Survey Data
Reg No
13400402
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Artistic, Social
Original Use
Monument
In Use As
Monument
Date
1880 - 1885
Coordinates
209316, 286290
Date Recorded
26/07/2005
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Freestanding Indiana limestone statue, completed 1881 or 1882, on cut-granite pedestal on cut-granite chamfered plinth. Installed, 1974. Road fronted with grass verge to front.
Appraisal
A statue presented by the Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick of Baltimore, Maryland, 'TO THE TOWN OF BALTIMORE COUNTY LONGFORD…IN HONOR OF OUR SHARED HERITAGE AND DISTINGUISHED NAME'. The Indiana limestone statue was one of four identical statues produced (1881-2) by the German-born Herman Henning (1841-93) to grace the corners of the Charles Hazelhurst Latrobe (1834-1902)-designed Saint Paul Street Bridge (1880), Baltimore, whose construction coincided with the sesquicentennial of the establishment of the city by charter from the Maryland General Assembly (1729). The mural-crowned "Lady Baltimore", an allegorical representation of the city, is shown with her left hand resting on a shield carrying the Seal of Baltimore and her right hand reaching down to symbols of commerce and industry. The four statues were removed and placed into storage when Saint Paul Street Bridge was demolished as part of the development of the Jones Falls Expressway (1957-60): three were eventually re-erected in Cylburn Arboretum (1974) although one of the three was subsequently moved to Mount Royal Terrace Park (1980). The fourth statue was shipped to Ireland, via Rotterdam, as a "two-ton ambassador" commemorating the link between Baltimore and its founding father, Cecil Calvert (1605-75), second Baron Baltimore of County Longford (The Evening Sun 17th June 1974, 1). The original proposal to install the statue in front of Longford Courthouse was rejected owing to its perceived similarities with statues of Britannia and Queen Victoria and "Lady Baltimore" was instead installed on the side a minor road which is sometimes known as "Baltimore Lane".