Five Minute Histories: The Montgomery Ward Building

[@ryukoli4707]

I have fond memories of Montgomery Ward..........

[@gcbwoods]

I love these history lessons. I've learned so very much

[@ryukoli4707]

We children REALLY looked forward to the catalogs of BOTH MONTGOMERY WARD & SEARS @ Christmastime!

[@ryukoli4707]

We did too!!!!

[@karent7658]

As a young girl, I either walked or took the #11 bus, a hand written note from my mom and her Wards Charge Card to retrieve her catalog orders! My memory is that the cards were not the size of today’s credit cards. It was a little slim thing. I loved being tasked with this responsibility. I’d hop back on the bus that stoped in front the restaurant on Washington Blvd. and head home. Pass Gino’s Fried Chicken Restaurant, the MTA BUS Yard, Carroll Park, etc. Ahh, the good old days! ❤

[@baltimoreheritage1006]

Thank you for these wonderful memories!

[@joedowney2109]

My first job out of high school in 1963. I worked in the toy department stock room, hired for the christmas season. Can't remember what floor that was on, but, I remember the cafeteria was right out of the christmas movie, miracle on 34th street. After the christmas season was over, I was moved around to other departments, until I enlisted in the military In 1965. I never went back to wards after the service hitch.

[@johnoffutt898]

Our parents took us their when we were children. It was so magical during the Christmas season.

[@atomicpuppet]

My grandmother was born in 1939 in Essex and when she was a teenager her father who was a Steel Mill worker took her to the retail store here and she got her first real fur coat. She lights up whenever talking about it. The way she tells the story shows how special that moment was for her as a teenager.

[@bubblewrappedmemories]

Thank you Johns! I shopped there as a child back in the 1970s-1980s. such a great place and experience!

[@crazyjaniecad]

Baltimore gets a bad rap. Sure, like all cities there are problems. We visited about 4 years ago and everyone was very pleasant and welcoming. So much to see and do. So much history. We even visited the Poe House, which we were told was in a bad area. We had no problems and were very pleased to find two officers spending some time talking with children in the area. We felt safe.

[@baltimoreheritage1006]

We totally agree! Hope you visit again.

[@jamesphillips496]

I remember seeing huge building from Harford Rd. I went in and brought some shoes then walked to my Aunts house just off Harford Rd.

[@billybarnett2846]

This was a great store in the 70s and 80s. I got my first big boy bike here. I remember being there when Michael Jackson's Thriller was released and they were playing a video about it on a loop.

[@danprives6517]

The chute for packages is sitting outside the building. The tubes shown in the video were part of a pneumatic tube communication system.

[@zappatx]

I have pictures of the chutes - they were in the center of the floor sections that went to a sorting section on the 2nd floor. I'll have to make a youtube video of that.

[@Slideyslide]

I love this building. I see it every time I come into Baltimore. Nice to finally see some history on it. 😊

[@baltimoreheritage1006]

We love it too!

[@ChristopherEstep-es6qs]

The Lottery and Gaming Authority is now based there.

[@jguyfletch2187]

I loved working in the M.W. building! We had everything in one place. A fantastic hair salon, that did it all. And the cafeteria had FRESH BAKED BREAD every day of the week! Plus the best rotisserie chicken. Also the freight areas of the building had cable cars to direct the freight (incoming and out-going) just load them up, insert the correct pin into the hitch, and away it would go! Wonderful years of my life!

[@davidfoertsch8493]

I work in this building, it's really nice. There's even a large hall on the main level that's used as an event space. It looks great at night too, with the huge neon sign. You can even see that from across the water sitting at Middle Branch Park.

[@thomasshaner2725]

One of my great grandmother's favorite store to shop .

[@josephmosca4506]

My grandmother lived on Lombard Street and Saturday's used to walk down to that Montgomery Wards I really don't remember that one too much the one I do remember was in Glen Burnie Mall

[@briangriffin4937]

I remember the huge Montgomery Ward warehouse on our family trips to Baltimore. My parents bought my teenage brother and sister Hercules bicycles from Ward’s retail store in the building. Wow, thanks for conjuring long-dormant memories of my youth.

[@paulbensen9369]

There are 2 farm tractors in the lobby that were found in the basement of the building, also a couple motorbikes. Years ago I worked summers at Canton Railroad Co. They had the east coast import warehouses for Wards.

[@wallismeeks9420]

My mother-in-law, Anna Meeks, worked for years at the "Monkey Wards" in Eudowood. We loved Wards!

[@kevinkiss3340]

In Towson

[@TheYouTubeTeam]

@@kevinkiss3340 Montgomery Ward was the anchor store at Eudowood Plaza Shopping Center which later became Towson Marketplace and currently Towson Place. It's located at Putty Hill Rd. and Goucher Blvd. in Towson.

[@Laura804]

I love your energy and information - it makes me feel more connected to Baltimore. Thank you so much!

[@theOlLineRebel]

Some memories of this. Went to this old warehouse location in the ‘80s to pick up our first tractor. That was the only time I was actually there. Most things we could pick up at our local Monkey Wards. My mom’s family occasionally went there (they were huge on Hutzler’s) and one time my mom as a little toddler girl c.1940 got lost there. She cried and cried looking for her mommy, and finally they found her. A story she mentioned many times.

[@Bucknloco]

beautiful building- golf course next door gives good sights of it

[@lightbulb1952]

Great video. My first job after graduating high school was in the warehouse at the Middlesex SC Ward's store in Essex, from 8/1970 to 10/1973. I worked my way through college. I liked working there.

[@markkaminski2416]

I grew up on Essex Ave not far from Middlesex SC. Was in the MW store often . Would ride there on my bike and look at the Mojave motorcycles. My friend George Bell worked there did you know him? Did you go to Kenwood HS?

[@lightbulb1952]

@@markkaminski2416 Hi! I worked MW from 8/1970 to 10/1973, in the store's warehouse. I knew a George Pitz, and perhaps a George Bell. It's been way too many years. No, I did not go the KHS.

[@jackgilley7425]

One of my first adventures was a trip to that store in the 50's with my brother to buy spokes for my bike. I can't remember much else except that they came to us via the pneumatic tube, and we thought that was cool.

[@earlklemm2031]

I worked for wards in 1971 in that building it was most impressive even then.

[@joeb6526]

I love this old building. Worked for many years for MDE. We use to walk the park, or down to the golf course almost every day at lunch. I miss it.

[@baltimoreheritage1006]

Sounds like an awesome place to work!

[@nutsfornatives]

Johns - This was a particularly interesting one with a lot of history I did not know! Thanks for all of your work on these!

[@dalemettee1147]

I remember a day going to the M/W building for Christmas items. A day to order things and going back to pick them up. Long lines and problems with getting back ordered items.

[@jacobbauer7105]

Worked there in 1971. Great building. Moved payroll out to Catonsville in 1972 and I moved there

[@johnwalther2472]

had always wondered about the past and present of that building whenever going by it, thanks for the info!!

[@mikebull7775]

Really a cool building , sad so many retailers are gone but that is the nature of business. Great review as always !!

[@andy41417]

Remember the retail store in later 60s early 70s. Made order then pickup was on ground floor loading dock area. Guessing tube system used to forward the paperwork. Doubt many products ever went through it due to size and weight.

[@ChristopherEstep-es6qs]

It was one of only three regional or national department store chains based in the area - the other two merged with each other.

[@patricktreece9188]

I have a catalog that I found in an old farmhouse from the spring of 1923.

[@ryukoli4707]

Wonder if it's worth something?

[@jordanthomas145]

Good video. Can you do a five minute history on one of baltimores tv stations

[@Kwamya10]

WJZ -TV!

[@baltimoreheritage1006]

Thanks for the suggestion! We'll add it to our list

[@astridgalactic9336]

@@baltimoreheritage1006 You'll need to do multiple parts with all of the rich history of Baltimore and TV. Don Claster, Romper Room, Sinclair Broadcasting.... It goes on and on and I know a lot of it will surprise many people. - Thanks for all of your work. Well love and enjoy every bit of it.

[@kevinkiss3340]

Jerry Turner/ Al Sanders

[@ryukoli4707]

AND......... WITH RADIO, my old employer. It was owned by GUARDIAN COMMUNICATIONS when I worked there, and we were experiencing a BIG SURGE IN POPULARITY! Home of BUDDY DEAN & JACK GALE; also, when I was there in the 90s , home of JACK EDWARDS, TOO. Got Rod, etc. We (I was really involved with the BIG WITH UNION) did a video on the history. Willard Scott, etc. A VERY RICH HISTORY!

[@marshamclaughlin4672]

Great short history!!!

[@baltimoreheritage1006]

Thanks for watching!

[@jayizzett]

Great content

[@MarylandPlanning]

Hi. I am the PIO and video editor for MDP. Your video was used at the 3rd statewide brownfield conference on Nov. 15 held at Montgomery Park. I am creating the conference video from the recording and I would like to include your video in the final cut for the morning keynote session. The developer and conference sponsor, Sam Himmelrich, used this video as part of his keynote. I would like to edit this clip into my edit sequence. Can I get the video file for use in Premiere Pro?

[@i3ish]

Can you do a video on the Marlborough Apartments?

[@baltimoreheritage1006]

I'll add it to our list! We do discuss the building in this video, but just about the Cone sisters: kzbin.info/www/bejne/j2GVkomCZ7qrf7M

[@elmorekrouse4250]

I worked with a man that bragged that he used to sleep on the john to get out of work at MONKEY WARDS. I remember that there were dozens of pneumatic tubes that connected all the offices and you could hear things whizzing thru

[@Uhlan_]

I first came to Baltimore when I was 9. As we came into town at night we passed the place with it's big red lettered, Mongomery Wards, sign all lit up. I only got a glimpse of it and remembered thinking "that was an awfully big place for just a maternity ward."

[@baltimoreheritage1006]

Cool memory!

[@RickMahoney2013]

My mother worked there for years.

[@baltimoreheritage1006]

Very cool place to work!

[@Muffinman2nd]

bros name is johns hopkins....

[@rosalynarrington6818]

What about Wendy Ward? Model s

[@chrisclark7612]

The building is falling down, it floods in the tunnel, is full of rodents, and it has bed bugs in the offices. Many of the concrete columns are cracked and falling apart. It's outlived its usefulness.

[@cassandramcknight2416]

I don't know why the Maryland State government didn't purchase this building to house the Baltimore City Department of Social Services. Various branches could be under one roof, and possibly eliminate other fees for renting various other buildings.

[@yesyesyes6198]

#yag

[@johnmoore260]

The "letter" 4 ? C'mon!

[@TheYouTubeTeam]

Perhaps you'd prefer "a lower case number h"?