| LEXINGTON MARKET Rich in American History After the Civil War, and through the turn of the 20th century, Lexington Market was a recognized social center for the most democratic traditions. Social leaders exchanged trade gossip about current news and produce prices. Atmosphere abounded. Street singers, musicians, fortune tellers and evangelists competed with soap box economists for shoppers attention. Gourmet dining took place at oilcloth covered tables set in teeming aisles. As new tides of immigration swept into the nation, Lexington Market acquired new blood among it's stall keepers and exotic foods on its counters. In 1916, a Greek-Italian peanut war cut prices 3 cents a quart and prompted a stall sign blasting; " Remember, We Do Not Sell Common Peanuts Here." By 1925, there were over 1,000 stalls under 3 block-long sheds. In addition, there were as many stands and carts outside and traffic in the area had become a problem. "Lexington Market must go" declared an exasperated Mayor Preston in 1912. "Whether the tenants desire it or not." But Lexington Market refused to go, despite many attacks. Though street stalls were banned by Mayor Jackson's Traffic Committee in 1935, they not only survived but seemed to multiply with the publicity. In 1937 the movement to replace the old buildings with something new and modem was well under way, but the plans stayed on the drawing board until 1949. |
In that year, what civic leaders seemed unable to do in a decade, happened
overnight in a six-alarm fire that raged in the main buildings, destroyed
$2,000,000 worth of merchandise, and $500,000 in stalls and equipment. The
blaze, which broke out on March 29, 1949, hurled flames hundreds of feet into
the sky, and brought out twenty four engine companies, six truck companies,
two high pressure units, a water tower and six ambulances.
"The Market is dead. Long live The Market!" exulted The Baltimore Sun the next
morning. "Fire merely hastened what progress was prepared to do."
Progress moved quickly after that. Today, The Market houses one hundred and
forty merchants and is preparing to undergo a major renovation. The tradition
lives on as customers hand down their market baskets from generation to
generation.
overnight in a six-alarm fire that raged in the main buildings, destroyed
$2,000,000 worth of merchandise, and $500,000 in stalls and equipment. The
blaze, which broke out on March 29, 1949, hurled flames hundreds of feet into
the sky, and brought out twenty four engine companies, six truck companies,
two high pressure units, a water tower and six ambulances.
"The Market is dead. Long live The Market!" exulted The Baltimore Sun the next
morning. "Fire merely hastened what progress was prepared to do."
Progress moved quickly after that. Today, The Market houses one hundred and
forty merchants and is preparing to undergo a major renovation. The tradition
lives on as customers hand down their market baskets from generation to
generation.
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| Monday -Saturday 8:30 am to 6 pm 400 W. Lexington Street Baltimore, MD 21201 Ph: 410-685-6169 info@lexingtonmarket.com |
