Jul 5, 2016

Gargoyles, bay windows, columns — links to the past are engraved in Baltimore’s architecture. Longtime Sun photographer Robert Kniesche was fascinated by such designs and documented them in a series called “This is Baltimore,” which ran in The Sun on Thursdays throughout the 1960s.

: Baltimore City Hall

: St. Mary’s Seminary – Belvedere and Roland Ave. 1963

: May 1, 1971 – The gargoyle once over the doorway at 14 West Mount Vernon place, a holdover from the last century, is part of the rapidly disappearing ornamentation of buildings all over the country. Photo by Robert F. Kniesche.

: February 21, 1963 – THIS IS BALTIMORE — “Rendezvous.” This picture was made in Preston Gardens near Pleasant Street at noontime. It is the fourth in a series of photographs that capture part of the Baltimore scene. Photo by Robert F. Kniesche

: April 25, 1963 – THIS IS BALTIMORE — The facade of the Greek Orthodox Church, “Evangelismos,” located at Maryland Avenue and Preston Street, stands as a symbol of a Greek-American community in an ever-changing city. This unusual photograph brings together the cross on the church fence and the one on the building. “The House of God is the Gate to Heaven” is a translation of the inscription on the church. Photo by Robert F. Kniesche.

: January 4, 1966 – THIS IS BALTIMORE — A scene that is a traditional part of Baltimore. This picture of row houses was taken on Lanvale Street looking west from Greenmount Cemetery. Photo by Robert F. Kniesche

: March 14, 1963 – THIS IS BALTIMORE — “St. Paul Place South” is the title of this picture. This, picture depicts the Baltimore skyline yesterday looking south from under the Bath Street viaduct. Photo by Robert F. Kniesche

: January 31, 1964 – THIS IS BALTIMORE — “The Fidelity Building”, by Robert F. Kniesche, photographic director of the Sunpapers. The ornate stone carving shown in this picture is a definite link with the past which may never appear in modern office buildings. This picture is one of a series of photographic scenes of Baltimore to be featured on this page on Thursdays. Photo by Robert F. Kniesche

: May 27, 1965 – THIS IS BALTIMORE — Bay windows in the morning light. A type of architecture that has all but disappeared from the Baltimore scene. Photo by Robert F. Kniesche

: The hand-painted screen, a tradition in some parts of the city, serves as a decorative protection against insects. (1963)

: The Mansion House Clifton Park was once the residence of Johns Hopkins. (1963)

: Winged horse on War Memorial Plaza 1946

: Graveyard, cemetery, tombstone, 1972.

: Enoch Pratt Free Library, 1972.

In 1970, he published a photo essay about the classical architecture of Official Baltimore’s Downtown buildings like City Hall. “Photographer Robert Kniesche is fascinated by the architectural detail of many of the old buildings in downtown Baltimore,” the accompanying article said.

6 Comments

Wray Evans
Jul 07, 2016 @ 22:05:31

Yes Bob Kniesche was a great photographer. How about George, H. Cook’s photos. For example the racial riots in
Cambridge back in the 60’s… His photos of the Preakness….Hurricane coverage in ocean city n so. many more.
He had many prize winning photos.

Fred Shoken
Jul 06, 2016 @ 15:52:57

The ninth image showing the pediment at City Hall was originally designed to include a relief sculpture similar in style to the one shown on the pediment of St. Mary’s Seminary on the 10th image.

Here is an image showing the proposed design:

http://www.kilduffs.com/Building_223_Baltimore_NewCityHall_1873.jpg

Fred Shoken
Jul 06, 2016 @ 15:48:54

The seventh image, graveyard cemetery, is now the Westminster Hall and Burying Grounds or historically the Old Western Burial Grounds where Poe is buried.

Fred Shoken
Jul 06, 2016 @ 15:46:12

The sixth image of the horses at the War Memorial building incorrectly calls them “winged horses.” They are more appropriately called Aquatic War Horses. The wings are from an osprey or eagle which are located between the front legs of each horse.

Fred Shoken
Jul 06, 2016 @ 15:35:15

The third image with no caption is the B&O Building at Charles Street and Baltimore Street.

Fred Shoken
Jul 06, 2016 @ 15:34:14

The second image with the caption:

May 27, 1965 – THIS IS BALTIMORE — Bay windows in the morning light. A type of architecture that has all but disappeared from the Baltimore scene. Photo by Robert F. Kniesche

is the Rochambeau Apartments that stood at Charles and Franklin streets before it was demolished by the Archdiocese.

Here is a link to an image of it from the Maryland Historical Society:

http://www.mdhs.org/digitalimage/rochambeau-apartments-1-west-franklin-street-baltimore

From the Vault: “This is Baltimore” by Robert Kniesche

6 Comments

Leave a Reply Cancel