BELAIR-EDISON COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION

60 years of Service and Successes

by Kelley Ray

In 1946, a group of Belair-Edison residents gathered to discuss a new housing development in the neighborhood. Two years later the group legally formed the Belair-Edison Improvement Association, led by its founder, Dr. Joseph Rosskopf and Harold Hicks. In 1992, the Association was renamed the Belair-Edison Community Association. The Association celebrates 60 years of service to its residents in 2008 and is proud that it is the oldest association in the city in continuous operation for its entire existence.

Mr. Hicks served as president for 10 years, followed by Richard “Dick” Lelonek who also served for 10 years. These beginning years focused on zoning, liquor, and quality of life issues. Other residents who served as president in the first 25 years included Edward Munnings (1 year), Dolores Stadler (4 years), and Don Berlau who stepped in for a few months.

Significant milestones of the first 25 years include:

·         Building of the Enoch Pratt Library

·         Working with the US Postal Service to locate a facility on Shannon Drive

·         Fighting the construction of a state prison on Biddle Street – joining forces with the residents of Orangeville

·         Erecting the first community sign on Erdman Avenue

·         Opening of the Brehms Lane Medical Center in Augustanna Lutheran (in 1997, the center was later renamed in honor of former BECA president, Jean Snyder)

During the next 25 years zoning, liquor, and quality of life issues continued as the core foundation of the Association’s work and several residents served in the leadership role of president including Jean Snyder (3 years); Marvin Egolf (2 years); Barbara Przybylski (3 years); Steve Simpson (2 years); Kelley Ray (3½ years); Luca Zacharias (6 mo.); Debbie Straka (1 year); Mel Freeman (1 year); Annie Branch (1 year); Ede Taylor (2 years); Susan Wheeler (2 years); Tony Dawson (1 year); Melodye Watson (6 mo.); and Renee Johnson (current).

Significant milestones during their tenure include:

·         The Housing Committee of the Association formed the Belair-Edison Housing Service, now Belair-Edison Neighborhoods, Inc.

·         Successful opposition to a parole and probation office and trash transfer station

·         Business district Urban Renewal Plan passed by City Council

·         Recycling roll-off at Brehms Lane Elementary

·         Active role in a city-wide coalition to shut down the Pulaski Incinerator

·         Successfully fought to keep firehouse and library open

·         Redevelopment of business district after a fire destroyed Savon Foods and David’s Shoes

·         Bonview Playlot renovated and Brehms Lane/Shannon Drive playground built

·         Organized efforts to restrict rubble crushing facility on Shannon Drive

·         Hosted ten annual SpringFest festivals and eight holiday dinners

Since 1948, BECA has been a leader in the law-making process by suggesting and writing new laws including a bill to restrict the location of adult book/video stores near schools and churches.

THE COMMUNITY OF BELAIR-EDISON:

from a Brewery to a Community

The community of Belair-Edison was established in 1940. Prior to the establishment of Belair-Edison, the Brehms Brewery occupied 624 acres around what is now Erdman Avenue and Brehms Lane. Breweries were one of the main industries in this area of northeast Baltimore during the mid-1800s and underground tunnels have been found where the brewery stored its wares. Later, a village named Georgetown was thriving at the intersection of Belair Turnpike (now Belair Road) and Erdman Avenue. The homes west of Brehms Lane are the oldest homes dating back to the early 1930s and the homes to the east were built in the early 1950s. The last homes to be built were at the northeast corner of the community, where prior to the homes, residents maintained victory gardens. At the site of Sinclair Lane Elementary School was a horse farm where residents could rent horses to ride through Herring Run Park. Erdman Avenue, near Sinclair Lane, was called “lover’s lane” in earlier days.