Baltimore Marble Stoop

The front marble steps or stoops as they are known are part of the tradition and culture of baltimore.

Baltimore marble stoop.

Before fenced in back yards became the norm marble steps were a central gathering spot for neighbors to come together relax converse and most importantly get to know each other. Many scrubbing the steps by hand. Baltimore didn t invent the concept of the stoop. These steps are made from brick or prefabricated concrete.

Baltimore sculptor works in marble reclaimed stoops jul 21 2012 at 3 07 pm baltimore sculptor sebastian martorana is enamored with baltimore s marble steps and has endeavored to use. If you have ever visited baltimore city one thing that you notice immediately is the beautiful white marble steps in front of the traditional row homes. Vacant weathered boarded up and marked with white x s on red square signs that. Cleaning the marble on saturday mornings was a youth chore.

The marble found there is of such quality that it was preferred over the products of the much closer potomac marble quarries for many public structures in washington d c including the. I moved from new jersey to cockeysville when i was going on nine years old. Of course you have probably seen non marble steps in and around baltimore. Stoop sitting is a wonderful way to get to know your neighbors and enjoy your neighborhood and stoops are an aspect of baltimore architecture that go back to the nineteenth century.

Looks much like others on its block. I m sure there are row houses in cities all over the world that have steps leading up to the front door but baltimore stoops are special. These steps are well maintained by the home owners. Baltimore on first glance the three floor home at 2216 druid hill ave.

Marble steps became more than just a decorative fixture to baltimore s unique architecture design they were a vital piece that endorsed neighborhood involvement. Marble is cool to sit on. The use of marble for steps is due to the presence of high quality white marble in cockeysville a town 17 miles north of baltimore s inner harbor by highway. It became a traditional thing like old world customs adapted here in various communities the siesta in europe then in the afternoon folks get dressed up so here it became tradition to get dressed up and sit out on the stoop.

If it s all about making a good first impression what better way to start than with the perfect stoop. The marble that was used for many of the stoops in baltimore came from a quarry in cockeysville which is today known as beaver dam.