Comments on: House at 9 North Front Street

By: monumentcity

monumentcity — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 15:38:36 +0000

I’ve seen this before somewhere. Possibly Benson Lossing’s pictorial field book. Thanks.

By: Chris Everett

Chris Everett — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 05:34:04 +0000

I found an 1866 image of Union Square with just a glimpse of Willow Brook in the background: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150226989105663&set=a.10150226989100663.355516.94865510662&type=1&ref=nf

By: Chris Everett

Chris Everett — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 05:21:05 +0000

Thanks in advance for anything you can find. I understand that Willow Brook was donated to the Church and, as the House of the Good Shepherd, it became a home for wayward girls (unwed mothers). As a result, for most of the 20th century, it was surrounded by a high stone wall (topped with broken glass, btw). Any view from the park or from the street might show streetcars or old cars but photos with that big wall probably masked anything of interest in the background. That said, I’d love to see any images that might have survived.

By: monumentcity

monumentcity — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 02:54:08 +0000

I thought that I may have seen a picture of Willow Brook, but after going through my files and the internet I’ve concluded that I must have been mistaken. I’ll to look into this. The Baltimore Museum of Art may have some information as they have materials from Smith’s house in their collection. Thanks again.

By: monumentcity

monumentcity — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 02:29:51 +0000

I’ll see what I can dig up. Thanks for reading…

By: Chris Everett

Chris Everett — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 00:13:07 +0000

Thank you for this article with information about Thorogood Smith. I’m the webmaster for the Union Square Online website, http://www.union-square.us, and I’ve been trying to find a photo or drawing of the original Willow Brook mansion. Since it stood for almost 2 centuries (from its construction in 1799 until it was razed in 1965), I would think there should be some exterior images somewhere. If you or any of your readers find any photos, I would really appreciate seeing them. Regards, Chris