West Annapolis Peninsula Later History
The peninsula of West Annapolis includes many other histories following its transformation from a farming community and vineyard to a residential community. Histories of West Annapolis Elementary School (1894 to the present), West Annapolis Methodist Episcopal Church (1910 - 1930) and West Annapolis Volunteer Fire and Improvement Company (1911 to the present) tell tales of a vibrant community within the boundaries of Weems Creek (at one time West Annapolis River), the Severn River, Shady Lake (at one time nicknamed Governor’s Gut), the USNA property, and Rowe Boulevard.
In 1951, West Annapolis, Admiral Heights, Germantown, Homewood, Parole, and Eastport were annexed to the City of Annapolis. To avoid duplication with other City street names, West Annapolis street names were changed - Severn Avenue became Melvin Avenue, Revell Street became Ridgely Street, Munroe Street became Shiley Street, Walton Street became Tolson Street, and Randall Street became Tucker Street. In 1952, the West Annapolis Civic Association was formed.
World War II greatly affected West Annapolis. During World War II, the West Annapolis Junior Fire Brigade was created and the Red Cross provided women drivers for the ambulance at the Fire Station. Also during wartime, the Naval Academy constructed a large quonset hut community for military families stationed in Annapolis stretching from Taylor Avenue to College Creek and Annapolis Street to almost Melrose Street. The population of the West Annapolis peninsula grew during the wartime years. West Annapolis Elementary School ran two school sessions a day to fulfill the education of the increased student enrollment. During this time and during WWI and Vietnam, West Annapolis experienced the death of several residents.
Read More:
Street Signs to History: The Story of the West Annapolis and Wardour Street Names shares the history of West Annapolis and the Wardour neighborhood through the lens of its streets and alleys, Written by Constance Werner Ramirez
West Annapolis Elementary School - Little Brown Schoolhouse
West Annapolis Elementary School, started in homes in 1894, has provided exceptional education to generations of area students. Around 1919, a 4 room little brown shingle school house was built on the corner of Annapolis Street and Monterey. West Annapolis Elementary School has had 6 school facilities in this West Annapolis block - 1919, 1939, 1955, 1984, 2011 and 2016. In the 1930s, the teacherage (now at 10 Annapolis Street), provided lodgings for teachers, and the West Annapolis Methodist Episcopal Church (now at 12 Annapolis Street), were moved from the school block down the street to make room for the new brick school building. Both of these buildings are still in use today as Tara’s Gifts and Wrabyn Boutique.
West Annapolis Elementary’s enrollment has always included students affiliated with the military. Their presence in the school added to the school’s personality. Perry Circle apartments were built in 1938 with 10 buildings with 6 units in each building. During WWII, quonset hut residences for military families were located in the land now occupied by the State of Maryland police department and MD State Archives, These military students filled the classrooms of the school.
Read more:
Oldest PTA Marking 50th Anniversary, The Evening Capital, March 10th, 1967
A History of West Annapolis Elementary School, published for the dedication of the new West Annapolis Elementary School, August 2016
20 minute video on the History of West Annapolis Elementary School, produced by Anne Arundel Public County Schools, 2016
1911 West Annapolis Volunteer Fire and Improvement Company
Founded In 1911, the West Annapolis Volunteer Fire and Improvement Company, Inc was organized and located at 501 Melvin Avenue, on the corner of Melvin Avenue and Tucker Street. Early residents with names such as Shaw, Oaksmith, Sazamea, French, Guy, Shawn, Egan, League, Dulin, Proskey, Phillips, and Stallings established a fire and improvement association, a school (West Annapolis Elementary School) and a mission church (West Annapolis M..E Mission Church) on this block of Annapolis St, Tucker Street, Melvin Avenue and Monterey Avenue. The West Annapolis Volunteer Fire and Improvement Company became the center of the community. In 1921, they bought their first truck and in 1930, they bought a Studebaker ambulance. Siren codes included 1 for an ambulance, 2 for a Weems Creek emergency, 3 for a Taylor Avenue emergency… 6 for a fire in West Annapolis. The Annual Carnival each summer was much anticipated, hosting some of the country’s leading aerial artists. The fire hall (second floor of the fire station) held dances. Women were able to join as members of the Ladies Auxiliary in 1926 and were then able to staff the equipment in the late 1970’s. With the annexation of West Annapolis to the City of Annapolis in 1951, the community focus for the Fire and Improvement Company changed. In 1973, the West Annapolis Volunteer Fire and Improvement Company moved to their current home on Jennifer Road and now serves everyone west of the Severn River.
Read more:
100th Anniversary of the West Annapolis Volunteer Fire Company (1911-2011)
1935 West Annapolis Fire Department
Early residents established the West Annapolis Fire and Improvement Association, which became the center of the community.
January 1951 Village of West Annapolis Annexed to the City of Annapolis
In January 1951, the City of Annapolis greatly expanded by acquiring nearby suburbs that were in Anne Arundel County. These suburbs are West Annapolis including Wardour, Admiral Heights, Eastport, Germantown, Homewood and Parole.
In his mayoral campaign, Roscoe Rowe advocated the annexation of suburban areas surrounding the city and promised the installation of water and sewer lines to the annexed property. The annexation was approved in 1950, and on January 1, 1951, Mayor Rowe welcomed eight new aldermen from the four new wards, including all of Eastport. Rowe immediately initiated work on the water and sewer project, 25% of which had been completed by the end of 1951. Mayor Rowe also worked on many new roadway developments such as a bridge over College Creek and the eventual roadway named in his honor Rowe Boulevard in 1954.
Read More:
The Annexation of its suburbs led to the rapid growth of Annapolis, by Paul Goetzke, Capital Gazette, July 27, 2023
1998 West Annapolis Veterans Memorial
In 1998, Doug Richardson (4 Shiley Street), President of the West Annapolis Civic Association and his team of historians and volunteers, worked diligently to create a Veterans Memorial at West Annapolis Elementary School and name (via City Council of the City of Annapolis, R-15-98, dated 5-11-98) three West Annapolis alleys for three veterans of World War II. A dedication ceremony took place at West Annapolis Elementary School on May 18, 1998 culminating this work for veterans from the neighborhood of West Annapolis. Since this 1998 dedication, three City of Annapolis Recreation and Parks street end parks have been named for these streets named after WWII war heroes as well -Tolson St. Park, Shiley Park and Tucker St. Park.
Read More:
West Annapolis Remembers War Dead, The Capital Newspaper, June 5, 1998
West Annapolsis has fond memories of war heroes, The Sunday Capital, May 24, 1998
Memorial dedication speech by Doug Richardson, president of WACA
The West Annapolis Elementary School Memorial on Annapolis Street
Biographies of Veterans on the West Annapolis Elementary School Memorial
Service member photo, World War II, showing Pap Tolson and Moke Saffield
Letter from WAES student to Veteran, May 15, 1998
World War II service member photo, showing residents Pap Tolson and Moke Saffield
West Annapolis and Wardour History Celebrations and Recent News
Wardour Centennial Celebration , 1915-2015
West Annapolis Heritage Partnership
West Annapolis Heritage Partnership’s Mission and Opportunity
Listening to Our Trees Map, Tree Zones in West Annapolis
City within a City, by Eric Smith, January 18, 1999
West Annapolis Community celebrates 100th Anniversary, The Capital, December 1991
Home of the Proskey family, moved across Melvin Avenue to 506 Melvin to make room for expansion of the West Annapolis Volunteer Fire and Improvement Company. This home is still stands across the street.
Weems Creek Bridge, date unknown
Memories from West Annapolis and Wardour residents
Request - Days That are Long Gone - Harold Parkinson, Annapolis St resident
History of West Annapolis by Harold R. Parkinson - Days That Are Long Gone
Old Wardour Bluffs, The Turners Remember it Well, by Bill Miller
Memories from Lillian Nutt, West Annapolis resident, early 1900s
Memories from Breeze Woods Stewart, 101 Old Crossing Lane
Memories from Anne Goodwin McRae, former resident at 607 Taylor Street (now 7-Eleven)
Memories from Skip Fuller, former resident of 105 Shiley (1943-1960)