Pine Street Police Station
| Pine Street Police Station | |
|---|---|
| |
| Site Information | |
| Address | 214 N Pine St |
| Geo-reference | 39°17′30″N 76°37′38″W / 39.29178°N 76.62722°W |
| Building Data | |
| Building Type | Government |
| Design | |
| Architect | Frank E. Davis |
| Construction | |
| Completed | 1877 |
What’s known today as the Pine Street Police Station was designed by Frank E. Davis and built in 1877. It is an intriguingly loud example of Gothic Revival architecture. The exterior materials are red brick, trimmed with bluestone lintels, sills, and other decorative details. The belt course at the basement level is made of gray granite. The cornice, hip ridges, and roof finials are painted metal. The front consists of three bays, with a center bay projecting and culminating in a gable. Around 1952, the station was renovated to be used, according to The Baltimore Sun, as a “detention facility for female and juvenile prisoners arrested throughout the city,” and it was used also by policewomen working in the Juvenile Bureau or the Sanitary Unit. In 1963, the Maryland Council of Crime and Delinquency called for its replacement on account of it being unsound and obsolete. In 1967, the city spent $10,000 to upgrade it because it would be too long before they could replace it. During this time, the building continued to be used for “women, children, and emotionally disturbed offenders.” In 1972, it closed and remained vacant. It was slated for demolition until 1990, when an agreement was reached between the City Interstate Commission and the Commission for Historical and Architectural Preservation to make necessary repairs. Today, the building houses the Department of Public Safety (University of Maryland security), with offices, an employee lounge, a communications center, and a fire alarm system that monitors the university.
