Endless Mountains

 

Essential Gardening Tools... Spring is here!

For the past 15+ years, I've had the pleasure of having my own garden. From a small fenced garden to a much larger parcel, two things have remained constant, first that gardens take work and work delayed or put off becomes even more work later, and second that having the right tools for the job do make gardening easier. I've learned the hard way about both things.

The the first point, I will try to keep this as simple as I can, but I was once told "one year to seed, seven years to weed." The basic premise is that if you let your garden go to seed just one year, you will be spending the next seven years weeding out that mess. My suggestion is to develop your garden slowly over time. While we all might want that instant garden which looks glorious in print and social media, sometimes it is best to let to evolve in phases. This not only saves your bank account, but it lets you learn about the soil, light, climate and even those animals which decide that your garden (even ornamentals and flowers) looks like the most delicious all you can eat buffet. Knowing those factors can help you select the best plants for your own garden.

To the second point, I've purchased a variety of tools over the years, and have learned, sometimes the hard way, there is no cheap solution which works, but having the right tool for the job can make the work much easier, and easier work is usually more enjoyable.

While perhaps not all inclusive, this is what I've found works best for me over the years:

Briers Professional Gardening Gloves: I find that gloves wear out over time, for me the first seem to go at the fingertips. After reading online, I went with Briers Professional Advanced Smart Gardening Gloves. They have generous padding in the palm and fingers, ensuring a comfortable and secure grip. It also has a breathable back fabric to keep your hands cool, while at the same time providing protection from thorns. The Velcro at the wrists keeps the gloves locked on and they have seemed pretty impervious to dirt so far. And I will add that my first pair lasted 3 years in the garden, which is pretty fantastic.

Showa Thermo Gardening Gloves: This is a new addition for me, but one which I am glad I have added. I've selected the Showa Thermo gardening glove. It's got a "stick-grip" on the palm and fingers which hold up to gardening and are excellent for handling firewood without worry of splinters. The extra long cotton wrists and brushed cotton lining provide comfort in cold winter weather. 

Hunter Wellington Boots: I've worn a variety of footwear working in the garden over the years. Some have been out of convenience or a pair of shoes no longer serving their original purpose, but the Wellington Boot has reigned supreme. For one they keep the dirt out. It may be surprising, but dirt will get into the top of any shoe. Not the case with these boots. And they provide one excellent barrier against pesky mosquitos biting at bare ankles. East to slip on and off the classic Hunter Wellington boot, is my garden work boot of choice. The classic green isn't about a fashion plate, it's about being functional. I'm sold on these any day of the year.

For tools I've migrated to Bulldog tools made in England. This was the line of tools Smith & Hawken began selling when they opened in 1979 and before they introduced their own line of "pretty" but worthless Chinese made crap.

Bulldog Tools have been manufacturing and supplying British made gardening, contractors, and farming tools since 1780 in Wigan, England. All their digging tools are tested to surpass British Standard and can typically take a load in excess of 200 lbs. Tools are forged from their own high quality manganese steel and fitted with "A" grade Ash handles.

Digging Spade with Treads:  The Bulldog Treaded Digging Spade is perfect for digging unprepared ground in preparation for the planting of new shrubs, seeds and vegetables. The Ash handle provides a very a comfortable grip and the treads are welded onto the top edge of the spade, providing protection for your shoes or boots. They also help to avoided slippage in damp conditions. The digging spade is also useful for moving larger quantities of bulk material, and with its carbon steel head, which is solid forged, it is both durable and strong meaning it can withstand repetitive use.

Standard Digging Fork: This is one of the old British import digging forks imported by Smith & Hawken from England and while I can't be positive, it certainly looks and feels like a Bulldog Standard Digging Fork. It's perfect for digging compacted soil, breaking down lumps and levelling the ground. The sharp prongs are ideal for aerating and turning soil.

Merlin Rubber Rake: This is a smaller version of the wizard rake and is useful when working with tight spaces, such as around the bases of shrubbery and flowers. The longer shaft also relieves the pressure on the users back, which is particularly useful when using this tool repetitively.

Bulldog Premier Hand Trowel: After mending my previous trowel, I reached out to Bulldog for  what I hope will be the last I will ever need to buy. This trowel is the perfect hand tool for planting bulbs and seedlings, or any small digging you need to do around the garden. The shaped wooden handle provides a comfortable grip, and the trowel blade is made from carbon steel which means it is wear resistant and strong with a heavy duty tang to secure the head to the handle.

Bulldog Daisy Grubber: I've worked with many different shapes to remove weeds, but this one has worked well for me.  The shaped wooden handle provides a firm, but comfortable grip, and the blade is narrow entering at a "V", allowing the trowel to pull weeds with minimal damaged. Like the trowel, the head is made from carbon steel which means it is both strong and wear resistant, perfect for all weathers in your garden.

Professional Bypass Pruner: My old pruners met their end a year or so ago and I bought these as a replacement. These shears use two blades that bypass each other. This is the perfect tool for thicker stems and live wood in the garden including roses, shrubs and fruit bushes. The 3/4" capacity shears also have soft grip handles that provide a comfortable grip. I won't have to worry about the locking mechanism falling off or the grips sliding off these shears like my previous pair.

So, that's what is working for me in the garden right now. Yes, some of these are a bit more expensive than cheap Chinese imports, but I when it comes to garden tools, I need something long lasting and comfortable. And that's what I think I've finally manage to find.

Clubbical Baltimore of Days Gone By... The Arundell Club

Once upon a time, Baltimore, like many American cities, has a number of private clubs. Formed for a variety of purposes a few still survive to this day, but quite a few succumbed, first to the Great Depression, and secondly to the economic decline of cities in the 1960s and 70s as well as a movement away membership in such organizations.

Yet today, you can still find reminders of these clubs of days gone by in the architecture of American cities. Their buildings have been adapted and reused for a variety of purposes, but they remain part of the landscape.

Madison Street Clubhouse of the Arundell Club on the right

In April 1894, forty women met at the home of Mrs. William Woolsey Johnson at 32 East Preston Street and organized the Arundell Club. The founding members of the club wished to know more about history, sociology, and economics. They also wanted to do philanthropic work and right some of the wrongs to which their eyes had been opened. And they wanted to make Baltimore and Maryland a healthier and happier place to live. Cultural activities were a part, but only a part, of this objective. The objects of the club were stated to be "the advancement of its members in literature, science, and art; the promotion of social intercourse among them; the acquisition and maintenance of a library; and the collection and care of materials and appliances relating to the above objects."

Through the club's influence, school attendance was made compulsory to a certain age. It helped finance the introduction of a nurse into the school system, was instrumental in introducing home economics into the school curriculum, and later in helping to secure the appointment of women to the school board. They were instrumental in the creation of a juvenile house of detention separate from the adult population, organized a campaign the mandatory birth registration, helped preserve the Shot Tower, provided war relief and operated it's own Red Cross chapter which helped prevent the spread of flu in 1918 at Camp Holibird. 

Initial quarters for the club were secured at 313 North Charles Street in two rented rooms above the dressmaking and millinery shop of Madame Margaret O'Connor.

Entrance Hallway of the Madison Street Clubhouse

On October 24, 1894 the Arundell Club opened its first true clubhouse at 216 West Madison Street. It featured a spacious reading room, finished in dull oak and red, with comfortable chairs and a piano, as well as the latest reviews and magazines. This room opened to a yellow and green tea room. These large rooms would from time to time be able to accommodate the audiences invited for various talks held at the club. Upstairs there were beautifully furnished committee rooms, where members interested in literary, scientific, artistic, or economic subjects could meet for study or discussion. There were also bedroom and dressing rooms for out-of-town members.

Former Committee Room at the Madison Street Clubhouse

In October 1896, the Arundell Club moved to a new location, an attractive brownstone at 1000 North Charles Street, on the North-West corner of North Charles and Eager Streets, formerly the residence of Mr. Stephen Bonsal. Initially the club rented the house but formed the Arundel Club Stock Company and in June 1897, purchased the house through that company.

The club formally incorporated on January 18, 1898 "to create and maintain for women a center of organized work for social and intellectual intercourse and for that purpose to acquire and provide a clubhouse."

The final meeting of the club was held on April 24, 1946 and on May 1, 1946 moved down the street to the College Club at 821 North Charles Street. The clubhouse at 1000 North Charles Street was later torn down and is a parking lot today. In April 1952 the club disbanded. Their silver was returned to the families of members who donated it to the club. Much of the furniture was given to the Society for the Preservation of Maryland Antiquities for use at Hampton, a portrait of Lady Anne Arundell and a sofa were given to the Maryland Historical Society, and the sideboard over which the portrait hung was given to the College Club.

Bringing Some Sparkle to Your Table: Vintage Silver Plate and the Holidays

 Over the past week or so, I've had a chance to see many of my friends posting photos of their Dinner tables as they were set for the American Thanksgiving Holiday. It's been a rather weird year for most, if not all of us and this holiday was no exception.

Many of us who entertained a packed table of family and/or friends saw our tables filled only with those who actually live under our roof. And those who travelled to join family and friends suddenly were faced with creating their own celebratory dinner, either alone or with a reduced gathering of a few at their table. In one case a dinning room was used for the first time in 20 years of living in their house. Those with sterling silver began polishing their pieces preparing for the holiday meal. And for those who do not regularly entertain, this meant pulling out long unused wedding presents for service, or using the daily kitchen service for the celebratory dinner centered typically on turkey.

This made me think about ways in which in this time of new challenges how we can brighten up the dinner table in an otherwise grim time. And I've come up with a interesting idea, one which is not only fairly inexpensive, but also could be considered "green" in its ability to reuse items which have fallen from use. Silver Plate.

Silver plate has existed since the creation of Sheffield plate in 1743, in which layers of silver and copper and fused together. In about 1840 the process of making plate changed with the invention of electroplating. In this method, the one commonly associated with modern silver plate, a thin layer of silver is applied to a base metal, typically copper or nickel silver. Due to the very low silver content, it has no real metal value to be melted down as in the case of sterling silver which is 92.5% silver and has its value closely associated with current silver prices.

Silver plate though is quite affordable, with a recent set selling on eBay for just over $20 and consisting of 12 four-piece place settings and three flatware service pieces. That's less than $0.50 per piece. Even when you look at companies online like Replacements, which tends to sell at premium prices, individual flatware pieces can be found in the area of $5 per piece. Large sets can commonly be found on eBay for around $60.

And the vintage pieces were made in the USA, during a time when quality meant something. The workmanship in the base metal pieces was high quality and unless the pieces are damaged/have lost plate, it would take an trained eye to tell the difference, unless they went to "flip" the pieces. It is on the back you can see the marks and unless it says sterling in the USA or has a sterling makers mark in the UK, it is plate. Other terms such as EPNS indicate silver plate.

Patterns of silver plate are available in a variety of styles, from Victorian, to Edwardian, to Colonial Revival, to Art Deco, and event to Modern pieces designed in the 1950s and 1960s. The sky is the limit for place settings. You can pick anything you want, you can be creative and have different patterns for each place at the table, or mix and match the pieces if you want. Or you can do the "old school" thing and have everything match. The choice is yours!

So if you want to add some sparkle to your table and make the holiday shine a bit more than it might using the kitchen stainless, take a look at vintage silver plate. You might find something you like.

For interest sake, here is a link to a website which has a listing of many different silver plate patterns.

https://centennialantiques.com/pages/silver-plate-pattern-identification-guide

They are a retailer and I don't endorse the site, but it does provide a nice look at the patterns. Be sure to check prices from other sources like eBay, Replacements, Silver Queen, and others before making a purchase.

Revisiting a Cordings Linen Suit, Three Years Later...

Three years ago, I posted about Cordings of Piccadilly and their linen suits. I did so having purchased a jacket and two pairs of trousers in April of that year, and I could not have been happier about my decision. Now three years later, I thought it time to again write about the very same suitings. If you are looking for something smart to wear this summer, don't wait to make a decision on Cordings linen, buy it now.

Cordings Sand Jacket, Trousers, and Waistcoat

Still Looking Fresh After A Full Day In The Sun On A Hot And Humid July Day

(Paired with a pair of Loake Chelsea Boots, Ray Ban Sunglasses, and a Panama Hat)

I'd visited J.C. Cordings & Co. in London a month earlier and had been properly fitted for a suit which I purchased at that time. I can't say enough good things about the staff and the incredible speed with which alterations were offered. Even if you are in London for a short duration, this is a must visit shop for both men's and women's clothing.

Cordings Navy Linen Jacket

My first selection was their navy linen jacket. As they clearly state on their website, "Can there be anything more evocative of an Englishman in the summer months than a linen jacket?" Made of 8-ounce Italian linen, it is cut to their classic three button style, with a single back vent, working four button cuff, ticket pocket, and it fully lined in 100% Viscose. For those who might not be familiar with the "working cuff" this simple means that the cuff buttons are not decorative, they really do unbutton. Another feature of the jacket is the lapel button hole which allows you to add a lapel pin or flower, as the back of the lapel features loops to secure the lapel flower stem. Small details that many do not notice or even feel they are missing, but details which set this jacket apart from the rest of the crowd.

Cordings Olive Green Linen Trousers

To pair with the jacket, I initially ordered two pairs of their linen trousers, one in sand and the second in olive green. In American terms, these equate to khaki and British khaki respectively. Also made of the same 8-ounce Italian linen, they are flat front with a button fly.

Since those initial purchases, I have added even more of their linen items to my wardrobe. Two months later I added two classic linen shirts to my wardrobe, one sky blue and the other white. These lightweight shirts feature single cuffs a traditional unfused collar, one left hand breast pocket, and have a traditional generous cut, perfect for hot humid days, with longs tails which ensure they stay tucked into your trousers. They pair perfectly with the linen jackets and trousers, and are well suited for the casual to the more formal summer events.

Cordings Sand Linen Waistcoat

By the following Spring, I decided to add a sand linen jacket to my wardrobe. With the matching sand trousers which I had ordered previously, I now had my first linen suit. I also made the decision to add a sand linen waistcoat to my wardrobe. Perhaps I was influenced by Gareth Southgate, but as an American, I was going out on a limb a bit here as you don't usually see men wearing three-piece suits these days. But whether you are slim or portly, the waistcoat does give you a slimmer more tailored look. I definite plus to the wardrobe. The waistcoat is single-breasted and made in the UK of Italian linen. It has five buttons, is fully lined and features a traditional two-part collar.

I've worn these trousers, shirts, and jackets quite a bit during the few rather hot and humid days we've experienced over the last three summers and still to this day wonder why it took me so long to throw off even the lightest of wool jackets I've worn most of my life, in exchange for linen. And paired with a Panama Hat, it is a classic look which is not only sharp looking, but extremely comfortable.

Yes, linen does wrinkle a bit more than wool, but both require the same dry-cleaning care so I am saving nothing in maintenance from one to the other. But what I am saving is my own personal comfort. And nothing beats these linen suitings on a summer day! If you live in places with hot and/or humid summers, then this is a wardrobe staple.

I ordered them in the exact same sizes as all the suits the suit I have purchased from Cordings. So, if you get fitted in London at their shop, you can order online with ease and confidence knowing that they remain true to the size of the clothing you bought in London. For those ordering online without visiting Piccadilly, I found that the Cordings jacket was the same fit as my American jackets, but that the trousers needed to be ordered two inches larger by size at the waist than my American trousers. (This was pointed out to me in London during the fitting when the staff member immediately suggested the trousers in the larger waist size, but provided both sizes for me in the fitting room. Needless to say he was spot on!)

So if you are looking for the perfect suit, or jacket and trousers for less formal events, this summer, be sure to take a serious look at the linen offerings from Cordings.

Cordings advertises a "no quibble returns" so as long as none of the clothing has been altered, you may want to take a chance on an online order without visiting London, though I can't imagine not visiting their shop in Piccadilly if you have the chance, as it is an experience not to be missed. Also, note that their website prices include VAT of 20% so this is removed from your order before payment is made.

You can find Cordings online here at www.cordings.co.uk

I eagerly look forward to my next visit to Cording of Piccadilly later this year and will be sure to leave space in my luggage for new acquisitions I am positive I will be making!

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Lost To Time And Redevelopment... The Southern Hotel

One of Baltimore's lost hotels, is The Southern Hotel, which opened for business March 6, 1918 on the site of the 18th Century Fountain Inn at which George Washington stayed. Later the site was occupied by the Carrollton Hotel, famous in Baltimore history as a house of public entertainment, but destroyed in the great fire of 1904. A bronze tablet, which was originally located at the Carrollton Hotel was unveiled April 12, 1918 in the lobby of the Southern Hotel by the Colonial Dames of America, Chapter 1, carried this inscription: This Site was Formerly Occupied by the Fountain Inn, where GENERAL GEORGE WASHINGTON Lodged upon the Following Memorable Occasions: May 5, 1775, on His Journey to Philadelphia as a Delegate from Virginia to the Second Continental Congress; Sep. 8, 1781, on His Way to the Reduction of Yorktown; April 17, 1780, when Proceeding as President-Elect to His Inauguration at New York.

The new hotel was promoted by A. J. Fink. He secured an option on the site, interested capital, and the magnificent Southern Hotel was the result. The Southern fronted west 93 feet on Light Street and south 148 feet on Redwood Street. The structure was fourteen stories, contained 345 bed rooms, all with private bath, and represented an investment of $1,250,000 in 1918 dollars of which the site cost $150,000, the structure $900,000, and the furnishings $200,000. The hotel was designed by Otto G. Simonson and built of mainly brick, stone, concrete, terra cotta and hollow tile, with the partitions of gypsum.

The Southern differed from the vast majority of hotels in the it had but one entrance. That entrance, into a parlored lobby, had a spacious semi-public lounging room just within the front door, and a ladies room adjoining, so that the home atmosphere welcomed both male and female guests directly at the threshold. The lobby was luxuriously furnished, the rug covered marble floor, accented with mahogany furniture.

The private dining rooms had paneled walls in a French gray finish, and the furnishings included elaborate carved sideboards and cabinets, with leather seat chairs of a special pattern, and quaint window dressings. All the dining rooms had convenient and roomy pantry service, and were conveniently connected to the main kitchen by a stairway and service elevator.

Lobby Floor Elevators

The decorative furnishings of the Southern Hotel were very carefully planned, insuring a thoroughly harmonious blending of colors. The result was that an entering guest of artistic sensibilities had the impression of the sudden rise of a curtain upon a scene of beautiful interiors with the comforting promise of other delights to eye and mind, linked with luxurious catering to the usual requirements of one's physical well-being. The foundation of the general color scheme was laid in the carpeting, the wall coverings, draperies and furniture having been selected with the utmost care that no note of discord was found in the completed work.

Upon entering the hotel, the lobby, lounge and mezzanine met the eye at one glance. Here the draperies were of a soft brown sunfast velour with a rose backing, giving a shimmering iridescence in autumn tones. The spacious elevator lobby was flanked with two private dining rooms, and a banquet room directly in front of the elevators. Damask in shades of blue and mauve decorated the private dining rooms and the main dining room was furnished in rose, the table lights and wall lamps having shades of gold-colored silk. This blending of rose and gold afforded a soft yet brilliant illumination.

In the ladies' reception room and the second-floor banquet rooms the decorator's art was carried out in delft-blue velour.

Colony Club Lounge

The Old Colony Club had a home on the second floor of the Southern Hotel. It occupied the entire Light street front of the second floor. At the time of the hotel's opening, the Old Colony Club had a membership of 14,000 with dues of $25.00 per year. In 1918, there were fourteen Old Colony clubs distributed over America, only one headquarters in any city. The membership was privileged to use any Old Colony Club as their club home when in that city. The membership was composed of business men, and the club quarters were utilized not only for the home conveniences, but also for business appointments and the like. All of these club homes were located in hotels, and the following hotels had the necessary furnished quarters: The Muehlebach, Kansas City; the Planters, St. Louis; the Bellevue-Stratford, Philadelphia; the Manhattan, New York; the Bellevue, Boston; the Gibson, Cincinnati; the LaSalle, Chicago; the Raleigh, Washington; the Hollenden, Cleveland; the Pontchartrain, Detroit, as well as the Southern, Baltimore. Damask in shades of blue and mauve decorated the Old Colony Club rooms on the second floor.

 Colony Club Dining Room

The 345 bed rooms were in the main abundantly lighted, and three-fourths of them were what was termed front rooms. Every room had either bath or shower, the majority of the rooms with tub baths. The woodwork is gumwood, with a mahogany finish, and the walls are papered in light colors, with small pleasing patterns. The furniture is mahogany and walnut, built by the White Furniture Co. of Mebane, N. C. The beds are mostly wood and the dressers have glass top, with a "dresser scarf" of light brown blotting paper which looked like silk fabric under the glass, and with an attached light over center of mirror.  A pincushion, pin tray, candle stick, etc., were included as dresser top accessories. The carpets were Whittal and Sanford, all of neutral brownish tones, except those for the corridors, which were red. The rugs are Whittal Anglo-Saxon. The writing desks were of the Statler Hotels type. and the arm chairs were Karpen upholstered. The window draperies were of Orinoka fabric of special design by the Orinoka (Philadelphia) Mills, those over lace curtains. The waste baskets were wicker and the illumination was by ceiling bracket and portable lights. The bed light was shaded and adjustable. The windows had Chamberlain weather strips and Hartshorn shades and every window had both light and slumber shades. The walls were hung with French prints, and each room had vacuum bottle for cold water, and was plugged for light, telephone, and electric fan. A linen laundry bag was provided for sending clothing to the laundry, and the guests' laundry was returned to rooms in a fiber-box. The room doors were mahogany, three hinge, and each corridor door was equipped with a rigid knob occupancy indicator. A daily newspaper was placed under the door of every occupied bed room every morning, the paper stamped "Good Morning, Compliments of the Southern Hotel."

Typical Bedroom

There were also 26 sample rooms ranging from 20' x 24' to 24' x 31' in the hotel, which were designed for travelling salesmen and trunk shows.

Typical Sample Room

The halls of the hotel averaged seven feet wide, wainscoted with burlap and papered above. At each corner there were signal lights directing patrons to the elevators. At each landing there was a pay station telephone, a synchronized Howard clock, a Cutler mail chute, and also a settee and French mirror. There were two ice water fountains and stack of paper cups in each hall.

Typical Floor Elevator Lobby

The fourteenth-floor ballroom, which occupied the east end of the floor, was a marvel. This room, 46' x 85', was lighted with tall windows on three sides, the ceiling was slightly arched and finished in delicate relief, and had a pure Adams treatment with "Wedgwood" medallion ornaments. The color scheme is gray and gold, with window draperies of striped derby damask, the wisteria, green and gold combinations lighting up a veritable fairyland of fancy. The chair coverings were also of this wisteria theme. The floor was resilient for dancing, and one end of the room was fitted with a stage. The acoustic properties of the ball room were very good and at the time it was the largest room of its kind in the city.

This floor, in addition to the ballroom, also had a roof garden which occupied the west end of the floor. It was arranged to give Baltimore a social headquarters all year round and furnish roof garden facilities of the most desirable kind. The west and south sides of the roof garden were covered with a pergola and were glass enclosed during the winter season. The floor of the roof garden was in red Welsh tile. And the view from the roof garden commanded a panorama of the city and surrounding hills which was a delight to the eye.

Between the ballroom and the roof garden was a sub-kitchen and serving room, admirably arranged for facilitating the service of banquets and roof garden refreshments. A wide marble floored corridor which connected the two rooms. The kitchen serving the ball room and roof garden had Sexton equipment and a Blakeslee Niagara dishwasher, and the floor was of the same red Welsh tile as the roof garden.

Fourteenth Floor Cooridor and Reception Room

Throughout the entire hotel, specially shaped flat valances were used instead of old-fashioned dust-catching heavy draperies. The draperies were designed and executed by the Hutzler Brothers Co. of Baltimore.

The hotel also had a bar which was finished in the Adams period, a very attractive room. The back-bar equipment was Bichop-Babcock. There was also a barbershop in the basement of the hotel with seven chairs, and a manicure department.

Barber Shop

The kitchen, located in the basement, was of the "open to inspection" type. It was equipped by the Sexton Stove Co., with copper and aluminum utensils. The kitchen machinery was run by electric power, and in keeping with the time in which it was built, there was a separate kitchen for the white help. The bake shop has a brick oven and the usual equipment.

The elevators were Otis and operated by women, who were found to be competent for this work, a breakthrough for the time and partially caused by the labor shortages of the Great War.

When the hotel opened, the china was supplied by Warwick of Wheeling, West Virginia, most of it marked with the hotel crest. The hotel silver was provided by the Wallace Silver Company, and the glass was provided by the Central Glass Works of Wheeling, West Virginia. The dining room chairs were upholstered mahogany with cane backs.

On June 11, 1918 the roof garden opened for the first time to a large and constantly increasing crowd. The roof abounded in fresh hanging greens and growing flowers, electric lights draped effectively in red, white and blue shades, with flags of the allied nations of the Great War attractively arranged. During the evening appropriate favors were presented to guests, and Beatrice Van Loon and her all female orchestra furnished a most enjoyable musical program. The Southern Hotel roof garden would undoubtedly be a very popular place for dining in the open that Summer, and for many summers to come.

Known for its culinary delights, a few of the recipes from the Southern Hotel have been preserved for posterity. In 1932 recipes for Baked Oysters Lafayette, Grilled Oysters Baltimore, Casserolette of Crab Meat, Stuffed Shad Roe Fountain Inn, Broiled Smelts Maitre d'Hotel, and Old Fashioned Fried Chicken Maryland Style were published in "Eat, Drink And Be Merry in Maryland," which had been provided to the author by A.J. Fink, managing director of the hotel.

The hotel finally closed its doors in 1964, after only 46 years of service. In 1967, the hotel was purchased by the Maritime Engineers Beneficial Association, which operated a seaman's training center there until turning off the lights for good in 1984. The hotel was torn down in 1998.

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