of the property.^xii Gallagher “was very much impressed with the wooded ravines and slopes, especially at the Point where the hotel [was] to be located and it [seemed] to [him] that, in conjunction with the dignified and refined character of the architecture proposed, the old trees composing the woods that extend down the several ravines, would make most interesting pleasure grounds and of such extent as to give a satisfying environment to the hotel itself. These wooded slopes very much [enhanced] glimpses of the Chesapeake and of Lake Ogleton and to [him] appealed much more strongly than an unbroken sweeping view of the Chesapeake alone.^xiii

                Armstrong had suggested to Gallagher that a bridle path be built down the center of the main road to the hotel “ with two one-way” roads on either side, [each being] 15 feet wide.^xiv Gallagher rejected this concept and instead suggested a “50-foot street between the property lines, with [a] 18-foot graveled way in the center and space for sidewalks on either side. As the place [grew] it [would] be found necessary [he was] sure to widen the 18-foot graveled space to at least 28 feet in order to permit parking in front of each lot with space for two lines of moving vehicles.”^xv He further suggested that the bridle path be placed “along the edge of the golf course just back from the tier of lots south of the main road.”^xvi A “large turning space” space was planned for “just outside the gates to the hotel grounds proper” which would “serve as a turn for cars not wishing to go to the hotel.^xvii “The turn court” was also planned to be “enlarged” and “graveled over a large part of its area to serve as parking spaces.”^xviii

              It is at this point that the first signs of an undercapitalized project began to surface. During a meeting on June 12^th with Gallagher and Charles Banks, architect of the planned golf course, Armstrong explained “that the hotel [was] her prime feature, yet she [wanted] to lift the burden of the cost by the sale of land of the cottage lots.”^xix

              Armstrong also sought out the landscaping advice of Gallagher. She “planned [to] put cedars behind the [entrance gate] wall and a row of cedars up the main road to the row of big trees.”^xx She also planned to plant dwarf evergreens in front of this wall and a “privet hedge from the end of the gates to the woods one side and the fence line on the other.”^xxi Gallagher preferred “grouping the cedars with reference to the proposed lotting divisions and not making a continuous line on either side of the road.”^xxii He suggested that the cedars be “grouped more thickly on the higher ground and… planted just at the proposed property line.”^xxiii Deciduous trees were to be “planted between the curb line and the sidewalk line, not in uniform distance nor in a straight line but roughly alternating with the groups of cedars.”^xxiv The purpose of this was to “keep the natural atmosphere of the place which would be lost with a solid row of planting one kind of tree.”^xxv Large emphasis was placed upon the use of the native Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus Virginiana) to line sections of the Carrolton Road as well as to be placed directly behind the entrance gates.^xxvi California Privet was to be used as envisioned by Armstrong and native Red Oak (Quercus Rubra) would be used near the entrance gates along Carrolton Road to line parts of that section of road as well as to fill a “grove” to the immediate right just inside of the entrance gates.^xxvii Additional used of native Sugar Maple (Acer Saccarhum), native American Sycamore (Platanus Occidentalis), native Pin Oak (Quercus Palustris) and native American Elm (Ulmus Americana) would be used along the Carrolton Road, though in lesser numbers then the above species.

                  The first general plan of the property was completed September 12^th and was enthusiastically received by Armstrong.^xxviii She thought it was “ a beautiful layout” and that it gave “such a wonderful free sweep.”^xxix With this plan the property, 163.9 acres were allotted to golf, 87.8 acres were allotted to housing lots, 18.1 acres were allotted to roads and 36.4 acres were allotted for the hotel grounds. It established a clearly defined area for a golf course in the center of the property and left the most desirable sites for homes along the outer edges of the property.

                   By May 1927, the Munsey Trust Company was contracted to act as trustee for the property and Morgan Wickersham & Company was contracted to be the sales agency.^xxx The first advertisement appeared in The Washington Post on May 29^th and touted the planned 18-hole golf course, country and yacht club, year round hotel, tennis courts and bathing.^xxxi Almost 4 weeks later sales of lots had already been reported with plans for the occupancy of several homes by the following season.^xxxii

Armstrong was quite concerned about selling the cottage lots and concluded that the lots “must not average above 1/3 acre in size otherwise the price [would] be too high to meet the competition of other developments,”^xxxiii each lot averaging one–third of an acre. Bay waterfront would be sold for 20 to 22 cents per square foot (approximately $3,500 per lot), the Otter Lake section from 14 to 18 cents per square foot (approximately $2,500 per lot), and lots on the roads would sell for 10 to 12 cents per square foot (approximately $1,600 per lot).^xxxiv Her financial situation must have been rather tight because at this time she requested a delay of payment to Olmsted Brothers “for a short period of time” so she could continue her improvements to the property as the sales of cottage lots began.^xxxv Clearly undercapitalized, she was relying on cottage lot sales not just to finance the construction of the hotel, but also the costs of planning of the property.

              By early June, Gallagher had prepared plans for the re-lotting of Section B of the property, now bounded by Claibourne and Carrolton Roads, increasing the number of lots from 29 to 32.^xxxvi This re-lotting did not affect the small court enclosing a small park named “Washington Square.” He also suggested using lots 18 through 22 along Carrolton Road on the Golf Course side, which was the site of the former farmhouse on the property, as the best location for the golf house. Contrary to Gallagher’s opinion about retaining the large lot size along Lake Ogleton, Armstrong, with Wickersham’s advice, preferred to have an average 1/3 acre lot size to keep the price down, but still allowing the prospect to buy several lots and combine them if a larger lot was desired.^xxxvii Also at this time, Armstrong provided Gallagher with the names for the roads on the property. They were named after individuals important in Maryland’s colonial history in keeping with the colonial revival style of the development.^xxxviii

Study for Relotting
(Courtesy of the United States Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site)

                The re-lotting of the entire site was completed by early August, producing 333 lots with an average size on .38 acres.^xxxix Carr began to prepare the large-scale selling plats for Section C (that on Otter Lake) and Section D (the Lands End area on Lake Ogleton) in November.^xl During the re-lotting for these sections and Section B, some of the lots were further changed in size, but the biggest change was the elimination of “Washington Square” for cottage lots, though this did not change the number of lots in that section. The “Village Green,” along with Lafayette and Cevera Lanes running roughly parallel with Bay Ridge Road and connecting Carrolton and Ogleton Roads, still remained as part of the General plan of the development.

                    On November 22, 1927, with sales and development not progressing as hoped, Armstrong contracted with the Munsey Trust Company to take over sales and development of Annapolis Roads for five years.^xli The Armstrong Company then signed a contract with the Annapolis Roads Company and on December 2, 1927 transferred the property to the Annapolis Roads Company to facilitate the development and financing of the project.^xlii The Annapolis Roads Company mortgaged the property for $250,000 financed by The Equitable Company.^xliii

The Munsey Trust Company began development of the property in earnest, erecting the “tavern” or golf clubhouse, constructing the golf course, and erecting the clubhouse for “The Beach and Tennis Club.”^xliv

With the change of control of the development of the property, Olmsted Brothers wished to settle their accounts with Armstrong and the Armstrong Company.^xlv It would be some time before the Olmsted Brothers would begin to see payment for Gallagher’s work at Annapolis Roads. The first check from Armstrong to Olmsted Brothers would not arrive until September 16, 1929.^xlvi

               Though it is not clear under what circumstances it occurred, it appears that Banks and the Munsey Trust Company won out in the battle over cottage lots or the golf course. A number of lots were eliminated from the general plan published by the Munsey Trust Company, which was now acting as Developer and Sales Agent, at the main entrance to the development along with the “Village Green” and Lafayette and Cevera Lanes.^xlvii This reduced the property to 250 lots, of which only 15 would be sold by the end of September 1929.^xlviii

Plans for sales were in full swing in the spring of 1928 with several advertisements appearing in The Washington Post. The golf course, landing pier, roadways, electricity, telephones, automatic water system, tavern and bathhouses were all under construction.^xlix Though sales had been reported in July 1927, it appears these sales were only deposits on lots, since the first lots in Section D were not platted until July 1927 and filed in September 1928 and lots in Section C were not platted until August 1927 and filed in May 1928. The first deed of sale was completed September 1928.^l

Like most planned developments of the 1920s, The Annapolis Roads Company was concerned about maintaining property values through restrictive covenants. Even the advertising spoke of sales to “a restricted class and limited number of people.^li The houses were to be of a strictly residential nature. There were to be no apartments, flats or dwelling for more than one family and every dwelling was to be completely detached. All houses erected or altered in any way were to have their plans submitted to the Annapolis Roads Company and approved in writing. The Annapolis Roads Company had the right at any time to trim trees, shrubbery, lawns or underbrush on any property in order to improve or preserve the views of land and water and to maintain the general landscaping plan for the best interests of the entire property. Half of the actual cost of upkeep of the sidewalks and roadways along and abutting each property were to be paid by the property owner, though assessments for new roadways and sidewalks were not to be made without the consent of the majority of the owners of the land affected by the improvements. These covenants were to remain in effect for twenty-five years. Once purchased any property transfers in the first fifteen years of ownership had to be approved by the Annapolis Roads Company. A final covenant prohibited Blacks and Jews from owning property or living in the development except where they were employed as domestic servants by the owner. This final covenant was to remain in effect for ninety-nine years.^lii

Additional funds were needed to continue the development of the project and the lots on which the “tavern” was built as well as the “tavern itself were mortgaged for $25,000.^liii Further funds were raised September 29, 1929 with the mortgage of the recently completed Beach Club for $100,000 financed again by The Equitable Company.^liv Financial trouble continued, requiring The Annapolis Roads Company to mortgage the entire contents of the golf club and the beach and tennis club for just over $91,000 on May 1, 1932, financed by the Equitable Company.^lv

As the five-year contract with the Munsey Trust Company came to an end, a decision was made not to renew the contract and The Armstrong Company took over management of the property.^lvi In August 1932, the L.S. Scott Corporation took over sales of the development from the Munsey Trust Company.^lvii By the end of 1932, Armstrong had several suits pending against her and the Annapolis Roads Company for merchandise accounts and the property was heavily mortgaged offering no chance to procure additional funds.^lviii Armstrong desperately attempted to generate fund and began to sell any waterfront property she could. With most of the platted waterfront lots already sold, The Armstrong Company sold “the point lot” at the end of Carrollton Road, which had been previously reserved as a public space and a boat landing on Lake Ogleton.^lix

              Finally The Annapolis Roads Company defaulted on the original mortgage and on January 22, 1934 the property was sold at auction at the courthouse door in Annapolis. The Equitable Company was the high bidder and purchased the property on May 28, 1934 for $110,000.^lx The Equitable Company would retain ownership of the development until 1950 when it was sold to Club Estates, which continued development of the property platting the remainder of the property and selling off the unsold cottage lots.^lxi

i Anne Arundel County Circuit Court (Land Records) [MSA CE 59-125] GW 57, pg 338.

ii James G. Gibb, “Belmont Farm, Precursor to Annapolis Roads,” The Bay Breeze (Fall 2001), pp. 4, 7.

iii James G. Gibb, “Designing Annapolis Roads, 1926-1934,” The Bay Breeze (Winter 2002), pg. 2.

iv Anne Arundel County Circuit Court (Land Records) WMB 23, pg 32. Sale price of the property was $100,000.

v Percival Gallagher to Rella Armstrong February 1926. Carr was County Surveyor for Anne Arundel County and had an office at 14 Church Circle in Annapolis.

vi Ibid.

vii Rella Armstrong to Percival Gallagher February 19, 1926

viii Percival Gallagher to Rella Armstrong March 1, 1926.

ix Ibid.

x Ibid.

xi Ibid.

xii Ibid.

xiii Ibid.

xiv Percival Gallagher to Rella Armstrong April 22, 1926

xv Ibid.

xvi Ibid.

xvii LLB to Rella Armstrong May 22, 1926

xviii Ibid.

xix Ibid.

xx Rella Armstrong to Percival Gallagher September 9, 1926

xxi Ibid

xxii LLB to Rella Armstrong September 21, 1926

xxiii Ibid.

xxiv Ibid.

xxv Ibid.

xxvi Plan 7591-26, A Planting Study for Entrance Road; Scale 1"= 50'

xxvii Plan 7591-26, A Planting Study for Entrance Road; Scale 1"= 50'

xxviii Rella Armstrong to Percival Gallagher September 26, 1926

xxix Ibid.

xxx Rella Armstrong to Percival Gallagher May 24, 1927

xxxi The Washington Post, May 29, 1927 pg 27.

xxxii The Washington Post, July 31, 1927

xxxiii Ibid.

xxxiv Ibid.

xxxv Ibid.

xxxvi LLB to Rella Armstrong June 6, 1927

xxxvii Rella Armstrong to Percival Gallagher June 1927

xxxviii Ibid.

xxxix LLB to Rella Armstrong August 3, 1927

xl Rella Armstrong to Percival Gallagher November 9, 1927

xli CRP to Rella Armstrong January 23, 1928. Rella Armstrong to Percival Gallagher February 10, 1928; Agreement between Armstrong Company, the Munsey Trust Company and the Annapolis Roads Company April 1929.

xlii Anne Arundel County Circuit Court (Land Records) FSR 24, pg 264.

xliii Anne Arundel County Circuit Court (Land Records) FSR 22, pg 387.

xliv Agreement between Armstrong Company, the Munsey Trust Company and the Annapolis Roads Company April 1929.

xlv CRP to Rella Armstrong January 23, 1928. The total bill from the Olmsted Brother was $3285.36 for work done on the Annapolis Roads Project.

xlvi Arthur Bishop to Olmsted Brothers Jasnuary 17, 1930

xlvii CRP to Rella Armstrong January 23, 1927. Rella Armstrong to Percival Gallagher February 10, 1928. The Munsey Trust general plan is a undated plan found in the Olmsted Associates Job File 7591, Folder 1; Agreement between Armstrong Company, the Munsey Trust Company and the Annapolis Roads Company April 1929.

xlviii Rella Armstrong to Arthur Bishop September 23, 1929

xlix The Washington Post, May 11, 1928 pg 4

l Anne Arundel County Circuit Court (Land Records) FSR 41, pg 12.

li The Washington Post, May 11, 1928 pg 4

lii Anne Arundel County Circuit Court (Land Records) FSR 41, pg 12.

liii Agreement between Armstrong Company, the Munsey Trust Company and the Annapolis Roads Company April 1929.

liv Anne Arundel County Circuit Court (Land Records) FSR 45, pg 40.

lv Anne Arundel County Circuit Court (Land Records) FSR 101, pg 465.

lvi Arthur A. Bishop & Company to Olmsted Brothers, June 20, 1932.

lvii The Washington Post, August 14, 1932, pg R2

lviii Arthur A. Bishop & Company to Olmsted Brothers, December 16, 1932.

lix Anne Arundel County Circuit Court (Land Records) FSR 104, pg 148.

lx Anne Arundel County Circuit Court (Land Records) WMB 128, pg 523.

lxi Anne Arundel County Circuit Court (Land Records) [MSA CE 59-920] JHH 576, pg 559.

All Rights Reserved.

Building the Bar...

It's been some time since my last post, but with the end of another year and the number of parties which occur at this time of the year, I thought it was time to look at the bar. Whether it is stuffed in a cupboard out of sight or prominently displayed in a room, the contents of a bar are far more important than how and where it is displayed, if at all.

Example of a small bar set up for a tailgate

It's very easy to get caught up in the variety of liquors available. And perhaps even easier to simply buy the most expensive bottles you can find, expecting that these choices will provide you with the best stocked bar. For me, there is a much simpler solution, find the best bottle for your money and base the bar around these choices. These work well in most straight up drinks, as well as mixed drinks without feeling like you've wasted your money hiding expensive alcohol under the taste of mixers.

Bourbon Whiskey- Either Jim Beam or Jack Daniels (yes, this correctly known as Tennessee Whiskey) are excellent choices.

Scotch Whisky - Dewar's or J&B are both excellent choices for blended Scotch.

Vodka - Smirnoff is my go to brand, but Gilby's or Gordon's will also do nicely.

Gin - Gordon's would be my first choice or Gilby's for those who are not partial to Gordon's.

Rum - Mt. Gay is the perfect choice, though if you are partial to a Dark and Stormy, then you will need Goslings Rum, or if Planter's Punch is your choice, then you will need Myers's Rum. I should add that if you like a bit of rum in your eggnog at Christmas, you should probably not use Mt. Gay as it isn't quite suited to that purpose.

Mixers - Club Soda, Ginger Ale and Tonic Water are really all you need to keep on hand. If you buy them in the one liter bottle size, you will find that they lose their fizz even if you never open the bottles. Your best bet to keep these on hand for guests is to buy them in the small glass bottles by the six pack. These work well for individual servings, with little waste and they keep their fizz unopened much longer than the plastic bottles. If you are throwing a party, get you should buy them in the one liter size.

Accessories - There are a number of tools you should keep handy near the bar. These will make serving drinks much simpler and prevent your needing to run about trying to find the things you need to make a drink. These include a bottle opener, a cork screw (the simple "waiter style" really do work best), a cocktail shaker, a cutting board for limes and lemons,  an ice bucket, ice tongs, a jigger (the best sort are "double ended" with a one ounce measure on one end and a one and a half ounce measure on the other end, and a strainer (useful for keeping ice out of your martini).

While this list may seem rather basic, that is its intent. Even for those who don't drink much, if at all, this would cover most guests needs, should you wish to serve alcohol. For those who do drink, this list will help to cover the drink requests beyond your usual tipple.

Now, if you have a personal favorite for yourself or a family member, then these are easily added to the list. These is still room for your favorite single malt scotch, a bottle of irish whisky, or a bottle of small batch bourbon.

A few very English additions can be made to the bar for those whose tastes lean in that direction. These are as follows:

Cherry Brandy - Drink this either straight or mixed with scotch to create a beverage called Chisky. Yes, I know that sounds like an odd combination, but try it some time and you will be pleasantly surprised. Perhaps the best available is Grant's Cherry Morella Brandy. It was mentioned in the Pickwick Papers and was a favorite of Queen Victoria. In simple terms the best. But damned difficult to find this side of the Atlantic, so stock up when you can if you fancy this spirit.

Sloe Gin - The only choice here is Plymouth Sloe Gin from England. A wonderful winter and early Spring drink with beautiful dark fruit flavors atop the gin base. Avoid the American imposters as they have none of the traditional ingredients.

Pimm's - It is hard to imagine summer without this classic British beverage. American's tend to mix it with ginger ale, creating something known as Pimm's Ginger. If you can find real English Lemonade, you will be able to make a proper Pimm's Cup. Those poncy French lemonades you sometimes find at the grocers will do in a pinch of you can't find British lemonade.

King's Ginger - Only recently available in America, if you enjoy the taste of ginger, this is a must!

By keeping your basic bar "basic" you have room to personalize your bar to your own tastes, while at the same time providing a variety of choices for your guests.

All Rights Reserved.