Baltimore Older Pratt Library Branches – An inventory of Public Libraries in the City of Baltimore, Md.

Here’s the list, we have , of all the old Pratt Library branches we have found in Baltimore City. Some are still libraries and some are not. I personally prefer the older Kilduffs.com site, but this site Kilduffs.Net is much easier to edit.
Researching the old Pratt Library’s in Baltimore, I found an article that went on about the issues of the Pratt. It listed that Baltimore was on the lower scale of paying Librarians with Cleveland at the time being the best paying City. The article went on to discuss that the City was not putting as much as they should and a good library system is key into how the citizen’s and schools in the area learn. The article was dated 1926. Also in 1926, the idea of ” Open Shelving ” was being presented, where you could visit a library and browse the collection yourself.

There’s always our older site Kilduffs.com and a complete listing
Early Branches were built under what was known as the Carnegie Fund, which would assist greatly in the building costs of a Branch, provided the land it was built on was provided free of charge.

Branch 1 – Fremont Avenue
1101 Fremont Avenue

No longer a Library, I believe the building has been used as a church.
Back in 1922, there was talk about adding to addition to Branch 1 for Meetings.

Branch 2 – Hollins Street
1401 Hollins Street

No longer a library – used as private offices.

Branch 3 – Light & Gittings Streets

Sorry for the lighting issues on this one. Not sure of the usage of this building but pretty sure it’s no longer a library.

Branch 4 – Ellwood & O’Donnell Streets

From what I can tell, this is still a Branch Library for the Pratt system. In 1926, it was this branch that had the largest circulation of books.

Branch 5 – Broadway Branch ( East Baltimore )
816 North Broadway

Branch 6 – Peabody Heights Branch
2521 St Paul Street

Branch 7 – Hampden Branch
3641 Falls Road

Branch 8 – Walbrook – Clifton Branch ( Gone )
By 1950, it was no longer listed by Pratt

No longer standing – it was tough finding a image for this branch

Branch 9 – Towson Street
In 1950, Branch 9 was listed as Fort Avenue and Decatur Avenue.

No longer used as a library – I’m not sure what the building is being used for these days.

Branch 10 – Gay Street ( No Image )
By 1950, this Branch was no longer listed by Pratt

Branch 11 -Central Avenue Branch
4 South Central Avenue
Plans for this Branch were shown in the newspaper back in 1921, and a Building Permit was requested at that time. It was built to target the Russian, Jewish Population in that area at the time, and was going up with the assistance of the Carnegie Funding plan.

Branch 12 – Mount Clare Branch
Barre & Carroll Streets

Branch 13 -Patterson Park Branch
Linwood & Fayette Streets
Image Coming lost in files

We have an image on the Kilduffs.Com Site –

Branch 14 – Forest Park Branch
Garrison Blvd and Galloway Avenue

Branch 15 – Waverly Branch
1443 Gorsuch Avenue

Branch 16 – Park Heights Branch
2610 Keyworth Avenue

Branch 17 – Easterwood Branch
22217 West North Avenue
Appears to currently being used as a church

1944 – in order to raise money for the Branch, there was a “hands on” snake show.

Branch 18 – Clifton Branch
2001 North Wolfe Street

Branch 19 – Fell’s Point Branch
601 South Ann Street

This branch was built to target the Polish residents located in that area at the time of it’s construction in 1920.

Good news is I have a picture ( Somewhere ) where the tree is in Winter mode. The bad news is I have to locate it.
Looking at articles, it appears this Branch was still open in the early 1980’s

Branch 20 – Hamilton Branch
3006 Hamilton Avenue

In 1921, there was a meeting here for plans for a new school in the area, as well as plans for additional fire plugs.
In the early 1940’s , the Ladies Auxiliary would meet here.
Films were being shown here in 1963.

Branch 21 – Mount Washington
in 1937, the Mount Washington Branch showed a sharp decline in patronage and as a result went to part time operating hours. By 1949, there was City Council talk of abandoning the Mount Washington Branch. By 1950, I have a feeling it was closed as there was no listing for this Branch in an article.

( Branch 21 had also been used to describe a new Pratt Branch that opened in Brooklyn in 1921. The branch was located at Patapsco Avenue and Third Street. I’m not sure ( yet ) what became of this Branch. ). The Brooklyn Branch had the sharpest increase of circulation in 1929. The Garden Club of Brooklyn held their annual meeting in the basement of the branch back in 1940.

Branch 22 – Govans Branch
5714 Bellona Avenue

Branch 23 – Patapsco Avenue ( Gone )
Image on Kilduffs.Com

Branch 24 – Loudin Branch
Loudin Avenue near Frederick Road

Branch 25 – Roland Park Branch
Roland Avenue & Longwood Rd

Photo is back in 2007 – renovation construction has been completed

Branch 26 – Gardenville Branchh
Belair & Lasalle Rds

Branch 27 -Westport Branch
2505 Annapolis Road

In 1925, Westport was the first location recommended for a branch. By 1929, the Baltimore City Council was going back and forth with Pratt Officials about the Maintenance costs of the Westport Branch where putting the budget over.

Branch 28 – Edmondson Avenue

List came from a Street Guide as they had it listed –

Main Branch – Pratt Library

Replaced by …..

In 1920 , there was a talk for the building of a Pratt Library Branch in Brooklyn, and I believe a Branch was built on Patapscp Avenue near Hanover Street. I’m still looking for more information on that branch and what happened to it.