At the intersection of Forest and Gay Street, a block south of The Nevermore Haunt, the Belair Market once stood. Demolished in the 1990’s after years of neglect, the market had stood as the center of Old Town since the 1819. The market was built to serve a growing population. It joined other city markets including Broadway Market and the more famous Lexington Market.

The market was well connected to farmers in the countryside as a hub of four major roads headed to the northeast, Falls Road, Harford Road, Belair Road and Philadelphia Road.

In the late 1800’s this market would have been filled with merchants, fish mongers, farmers and

---

 

A Rare Snapshot

October 2019 we were shown a truly remarkable photograph by a visitor to the haunted house. To the left is photograph from 1890 of Dvorah Saltz née Kaplan who arrived from eastern Europe to Baltimore that same year. Most likely from Latvia, then part of the Russian Empire.

In the photograph she is working a poultry stand at the Belair market here in Old Town. The photograph was publish in The Baltimore Sun Sunday magazine in the early 1960’s as part of a photo contest series called “I Remember When.” The photograph was recognized at the time by our guest’s grandmother, as her own grandmother, and the photo was passed down. An incredible glimpse into daily life of this community from over 135 years.

Our sincerest thanks to our kind visitor for sharing and for the family historians who work to document and share their family histories.

 

 

 

---

 

Mob Town

During the 1930’s and 40’s a branch of the notorious Gambino Crime Family was based out of the Old Town Belair Market. Headed by Frank Corbi the Baltimore crew was known as the Belair Market Gang. They ran gambling rackets in the neighborhood. Notable members include the boxer Isaac Saperstein, the fixer Benny Trotta Magliano, Benjamin “Hitty” Wildstein and the muscle, Angelo Perrera.

You can read more about the Belair Market Gang here:
Belair Market Gang