The Afro-American newspaper begins the celebration of its first century this week. It was on Aug. 13, 1892, that pioneer publisher John Murphy borrowed $200 from his wife, Martha, to purchase printing presses.
Over the years, the paper has chronicled black life in Baltimore. And, like those of all old newspapers, its back issues are a delight to read. I spent a few hours at the Central Branch of the Enoch Pratt Free Library this week and found these treasures.
In the Afro-American's issues in the summer of 1917, prominent among the ads was that of the excursion steamer, Starlight, one of the well-known sights of the Baltimore harbor from 1915 to 1928. As the ad states, it was captained by George W. Brown of 2103 Druid Hill Ave. He also was proprietor of Brown's Grove on Rock Creek in northern Anne Arundel County, a popular picnic spot.
Capt. Brown's Starlight was a happy sight on warm summer nights. The old side-wheeler had a star outlined in electric lights mounted on her walking beam.
Many of the smaller local ads paint a picture of the old black neighborhood along Argyle, Pennsylvania and Druid Hill avenues and Division Street during that summer of 1917: John A. Bishop, funeral director; W.A. Riley, shaving parlor; Frank Simmons, house painter; George F. Blackistone, shoe repair; L.E. Morris, beauty parlor; C.T. Chambers, fancy cakes; Charles A. Chase, ice cream parlor; Harrison Watts, violin and flute teacher; Charles W. Wesley, piano and organ seller; and Frances Melchor, Little Gem Tea Room.
Arthur L. Macbeth, a portrait photog- rapher, said, "If you have beauty we will take it. If you have none we will make it." His studio was in the 1000 block of Pennsylvania Ave.
The Carey Theatre, Carey and Presstman streets, offered silent movies accompanied by a piano player. The Regent, on Pennsylvania at Pitcher, had "polite vaudeville," augmented by Thompson's orchestra. There was also the Dunbar Theatre, Central Avenue near Monument Street; the Star Theatre, Monument near Bond Street; and the New Lincoln, Pennsylvania Avenue. The community was well served by drugstores: Digg's Pharmacy, Druid Hill and Presstman; Stokes and Derry's, Druid Hill Avenue and Oxford Street; and Fennell's, Druid Hill and Biddle. For those who liked home remedies, Old Man Walsh's Famous Old Herb Shop was in the 900 block of Pennsylvania Ave.
