Baltimore Marble Stoop

Many scrubbing the steps by hand.

Baltimore marble stoop.

The front marble steps or stoops as they are known are part of the tradition and culture of baltimore. I moved from new jersey to cockeysville when i was going on nine years old. These steps are made from brick or prefabricated concrete. These steps are well maintained by the home owners.

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. Marble steps became more than just a decorative fixture to baltimore s unique architecture design they were a vital piece that endorsed neighborhood involvement. She recommends i go down to the. Baltimore didn t invent the concept of the stoop.

I spent many summers swimming in beaver dam and never knew that marble stone was extracted from the quarry in the early twentieth century. 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. While the rowhomes erected were kept affordable for the working class the marble steps offered that touch of class to the otherwise modest home.

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. Of course you have probably seen non marble steps in and around baltimore. 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. If it s all about making a good first impression what better way to start than with the perfect stoop.

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 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. Cleaning the marble on saturday mornings was a youth chore. 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.

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. Looks much like others on its block.