Aisquith Street German Reformed

Aisquith Street German Reformed Church

Sources:

History of Baltimore City & County; John Thomas Scharf, 1881, J.B. Lippencott & Company, publishers, Philadelphia PA.

When the First German Reformed had to be moved to make room for the extension of Holliday Street, the congregation desired to build two new churches, one in the northeastern part of the city and one in the western section.

The congregation divided at this point with the one part building the new building for the First Reformed church on Calvert Street and the other erected a church on Aisquith Street near McElderry. The church was dedicated and the cornerstone laid on October 13, 1867. The pastor at that time was Rev. Gustave Facius.

When on a photo journey (7-4-2010) we found a church at the corner of Aisquith and McElderry. It was being used as a Baptist Church. I do not know if this was the Reformed Church. It is surrounded by an empty field and a factory. One of the members of the Baptist Church told me he thought that the original church was a Jewish Synagogue.

The Maryland archives indicate that the church was operational from 1867 to 1882. It was located at 417-425 Aisquith Street. The previous address listed was 300/400 Water (which was also used for St. Peter's Independent Church); and a later address at 613-621 Aisquith Street.

The 1870 Baltimore City Directory uses the 'First English Aisquith nr. Jefferson'. The 1880 Directory it is the 'Aisquith St. (German) - Aisquith nr. McElderry.