The 2010 Block Fire

Long view of the fire from E. Baltimore Street on December 6th, 2010.
Photo from bizjournals.com.

The Gaety Show World after fire ravaged the building and destroyed this business.
Photo by Baltimore Sun.

The Hustler Club was not damaged in the fire but was directly across the street from the 5 alarm conflagration.
Photo by Jerry Jackson, Baltimore Sun December 7, 2010. 

   On Monday December 6th a fire of unknown origin began at 404 E. Baltimore Street, better known as The Block. It developed quickly into a 5 alarm blaze that shut down much of downtown for the day and into the evening. 4 buildings were directly affected by the fire including The Gaety Show bar and popular Crazy John's, which apparently had delicious french fries I've yet had the chance to sample.

    I got news of the fire via local NPR station 88.1 around 5pm and had to sit quietly for a moment to catch my breath. The last thing this struggling area needed was a huge fire to further depress their businesses and add yet another abandoned and dangerous structure to the cityscape. To be brutally honest, my initial panic at the news happened because I did not know if The Gaety (now Hustler Club)  and The Two O'Clock club had been affected. Much to my relief I was soon able to deduce that neither were directly involved. It is still a great loss of historical buildings that contained a century of great stories. The Gaety Show World building was a very important place in the early history of The Block. I'll soon be posting an in depth history of what was lost during this fire.

    Below I have compiled a short collection of articles and video clips regarding the fire. Most of the major local network news organizations are included as well as the major newspapers. While the majority of the material represents The Block as nothing more than a crumbling strip club district (which has only been true for the past twenty years, out of 111) the similarity in the articles is what I find most interesting. For a history freak like me who has dedicated years to researching this location I find it ever intriguing that the people of this city know so little about this once rich and lusty district of stars, sex and politics.

     Occasionally the articles will drop a few interesting pieces into their generic accounts of fire companies, closed roads and billowing smoke. By reading and comparing them all, as well as perusing the many other news archives not represented by my list, the continuing pattern of neglect, disdain, reverence, aloofness and hope emerge over and over as different people from all parts of Baltimore society weigh in on the impact of this fire. It is a stark reminder that the people of Baltimore somewhere and somehow recognize the need for this historic vice district to both tourism and the human condition and they also see that its current condition is not the solution. However, the same people are not willing to take the steps to clean up the corruption or invest the time and money to improve the district. 

     Coverage of the fire just continues the limp debate that flares up in city government every ten years or so regarding the state of The Block. Nothing ever happens as the business owners of The Block refuse to cooperate with clean-up efforts preferring the flow of money from prostitution and drugs to the capital required for change. The police and politicians sent to correct the corruption and free flow of drugs very often fall into it themselves as a result of inconsistencies in city policy enforcement and opposite political and social feelings towards this district.

      Just as before, I see this sad event as another call for action to the politicians that have offices next to these dirty clubs and the mayor who brings dignitaries and diplomats down 400 East Baltimore Street. It's an opportunity to rebuild and reinvent up to 4 businesses in this Adult Entertainment Zone, as defined by city law. Essential is understanding the history and culture we Baltimoreans stand to lose with inaction. The citizens can do nothing and get nothing in return or stand up to reap the rewards of progressive improvement embracing the past and future essential to forward movement. I take that as my cue to continue with my research, writing and impromptu lectures to unassuming people in the grocery store check-out line. A historic renovation of The Block will be mine...oh yes...it will be mine.

Read through the articles below and come up with your own observations of how the city and the people view this part of history that refuses to fade away.

http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2010-12-10/news/bs-md-block-clubs-street-20101210_1_strip-clubs-chez-joey-hustler-club Good general article from the Baltimore Sun on economic impact of fire on The Block by Peter Hermann (keep your eye out for his other Block articles circulating around the web) 10/10/2010

http://www.wbaltv.com/news/26092703/detail.html WBAL TV fire update 12/10/10

http://www.wbaltv.com/news/26045626/detail.html uLocal photos of fire from viewers of WBAL TV 12/7/2010

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/crime/bs-md-hermann-block-survival-20101207,0,990003,full.story Refreshingly good Baltimore Sun article on the fire and The Block past by Peter Hermann 12/11/2010

http://www.batangastoday.com/baltimore-fire-hit-the-block-in-downtown-area-photos-and-video/7151/ Batangas Today brief poorly representing The Block, but two good fire pictures 12/7/2010

http://site-press.com/2010/12/how-did-the-baltimore-fire-of-december-2010-start/ 6 different articles archived on Site-Press regarding the fire and its investigation 12/6/2010

http://www.abc2news.com/dpp/news/region/baltimore_city/fire-breaks-out-on-east-baltimore-street ABC News brief on ATF investigation beginning on fire site with video of interviews 12/6/2010

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/06/AR2010120605302.html Washington Post article on fire with only generic info regarding The Block 12/6/2010

http://statter911.com/2010/12/06/multi-alarm-fire-hits-the-block-in-baltimore/ great collection of video and some interesting and a couple hilarious quotes from individuals on the scene. Compiled by Dave Statter at Statter911.com beginning with 12/6/2010 and it promises to continue updating as new info is revealed

Video of the Gaeyty Show World roof collapsing as shot by Alexander Koblansky, an employee in an adjacent building. Posted on http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/crime/blog/2010/12/video_of_roof_collapse_in_bloc.html 12/7/2010


WMAR TV news snippet describing the basics of the fire with various angles and perspectives from the event. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GoOrunR-HY&feature=related 12/7/2010