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Dickeyville, presently under consideration for designation as an Historical and Architectural Preservation District, became part of Baltimore City in 1918. It is located south of Gwynns Falls, off North Forest Park Avenue, and includes about 118 residential structures, one active church, one school and a group of mill buildings.
The architectural development of Dickeyville reflects its economic growth. The land around the Falls was first recorded on April 25, 1672 when Richard Gwynn gained the exclusive trading rights from the Algonquins. In 1719, Peter Bond, Gwynn’’s son-in-law, built a mill to utilize the water power then generated by the Falls. Nothing remains of this early period.
Dickey Mills
In April 1871, as the result of court proceedings instituted against the Wethereds, the entire mill site was purchased at auction by William J. Dickey for $82,000. The property included 300 acres of land with three mills and a large number of stone and frame structures. The village became Dickeyville. The Dickeys built a number of frame houses for the workers and, in addition, stone structures in the General Grant style were constructed. Good examples of this style are: the mill warehouse of dark gray rubblestone with brick trim at 2423 Pickwick Road (now a studio-residence); the stone row at 2407-11 Pickwick Road, which was probably built by George Ware in 1874, and the building at 2435 Pickwick Road which was uses as the mill office and jail. The cornerstone of the Dickey Memorial Presbyterian Church was laid in 1885. The stone house, now a residence at 5002 Wetheredsville Road, was expanded with frame facilities to include a primary and a high school. In 1890 a clapboard building was erected which served successively as Mechanic’’s Hall’’ the Parish House, and finally a residence, (5101 Wetheredsville Road). The present Dickeyville Nursery was built as a public school in 1902.
In 1909, the Dickey family lost control of the mills. The prosperity of the mill town started tow to wane. The increasing use of electricity and the rapid improvement of machinery caused the old water and steam powered equipment to become obsolete. The Dickeyville Mills could no longer compete with other mills using modern machinery. This factor, in addition to the gradual breaking-up of the property, contributed to the economic depression the town won experienced in the first part of the 20th Century.
Dickeyville experience a revival in the 1930s. Early in the decade Lawrence Sangston converted a mill warehouse (2423 Pickwick Road) into a residence and studio for R. McGill Mackall. On November 22, 1934, the entire town was sold at auction for $42,000. The Title Holding Company, that held the mortgage, received in the sale 60 acres; 81 dwellings; 3 factories, and a 3-story mansion. Restoration began with Howard A. Stilwell as architect and agent for the development company. Double houses were redesigned and new homes were constructed in keeping with the historic character of Dickeyville. The Dickeyville Improvement Association was formed in 1937.
The Dickey family regained control of the mills in 1954.
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