Garnet Douglass Baltimore 1859-1946 Landscape Engineer, Trojan The City of Troy passes resolution to rename a portion of Eigth Street between Federal and Ferry Streets after Garnet Douglas Baltimore.

"He was born here, educated here, practiced here, served the public here, died here. He represented Troy; he helped to develop it; he bet on it from birth to death."

Troy Record, June 13, 1946

The history of black America's struggle for freedom and dignity, of Troy, and of Rensselaer are very much a part of the life of Garnet Douglass Baltimore. Baltimore's grandfather, Samuel Baltimore, was a black slave and a Revolutionary War soldier. Promised his freedom if he fought for American Independence and later denied release by his master, he escaped and settled in Troy. Samuel's son and Garnet's father, Peter F. Baltimore, was born in 1829. Peter was a barber to men prominent in public life. He was a pupil of abolitionist minister Henry Highland Garnet and associated with Frederick Douglass, with black mathematician Charles Reason, and with Underground Railroad leader Robert Purvis.

Garnet Baltimore was born in a cottage at 162 Eighth Street (Rensselaer's address today is number 110) in 1859 and named for his father's friends, Garnet and Douglass. In 1881, Garnet Baltimore became the first African-American to earn a bachelor's degree from the Institute. The day after receiving his Civil Engineering degree, Baltimore went to work as an assistant engineer on a bridge between Rensselaer and Albany. By 1883, he was appointed in charge of a surveying party for the 56-mile Granville and Rutland Railroad, a distance of 56 miles. In 1884, he served as assistant engineer and surveyor on the Erie Canal. He became engineer in charge of the Shinnacock and Peconic Canal on Long Island. During his canal service, he supervised the extension of the notoriously difficult "mud lock" on the Oswego Canal.

In 1897, Baltimore designed Forest Park Cemetery in Troy. The operation later went bankrupt. Elements of the land make up today's Troy Country Club property.

Baltimore made his most notable and long-standing contribution to Troy in 1903 when he designed the once-private lands of Mount Ida into the public area known today as Prospect Park. His project was to create a public park for use by people of all ages. The result of his work was once referred to as, "84 acres of elegant nature." It offered a 25-mile view of the Hudson Valley. Today, Prospect Park remains one of Troy's greatest assets.

In 1906, he was listed as Engineer in the Department of Parks. In his role as a consulting engineer, Baltimore made surveys and maps for attorneys of scenes of accidents and crimes. He testified about those measurements in many courts in Troy and other cities. Cemetery design and engineering remained part of his work.

He died at the same location where he was born, his home at 162 Eighth Street just a few doors from the institution he loved. His death was front-page news in the Troy Record. The announcement was accompanied by a large photo and the following appeared on the editorial page: " ....There was a time when he was in the thick of municipal affairs. He was architectural Engineer at Oakwood Cemetery. He laid out Prospect Park. He was probably the greatest surveyor in the city's history. He was as much a part of Troy as the monument... "

Reputation

The first African-American to earn a bachelor's degree (Civil Engineering) from the Institute.

Supervised the extension of the notoriously difficult "mud lock" on the Oswego Canal, 1884. The project involved coping with quicksand and working with new approaches with cement.

Designer and engineer for Troy's magnificent Prospect Park, an impressive example of turn-of-the-century urban recreational space, 1903.

As a consulting engineer, made surveys and maps for attorneys of scenes of accidents and crimes, and testified in court about those measurements.

Consulting engineer for thirty years for Troy's mammoth Oakwood Cemetery.

Professional Achievements

Assistant engineer on the Albany and Greenbush bridge between Rensselaer and Albany, 1881.

In charge of a preliminary survey party for the 56-mile Granville & Rutland Railroad and consulting engineer for the Greenwich & Johnson-ville Railroad, 1883.

Assistant engineer and surveyor on the Erie Canal. Later engineer in charge of the Shinnacock and Peconic Canal and later took on the "Mud Lock" project, 1884

In charge of the cement-testing department for New York State Canals.

Laid out Albany's Graceland Cemetery and cemeteries in Amsterdam, Hoosick Falls, and Glens Falls.

Designed landscape engineering for St. Mary's Hospital in Troy.

Service and Career Contributions

Chair of the Civic Art Committee of Troy, 1912-1913.

Instrumental in organizing Troy Night in 1913 held at the Troy Music Hall, resulting in new ornamental street lighting and other municipal improvements.

An active alumnus of Rensselaer and a member of the Troy Alumni Club. Served a secretary of the Alumni Association's 50-Year Club until his death.

Member of the New York State Society of Professional Engineers.

Since 1990, Rensselaer has sponsored the Garnet Baltimore Lecture Series in his honor. The Baltimore Lectures present distinguished African-American speakers.