Crowning The Gravelly Hill... Part 1

Every once in a while, you get to study a community, from its development, through its construction and then on to where it stands today. I've decided to take a look at one such community in the northern reaches of Baltimore. I shall get to the infrastructure which was built to support this community, but for now, I shall look at the homes. I hope you enjoy.

Residence of John M. Palmer, Esq. - 329 Hawthorne Road

329 Hawthorne Road in 2016

John M. Palmer, Esq. bought this lot on May 29, 1893 for $2500 from the Roland Park Company. This residence was designed by Wyatt & Nolting of Baltimore and built by the Roland Park Company between May 1893 and May 1896

Palmer was a partner in Palmer, Harvey & Company, a wholesale fruit and fancy groceries company located at 113-115 Cheapside. He was also a founding member of the Roland Park Presbyterian Church.

The design shows a unique treatment for an all shingled house. Its shingles are laid in projecting tri-courses, relieving the straight lines of the building, otherwise only broken by the slightly projecting bays and gabled porches. The entrance gable, supported by slender turned columns, is plastered, and decorated with a composition ornament. The main roof is gabled, and well broken in front by three dormer windows. The foundation is of rock-faced local stone. The exterior framework above this underpinning is sheathed, papered, shingled (as mentioned above), and originally allowed to weather finish. The roof was originally similarly treated. The trimming color is cream. The shutters which originally graced the house were dark green. The chimney  is of brick and cement capped. Dimensions: Front, 46'2", exclusive of porch projections; side, 37'1" including rear but not the front porch or bay projections. Heights: cellar, 7'6"; first story, 9'3"; second, 8'7"; attic, 7'8". The entrance door opens into a central hall, with a staircase of easy rise at the end, having square newel and four straight balusters to the tread, with seat at the side. Pocket doors (originally painted in white enamel) lead to the parlor and library. The dining room, with a flat arch leading to a nook, with a closet to its side, has fireplace, faced with burnt Sienna tiles and topped with a mantle. Other fireplaces in the house are also tiled, and have mantles of neat design. The butler's pantry is provided with a closet, dressers and a sink. A passage leads to the kitchen which was originally fitted with the with usual fixtures. The finish in the house, except where otherwise noted, is cypress. the second floor is divided into four chambers, all with closets, two with fireplaces, and principal one with a large dressing room. The bathroom was provided with the best fixtures and featured exposed plumbing. A linen room with built in shelving was also on the second floor. The attic has one large, two smaller bedrooms, and hall, all finished off. The entire cellar is cemented, and contained the laundry, heating apparatus, and fuel storage, etc.

All Rights Reserved.

The new Pikesville Rye, a Maryland Style Rye Whiskey?

There was a time when Maryland was synonymous with rye whiskey. For those who are viewers of the Deadwood series on HBO, you may have even notice Maryland Rye on the list in behind the bar at "The Gem."

Now before I go any further, I'm going to say that despite repeated requests from Heaven Hill Distillery for information, they failed to even respond to my requests, so what you will find below is what I have collected on my own. Why would I write about this without their support or reply? Because I love Rye Whiskey.

The last survivor of Maryland Rye Whiskey was Pikesville Straight Rye Whiskey. It was first produced in 1895 by the L. Winand & Brothers Distillery in Scott’s Level, Maryland, just Northwest of Baltimore, Maryland. Closed during prohibition, businessman Andrew Merle acquired the Pikesville brand in 1936 and contracted Monumental Distillery, owned by Standard Distillers in Baltimore to resume production of the label.

With sales of Maryland Rye dwindling, production ceased in 1972, marking the end of Maryland Rye production. The brand survived on existing whiskey stocks until 1982 when it was sold to Heaven Hill of Kentucky where production resumed at the historic Bernheim Distillery. In one day, an entire years supply would be distilled, a statement about the decline of rye whiskey drinking in America.

In 2015 Heaven Hill rolled out a new Pikesville Rye Whiskey. They still produce the standard version, but this is a 110 proof . Is it really a Maryland Style Rye Whiskey? Well it has the same mash bill as Rittenhouse Rye, 51% rye, 39% corn, 10% malted barley. What is the mash bill for the traditional Pikesville? I don't know because Heaven Hill would not respond. Rittenhouse is aged for four years and is 100 proof and the new Pikesville is aged six years and is 110 proof, with the old version of Pikesville being aged three years and only 80 proof.

So is the new Pikesville even a Maryland Style Rye Whiskey? Hard to tell and Heaven Hill sure isn't talking to me. Will I drink it? It is a tasty bottle of rye, spicy notes with a buttery finish. It has a high proof which makes it not for the faint of heart, but not so strong as to make it inaccessible without the addition of ice or water.

Is this a marketing gimmick from Heaven Hill? I certainly hope not. I'd love for it to be a return to real Maryland Style Rye Whiskey. But with so many rye whiskys on the market today compared to 20 years ago, a distillery needs to wow me with more than just a nostalgic label. I've been drinking Pikesville for 25 years, and now have a bottle of the new Pikesville after spending 2 months trying to find one. I'll keep them on hand, but I can't fully support an unresponsive company like Heaven Hill. There is just simply too much good Rye Whiskey available for me not to find a brand with a heart and not just a marketing plan...

All Rights Reserved.

The Birds of J.J. Audubon...

Decorating your house is never an easy thing, especially when you are not the only decision maker in the process. Things you may have enjoyed in your single days, might not be the same sort of things your partner envisions as their preferred decorating style. Decorating then becomes a matter of compromise. Thankfully for me, that compromise landed me in the wonderful world of John James Audubon.

Audubon was born in Haiti, and sent to France where he was raised. In order to avoid conscription by Napoleon when he was a young man, Audubon was dispatched to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to oversee land owned by his father. There he met and married Lucy Bakewell, whose lifelong support was critical to Audubon's success.

After many years he finally attained fame as an artist and ornithologist with the publication of his first Birds of America double elephant folio edition in London. These prints were chiefly engraved and hand colored by Robert Havell Jr. They were printed on "double elephant" folio sized sheets of watermarked J. Whatman fine wove paper. From 1826-1838 these aquatint copper plate engraved sheets, measuring about 26" x 39", and beautifully hand colored, were issued in 87 parts of 5 prints each. The complete set totaled 435 prints. They were sold by subscription, and the owners/subscribers eventually bound them into 7 volumes. It is estimated that between 160-180 complete sets of the first Birds of America were issued.

Today about 110 complete sets survive, mainly in museums and other institutions. An unknown number of partially bound sets and individual prints survive. They are quite rare. The last complete bound set sold at auction for $8.8 million. Individual prints sell for thousands of dollars, with a few fetching $100,000.00 or more. These were a bit more than I was looking to spend in decorating our dining room.

The success of Audubon's first Birds of America brought Audubon Worldwide acclaim. Following that success, he returned to America and set out to issue a smaller version that would include more birds. He decided on a 1/8 or octavo sized sheet measuring about 6-1/2" x 10". He called this set The Royal Octavo Edition of Birds of America. The 1st Edition of 500 plates was completed under the direct supervision of Audubon and lithographed and hand colored by J.T. Bowen in Philadelphia and New York from 1840-44. They were again sold by subscription, and issued in order by species in 100 sets of 5 each. It is estimated that from 1000-1200 complete sets were issued. No one knows how many complete sets and individual prints survive today. They are very popular and highly collectable. Today, a complete set in good condition would sell for over $50,000.00 at auction. Individual 1st edition prints sell at dealer's galleries from $50-$100 each, on up to $2,000.00+, depending upon popularity.

It was here, with the 1st edition octavo that I began collecting Audubon, the first a Black Cap Titmouse perched upon Sweet Briar (a personal connection to our household). As a matter of fact, none of the birds I've since collected were selected at random, but each has a personal connection to us, either seen at our house or where we summer. I could just pick ones with attractive prices, or ones which are highly valued, or ones which have a look or color I am seeking. But I've enjoyed the hunt for the birds we know in life to decorate our house.

Could I buy reprints? Of course, but once you have seen the originals, you will only see the copies as poor imitations of the originals. There is something about a hand colored print which sets them apart from the copies. Give the choice between a copy and a blank wall, I'd take a blank wall.

Up to eight (8) editions, some text only without plates, were issued from 1856-1889. The most important of these editions were: the 2nd (1856), the 3rd (1859), the 5th (1861), and the 7th (1870 published by Lockwood). An 1860 letterpress or text edition was issued without plates to accompany the Bien Edition.
 
A beige or blue-green printed colored background generally identifies the 2nd and later editions on each plate, except those with landscapes scenes. The type on the credit lines at the bottom of the later edition prints is generally bold face, as opposed to the italics on most of the 1st edition prints. Today, dealer price lists often list prices for the 1st octavo edition, and then lump all the later editions into one price list category called "later editions", with no distinction among them. Dealers with a large inventory of a particular later edition will often sell them as later edition, but give the year they were published.

I'm glad I found Audubon's octavo editions. The questions isn't where to begin, but where to stop.

All Rights Reserved.

Requiem for Bill's Khakis...?

I first discovered Bill's Khakis about 10 years ago at a small shop in Baltimore. A brand that had been around for about 15 years already, located in a renovated hardware factory in downtown Reading, Pennsylvania, it produced quality men's trousers as its backbone. These were American made, with a quality reminiscent of the American khaki uniform trousers of World War II.

But something happened. Most people, probably most customers, didn't even notice, but some of their retailers knew something was afoot. In June 2014 Source Capital, became involved with Bill's Khakis, presumably to provided needed funding. Bill's had begun an aggressive direct to consumer sales and marketing program. Previous to this, Bill's was available at a number of small independent men's clothing stores, but now the customer could order directly from Bill's for the same price. This meant Bill's would get not only their normal wholesale cut, but also the retail profit which is typically 50% of the cost of clothing. Not a bad deal for Bill's, but this meant they were now in direct competition with the very same independent retailers which had built the brand for over 20 years.

I didn't pay much attention personally, that is until this Fall. Suddenly Bill's was on sale. I don't mean a little sale, but over 50% off direct from the manufacturer sales. A pair of $185 trousers for only $85. This meant Bill's was now selling to the public for less than their own retailers (yes some still remain even with the direct sales) could buy the product. December 4th they were selling their original twill trousers for over 65% off retail price. I decided to give it a whirl and tried to order a pair, I mean how could I pass that by. But the website was only showing the trousers for 50% off, not the advertised $45. Later that evening I tried again. The price worked, but once I added the product to the shopping cart, I went to checkout out the the cart was empty. I tried again and again, adding to the cart and then finding it empty. I gave up.

Next day they were on sale again, this time for 70% off. Again the same website results, but now I was really curious...

What I missed on December 4th was the announcement that Source Capital had bought Bill's Khakis for an undisclosed amount according the Reading Eagle. Furthermore Source Capital had partnered with NEJ Inc. NEJ Inc specializes in excess inventory solutions for retailers and brands of apparel.

I then went to the clothing blogs and have found them ripe with rumour to include everything from restructuring to brand liquidation.

According to one online source speaking with an employee over the phone in the warehouse:
- The company was sold about a month ago
- Their previous investor pushed growth aggressively, which led to the explosion of their product line and overall drop in quality
- Bill's had no capital in order to buy the goods and the bottom fell out
- Their previous investor refused to inject any capital into the brand and then the bottom REALLY fell out
- The recent liquidation is an attempt by the new owners to regain whatever capital they can
- The liquidation, coupled with the holidays, has their customer service department completely overloaded. They've just abandoned checking the email account because it's overflowing so don't bother sending a message.
- They have very little left on the shelves. They are completely out of anything in khaki.
All in all, the source seemed hopeful that some semblance of the brand's former glory will be reclaimed once they get over this "hump" and the source believes the new owner understands the market for Bill's.

The fact remains that Bill Thomas seems to have gotten greedy here in a move to increase his profits and distribution at the expense of his long time retail supporters. It will be a shame to see this American made brand disappear if that is the case, all in the name of profit. And it is the customer and the low level employees who will lose in the end.

If the worst of the rumours are true, it may very well be the Requiem for Bill's Khakis. And for that I am sad.

Edit: According to a footnote placed on January 5, 2016 on the Bill's Khaki's website, on November 18, 2015, BK Acquisition, LLC (BK Acquisition) purchased substantially all of the assets of W.Thomas Co.(d/b/a Bills Khakis) through a sale conducted in accordance with Article 9 of the Pennsylvania Uniform Commercial Code (UCC).

All Rights Reserved.

Needlepoint Belts Aren't for Everyone, But We Like it That Way....

Needlepoint belts aren't for everyone, but for those who love them, there is simply no substitute. But they don't come cheaply....

There are three basic routes to getting your own, make it yourself, get someone to make one for you, or buy one. The going rate for a pre-made needlepoint belt is $165 as offered by Smathers and Branson. Sounds expensive?

Smathers and Branson University of Delaware Needlepoint Belt with Monogram

Well let's take a look at the other options.... To make your own needlepoint belt you are probably looking at $150 in materials and in the neighborhood of 100 hours of labour. Think about how much your time is worth and we are talking about a pretty expensive belt in terms of materials and time, not to mention the practice needed before even attempting such a project. Of course if you are very fortunate to have someone make one for you, you have to remember how much the loved one has spent in time and effort to make a belt for you.

So when we look at the other options, $165 is not really a bad option and their "stock" options for belts are wide and varied, not to mention "custom" belts which they make for a variety of retailers around the country. Now surely you can't get the true custom belt like you might from a family member or girlfriend, but those options exist at some level with Smathers and Branson with their monogrammed belts and custom "life belts" both available with with additional charges.

Smathers and Branson Custom Belt for Yoicks!

These belts are made in Vietnam where they pay women more than the prevailing wages there to make these needlepoint belts for the American market.

So if you are looking for a special gift for someone, ore something fun to add to your own wardrobe, consider Smathers and Branson and their needlepoint belts.

For more information see Smathers and Branson

All Rights Reserved.

The Foxhall Farm Team Chase... When The Steeplechase Season Begins in Maryland...

In less than two weeks, the Maryland Timber Racing Season will begin with that quiet and quite unknown race, the Foxhall Farm Cup Team Chase. A very different race from what most racing enthusiasts are used to seeing, this race is perhaps best known for the mammoth team trophy which dwarfs most other racing trophies.

2011 Foxhall Farm Cup Team Chase Winning Team from the Green Spring Valley Hunt

This race began in 1920 over timber at the Monkton, Maryland home of renowned American sportsman, Foxhall P. Keene. His intent was to encourage participation in the sport. The race is run by teams of three, all regular followers of a recognized hunt, with strong representation from the Maryland and Pennsylvania Hunts. To honor the winning team, Keene commissioned a challenge cup which was to be held by the victorious hunt until the next renewal if the race. Made of sterling silver, it is one of the most impressive trophies in the sport.

Taking place early in the season, it is regularly postponed a week, as it was this year, or even cancelled by late arriving snows, but look forward to once again attending this year. When I last attended, the race was held on a brisk sunny early Spring afternoon at the Green Spring Valley Hunt Club, current holders of the trophy. I can't think of a more perfect place to be on such a spring day, but this is certainly not a race for those more familiar with races as a social event. The "glamour crowd" tends to pass this event by and the tents and lush tailgate spreads are no where to be seen. There is no champagne. It's a very simple affair and I can't say that I miss any of that at all.

Retired Lawyer and former steeplechase jockey Turney McKnight explained the race best in a 2009 Washington Post article, "the Foxhall race is really more of a training ground." "The jockeys want to practice but not overexercise the steeds," McKnight further explained.

2011 Foxhall Farm Cup Team Chase

Many of the horses which run here will be seen competing in Maryland's triple crown of Steeplechase, My Lady's Manor, Grand National and Maryland Hunt Cup, as well as races further afield like Carolina Cup and Virginia Gold Cup.

So whether you position yourself at the start/finish area, or at one of the fences along the course, you will be treated to a chance to watch some beautiful horses in some beautiful hunt country.

While attendance at the race is free, the Green Spring Valley Hunt were wonderful hosts after the race, with a donation request from non-participants.

This might not be a race that gets much attention, it has definitely earned a place upon my calender and where I will be found on Sunday, March 22nd, if the weather and my busy Spring schedule permits.

Check out the Maryland Steeplechase Association website for more information:
http://www.marylandsteeplechaseassociation.com/race-meets/the-foxhall-farm-trophy-chase/

All Rights Reserved.

Christmas Memories with Christmas Tree....

For everyone there are certain things which remind them of Christmas. It can be foods, smells, experiences or things, but each one brings back memories of Christmas past and without them, the holiday is somewhat lacking.

For me, one of those things is the Christmas Tree china from Spode.

Spode Christmas Tree China

Photo Courtesy Spode

Introduced in 1938, this pattern was one of the most important designs for the Spode Company. In May 1938, Sydney Thompson, sales agent for Spode in America wanted a new design for the Christmas season. Thomas Hassall, art director for Spode asked Harold Holdway, one of the Spode designers to produce a design. Holdway created a plate with a central design of a Christmas Tree with presents hanging from the branches.

After a few revisions to the design, salesmen were swamped with orders. Over the following years, the Christmas Tree pattern developed into an entire table setting as well as extra serving pieces. While the most common border of the plate is a green band, it had also been available with a red band,

About 1962, the pattern switched from transfer printing and hand-painting to slide-off lithography.

For years this china has symbolized Christmas gatherings for many Americans and is the worlds most recognized holiday design. But despite its popularity, the Spode factory closed in 2009 and today, new production is made in China.

Personally, I think the Chinese production is not as warm as the English china. Am I biased? Perhaps, but thankfully there is still a market for the English made Christmas Tree china, and I seek it out when I can, leaving the new Chinese pieces for others.

So with December upon us, once again the beloved Christmas Tree china has made its appearance. And last years regulars are now augmented by new finds and additions to brighten the holiday and bring back memories of Christmas past.

All Rights Reserved.