Former Baltimore Colts Tom Matte

Unfortunately, former Baltimore Colts member Tom Matte is unable to make it to our event, but was kind enough to contribute to our oral histories that we've been collecting throughout the semester! His interview will be posted soon, but until then, enjoy a few pictures of Tom Matte from his interview which was conducted at Club 4100.

A huge THANK YOU to the Brooklyn Community!

While members of our class have been out and about talking to members of the Brooklyn community, we would like to send a huge thank you to those who are supporting our event and showing interest. With all of our proceeds going back into the community, it is all about these community members who make this project so worthwhile.

Concerned Citizens for a Better Brooklyn

The CCBB is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit, resident-led civic organization representing and promoting the interests of the approximately 10,000 residents of the Brooklyn community of Baltimore City.

All of our proceeds from the Club 4100 event will be donated to the CCBB. Some of their current projects that they're working on that will benefit from the fundraiser include the Bay Brook Connection Newsletter, establishing a Welcoming Committee to welcome new residents, and Pot Luck Dinners and other community socials at the newly refurbished Polish Home Hall.

Help us in helping them in building Brooklyn's sense of community!

Come join Brooklyn, UMBC, and Club 4100 in a community building event celebrating the area's rich history

Autograph signings from local sports personalities

Silent auction

Open mic featuring personal histories of Brooklyn and Club 4100

Buffet from 2-6 pm

Kid friendly events

Video Documentation of the event courtesy of Katie Cuffari

To better help preserve all of the hard work we have done and will be doing the day of the event, we're going to have it all documented on video to really preserve the sense of place we are trying to restore.

Katie Cuffari is a graduate from Towson University with a B.S. in Electronic Film and Media. She has made a documentary for Center Stage after school program "Encounter", and has had her work shown in the Towson University Media Arts Festival. Katie also has experience as a freelance videographer shooting interviews, musical acts, and weddings.

Appearance by Vincent Pettway

Vincent "The Ambassador" Pettway was born and raised in Baltimore City and trained under boxing legend and hall of famer Mack Lewis his entire career. He started his boxing career at the age of eight in 1973 and fought at the professional level for 11 years accumulating a record of 189-11. In 1984 he turned pro and won his first 17 fights. He won his first professional belt on March 4, 1991 as he knocked out Eddie VanKirk in the sixth round of a twelve round fight for the Maryland State Welterweight Title. The next belt he won was the United States Boxing Association (USBA) light middleweight title which he won in 1992 and held one to for a year before winning boxing's most coveted prize, the International Boxing Federation (IBF) light middle weight championship. On September 17, 1994 he knocked out Gianfranco Rosi in the fourth round of a twelve round fight to become the seventh world champions to come from baltimore. Pettway held onto the title for one year before losing it. He retired from boxing in 2001 with a record of 43-7-1 with 32 knockouts and is currently the head boxing trainer at the Mr. Mack Lewis Boxing Gym in east Baltimore. He was inducted into the Maryland Boxing Hall of Fame in 2006, and is ranked 44th all time in the light middleweight weight class.

Timeline of Brooklyn History

Since our event is all about building a sense of place and preserving the community of Brooklyn, we've decided to include a timeline of Brooklyn's history. Hopefully everyone can learn something new about the Brooklyn community!

Timeline of Brooklyn, Curtis Bay and Brooklyn Park

1700’s:
1729: Baltimore City begins with 60 lots.

1800’s:
1853: April 26th The Patapsco Company started to deal with real estate in northern Anne Arundel County. This started the beginning stages of developing Brooklyn.
1856: Light Street Bridge is built. Toll is put in place by its private owners.
1866: Slow growth in these areas
1868/69: Brooklyn Methodist Church is established.
1878: The Light Street Bridge is bought from private owners by Baltimore City. It is rebuilt and made free to cross. This bridge allowed farmers to sell their produce at markets in the city. The population started to increase which also helped the increase of businesses.
1882: The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad built Curtis Bay station; this allows more connection between the communities and the city. The old Patapsco company lands are bought from the South Baltimore Harbor and Improving Company.
1887: The Crisp Memorial Presbyterian Church established.
1890: The residents of these towns are in industrious work for the railroads and factories during this decade. The Curtis Bay Methodist Church is established.
1892: The electric car is completed by the South Baltimore Harbor and Improving Company for the B& O Railroads. A station was built in Brooklyn.


1900’s:
1900-1918: A vinegar factory and the world’s largest alcohol factory is created in Curtis Bay. This brings a $5 million enterprise. A machine shop business called Davidson Chemical is created and built
1904: Streets started to become paved and trees are planted. The communities looked more like an industrial suburban rather than farmland.
1906: There are 25,000 residents between Brooklyn, Curtis Bay and Wagner’s Point (this is a close town by them).
1907: The Brown Memorial Presbyterian Church became the first organization in charge of recreations in the area.
1914: Water pipes are laid.
1916: St. John’s evangelical Lutheran church established.
1917: The completion of Hanover Bridge provides more residents, businesses and organizations are present.
1818: March 29: The Act of Annexation is passed allowing Brooklyn and Curtis Bay part of Baltimore City.
1919-1934: January 1 1919: The formal annexation took place- the city starts to expand its boundaries; 1919-1934: the Gas distribution of the city is improved because gas mains are put in across the Patapsco to Brooklyn and Curtis Bay.
1935: Clare Barton Lodge established;
1939: Girl Scouts becomes available
1946: Brooklyn Lions Club is established
1950: Residents start purchasing household items in department stores