Hampden

What can one say about Hampden? What can be said about this neighborhood in northwest Baltimore plays host to the annual “Hon Festival”, where attendees sport enormous beehive hairdoos and compete in a contest to find the best “Bawlmerese,” a variation of Baltimore's unique accent? Or about the world-famous annual holiday ritual, “Miracle on 34th Street,” where houses lining either side of 34th Street decorate their homes in thousands of lights and decorations? Or about the neighborhood being featured in the 1999 John Water's film Pecker? Unique, odd, and idiosyncratic are three words that come to mind. But if one gets past the unique character of the neighborhood, one finds in Hampden a charming part of Baltimore's past, present, and future.
Architecturally, the neighborhood continues to reflect the areas roots as a factory area, with small row houses originally built for workers and larger detached homes for managers. More modern homes and apartments were built during the mid-20th century around the edges of the neighborhood. Because the neighborhood is bounded by other build-up areas, further development of Hampden is unlikely without affecting the current aesthetic of the community. For those looking for old Baltimore, Hampden will provide a home for years to come.

What can one say about Hampden? What can be said about this neighborhood in northwest Baltimore plays host to the annual “Hon Festival”, where attendees sport enormous beehive hairdoos and compete in a contest to find the best “Bawlmerese,” a variation of Baltimore's unique accent? Or about the world-famous annual holiday ritual, “Miracle on 34th Street,” where houses lining either side of 34th Street decorate their homes in thousands of lights and decorations? Or about the neighborhood being featured in the 1999 John Water's film Pecker? Unique, odd, and idiosyncratic are three words that come to mind. But if one gets past the unique character of the neighborhood, one finds in Hampden a charming part of Baltimore's past, present, and future.
Architecturally, the neighborhood continues to reflect the areas roots as a factory area, with small row houses originally built for workers and larger detached homes for managers. More modern homes and apartments were built during the mid-20th century around the edges of the neighborhood. Because the neighborhood is bounded by other build-up areas, further development of Hampden is unlikely without affecting the current aesthetic of the community. For those looking for old Baltimore, Hampden will provide a home for years to come.