Credit: Charles and Hudson (CC BY-SA 2.0)

100-year-old townhomes were razed in West Baltimore recently to make room for a new Amtrak tunnel.

Though the homes may be gone, the historic and economic value they contained was not simply cast aside, because the national train operator contracted a salvage company to take out any historic building materials and still-functioning appliances and offer them back to the community for free.

Located temporarily in the old Atlas Storage building off Edmondson Avenue, the salvage center contains “anything a house would take to survive” said one visiting resident.

Maurice Spencer snagged a water heater and a condenser, after his started leaking.

WMAR 2 Baltimore reports that a local organization looking to build a community amphitheater was able to grab a series of marble steps to use as benches.

“I saw some doors in there that I really like,” Spencer told the ABC affiliate. “They have wood bannisters, doors, windows. If anyone interested in doing a little work to your home, this would be the place to start looking for something if you don’t have the money to purchase the things.”

A SIMILAR STORY IN BELGIUM: ‘Urban Miners’ Are Unearthing the Treasures That Can Be Reused as Buildings Are Demolished

Amtrak capital construction manager Alexis Hightower said that they were only technically obligated to salvage and store historic materials, but stainless steel sinks, and well-working appliances like stoves and fridges ended up there too.

Credit: Dutchtown St Louis (CC BY-SA 2.0)

One can imagine the discussions between the demolition crews peeling off historic walnut flooring only to arrive at a fridge only a year old that they were supposed to throw out.

“As they had a chance to go in and inspect each property, they brought it to our attention, hey there are some other valuable items, some still fairly new,” said Hightower.

The goods available are only free for residents of the “Midtown Edmondson or Greater Rosemont neighborhoods” but anyone can come and shop.

SALVAGING HISTORIC AMERICA: Historic Homes Being Turned into Heritage Building Materials by These Awesome Savannah Women

It’s open Monday through Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and by appointment on Saturdays.

The address is 2150 Harlem Avenue. For more information, call (443) 423-1115.

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