Protest and Petitions

The driving force in the SCAR road fight was the citizens of southeast Baltimore. They relied on town hall meetings and protests to voice their opinion. The SCAR collection is replete with examples of petitions to the Interstate Commission for Baltimore City. The community organizations pleaded with Richard Trainor, then director of the Interstate Commission. The desperation for results led to public hearings on the issue. Thomas Ward, of the Mount Royal Democratic club, recalled that the volume of protesters often caused these meetings to last up to four hours. These continued protests formed the foundation of the community's voice in the road fight.

Property Revival in Fells Point

(Fells Point Rehab Sourcebook, UB Archives)


The current charm and scenery of Fells Point attracts visitors from near and far each year. The historic buildings and cobblestone streets remind visitors of the early years in Baltimore's development. However, this approach to Fells Point is a relatively recent view. In the past 30 years historic preservation efforts have revived Fells Point and its physical appearance. The gentrification of Fells Point and the surrounding areas draws a strong contrast to the view of the area in the 1960's. During this time, Fells Point was struggling with trash cleanup, poverty, and decrepit buildings. In fact, many of the reports in the SCAR collection indicate that Fells Point met the federal definition of a devastated urban area, another phrase for a slum. These problems aided the argument for a road through Fell's Point.

The road fight garnered enormous help from preservation efforts in Fells Point. A local SCAR supporter named Robert Eney developed a source book to help classify and revive the historic buildings in Fells Point. He showed the intrinsic value and detail of the architecture in these buildings. This book encouraged local residents to take pride in their homes and neighborhoods. It also showed the City of Baltimore that Fells Point was a viable community with historic potential. This effort aided the push for a federally recognized historic district.



NOTE: I recently posted a main blog image. This image is a scan of one of the bumper stickers handed out during the road fight.

Historic Preservation

(Letter from John McDermott to Arthur Stine, UB Archives)

The central argument for the SCAR movement hinged on the fight for historic preservation. Citizens of Fells Point lobbied federal and state agencies on historic preservation to classify Fells Point as an historic district. This classification provided some protections for the area under federal law. This argument was outlined in a letter from John McDermott, of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, to a concerned citizen named Arthur Stine. The letter above shows that Fells Point achieved historic status by 1971. This provided for federal review of funds dedicated to highway development in Baltimore. Historic preservation was a driving force in this struggle. It halted the condemnation of homes and businesses and forced Baltimore to reconsider the placement of a road in Fells Point.