Nestled away in the far Southeast corner of Baltimore County, at the very southern end of Dundalk, Maryland, lies the historic African American community of Turner Station. The community came about around the late 1880s with the beginning of what is now Bethlehem Steel Mill and shipyard on Sparrows Point. When African American men could no longer find homes for their families on Sparrows Point, many went to an area not far from Sparrows Point to a small community in Turner Station called "The Meadows." As this little community of log cabins grew, they expanded to the waters edge into one of the largest African American communities in Baltimore County, Maryland. Due to the decline of steel production at Bethlehem Steel Mill, employment began to decline and likewise the number of African American families residing in Turner Station. Today, the community is beginning to revive itself, and is on the verge of returning to its days of a beautiful, friendly, wholesome community.
The Anthony Theater, built and owned by Dr. Joseph Thomas, an African
American from Turner Station in 1946-47, this air conditioned theater
was named after the father of Dr. Joseph Thomas, Anthony Thomas. This
theater compared with many of the popular African American theaters in
Baltimore City.
The Balnew Building, built and owned by an African American organization
in Turner Station. The building had two floors, both filled with African
American business people from a grocery store to a pool hall.
Turner Elementary School, the first permanent school built for African
American children in the Turner Station area in 1930, it replaced old
portable buildings used as a school on Sollers Point Road that was built
in 1925. Prior to 1925, the children of Turner Station attended Bragg
School on Sparrows Point. This building has been converted to homes on
Oak Street.
The "Fla-Joe," a converted 83 foot naval boat converter to a cruising
boat by Dr. Joseph Thomas. The boat was named for his wife, Flavia Thomas,
and himself. The boat was usually docked at the Rfgewater Amusement
Park or at his home in Edgewater, just a short distance from Turner Station.
The baseball field at Edgewater Amusement Beach that was located in T
urner Station. The semi-professional baseball team was the "Baltimore
Grays," owned by Dr. Joseph Thomas. On this site was built the first
African American high school in Turner Station, Sollers Point High School.
Dr. Joseph Thomas with his wife, Flavia. They are on their 83' boat,
the "Fla-Joe." Dr. Thomas came to Turner Station from the Eastern Shore
in 1887. He graduated from The Howard University School of Medicene in
1912, and took up his practice in the Turner Station area. He was a
highly successful businessman, building 12 row homes on Sollers Point
Road, the Anthony Theater, the Edgewater Beach Amusement Park, and
owned the semi-professional baseball team, the "Baltimore Blues." His
wife, Flavia Thomas came from New Orleans. His son, Joseph Thomas, Jr.,
esq., is a retired lawyer.
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Robert Cabean, Jr., from Turner Station. He is a graduate of the United
States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland and is currently in the
astronaut program. He has made a space flight. His father, Robert Cabean,
was born in Turner Station, and his gradperents, Willie Cabean and
Beatrice Brice Cabean, came to Turner Station in 1931.
Sarah Neal Williams, who was born in "The Meadows" located in Turner
Station on November 3, 1902. It was because of the discovery of her
State of Maryland Birth Certificate that helped discover the date that
African Americans settled in Turner Station. She is deceased, but it
was due to the interview of her sister, Catherine Bullett that the
important date of Sarah's birth became known. Records reflect that
Turner Station began around 1921.
Agnes Deaver Pulliam, second from right, with several of her siblings:
l to r: Gladys Williams, Lawrence Deaver, Hilda Diggs, Agnes, and
Agrada Diggs. Agnes, and her husband, Wilbert (Jeep) Pulliam resided
in Day Village of Turner Station for many years. Most of their children
were born in Turner Station.
Margaret Quarles and Yvonne Evans from Turner Station.
The Bath House on Edgewater Beach Amusement Park in Turner Station that
was owned by Dr. Joseph Thomas. The park offered swimming, amusement
rides, a lounge, even a ballpark where the semi-professional baseball
team owned by Dr. Thomas, called "The Baltimore Blues" played.