Baltimore Heritage

In 2019, the grand Victorian 8,000 square foot Hawley-Hutzler Mansion went on the market. The mansion was once the home of the Hutzlers, who owned the famous department store of the same name. The mansion has gone through significant alterations since it was built in 1887, including being converted to offices, and in the 1970s, split up into apartments. Needless to say, there would be a lot of work to do to restore this mansion to its former grandeur.

Learn about the history of Poppleton with Professor Nicole King (Department of American Studies, UMBC). King has worked with local residents and preservationists to document the important Black history of Poppleton, which has been threatened by slum clearance, urban renewal, highway construction, and redevelopment. We will also learn about ongoing advocacy efforts to preserve Poppleton's historic places and fight displacement, such as the proposed CHAP local historic district, Black Homeownership in Old Poppleton.