Historic gas lamps of Baltimore
In 1816, Baltimore became the first city in the United States to install gas street lamps, which allowed Baltimoreans to go about their business past nightfall. In 2016, Light City Baltimore is celebrating Baltimore’s legacy of light with installations and activities throughout the city. We’re opening the Sun’s archives to take a look back at the gas lamps of history — the last were lit in 1957.
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- March 11, 1992: Barrie Cowden is dressed in a period costume of a lamplighter in the late 1800 s as he places a plaque on one of the original Welsbach three mantled Victorial Boulevard style lamps with original eight foot Baltimore fluted poles. Lamps like this were common in Baltimore from 1867 to 1957. Photo by Barbara Haddock for The Baltimore Sun.
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- Gas light on Rutter Street, in photo dated August 8, 1976. Photo by Richard Childress for The Baltimore Sun.
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- Thomas Cotter, machinist, paints a gas street lamp’s frame in this photo from June 15, 1952. (Bodine).
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- Bruce and Lemmon Streets in West Baltimore–Walter Lindman is the last lamp lighter with Welsbach 32 years. Photo dated August 4, 1957. (Bodine).
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- Grogan, East Baltimore on August 4, 1957. (Bodine).
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- George C. Bender, General Manager of Wellsback Corp, with old gas lamps in a photo dated August 24, 1957. (Bodine).
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- August 4, 1957 – THE VANISHING GAS LAMP — Willie Hoffman, last gas street lamp lighter, with 49-years of service. (Bodine).
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- 917 Cathedral Street, Baltimore on August 4, 1957. (Bodine).
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- George Sauerhoff with gas lamps in photo dated August 4, 1957. (Bodine).
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- Gas lamps at Rose Street at Homestead. Photo dated August 4, 1957. (Bodine).
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- Gas lamps on August 4, 1957. The lamp at Fawn and Stemmers Alley was the last to be removed in Baltimore. (Bodine).
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- Walter Lindman cleans gas lamps for the last time in 1957. (Bodine).
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