| Begun during the influx of English, Irish and German immigration of the 1830s, the Union Square-Hollins Market Historic District is a dense area of rowhouses that includes Federal, Greek Revival and Italianate architectural styles. To the west, Union Square Park contains an ornate fountain and Greek Revival pavilion, and forms one of the two open spaces preserved in the neighborhood. Hollins Market, in the east, is an Italianate-style market house built in 1838 and expanded in 1864, and is the oldest market in the city still operating.
Developers and homeowners attempted to build the most economic residences possible, so they crammed narrow rowhouses along every road, avenue and alley in the district. The buildings are brick and low-scale–no more than three stories except for some commercial buildings. Evenly spaced doorsteps, windows, and doors, as well as continuous rooflines create the visual rhythms for which Baltimore rowhouses are noted. Although residential construction ended in the 1880s, commercial building continued into the early 20th century. Economic decline beginning in the mid-20th century preserved the original buildings of the neighborhood. Extensive rehabilitation took place during the 1960s and 1970s. The Union Square-Hollins Market Historic District is roughly boarded by Fulton, Fayette, Pratt and Schruder Sts. Hollins Market is open Tuesday-Thursday 7:00am to 6:00pm; Friday and Saturday from 6:00am to 6:00pm. Visitors are invited to the Annual Christmas Cookie Tour on the second Sunday of December, and the Annual Garden Tour on the last Sunday of June, and the Annual Easter Egg Hunt. Throughout the year there are impromptu events in the square, neighborhood dinners and parties. Visit the neighborhood’s website for more information. |
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