It is likely that Old Schroeder Run was one of Baltimore’s earliest buried streams
Old Baltimore had to deal with Schroeder run, which was a small sized stream flowing through the streets and close proximity to the city’s South Western inhabitants. And this is in the olden days, well before Baltimore’s 19th century drain revolution, and over haul. People back then were trying to figure out how to contain and bury small stream systems that created nuisances by acting as open sewers and suseptable to surge flooding.
The northern half of Schroeder run was buried first, thus referred to in literature as Old Schroeder run.
This run, like the rest of them would swell, even during periods moderate precipitation. Its floods wrecking havoc near the city’s western district . The original stream bed followed a southerly course from Saratoga Street to Pratt street.
Its likely that the stream running down Central Avenue was the first stream in Baltimore to be covered. It appears that Old Schroeder was built within that time period in which the city was still using wood as a primary component.
There is reference that “It was first a sewer built of wood and stone. In which was finally “modernized” in 1845, by removing much of the wood workings (we later learn not all it was removed !) and replacing it with granite blocks. ”
The nature of the cities sudden downpours wrecked havoc on these early drains, always needing to be repaired.Meaning tunnels can vastly vary from one section to the next. , time period or work order. At times problem areas attended to and buried first. Railroad culverts left in place, and tied into a tunnels construction. them which includes endless need for repairs due to the nature of the cities sudden downpours, cause much havoc.
Later on the two small streams, running almost parallel to Schroeder’s , were running through South Carey and South Calhoun. These too would have to be dealt with. In which they were diverted into Schroeder’s Run via 7ft full brick tunnels. Baltimore vitrified brick at that, circular in shape and both running side by side, at legit grades, with the one having a granite block floor and both running near some of the earliest of the cities hospitals and industrial zones.
Enjoy the Silence:
Compared to the drainage area it serves the majority of lower Schroeder and Bush was built with excessive capacity. These tunnels swallow the stream, and the stream flows silently. A peaceful, silence much like what you would expect a lazy brook flowing past a quiet meadow near the Ivy Hills.
Reference:
Credits: Zoze – blogroll thumbnail photo
