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02-26-2005, 11:36 AM
http://sandiego.padres.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/sd/news/sd_news.jsp?ymd=20050221&content_id=947176&vkey=news_sd&fext=.jsp
New exhibit honors local African-American tradition
By Sandy Burgin / Special to MLB.com
http://sandiego.padres.mlb.com/images/2005/02/24/OFKhNXkV.jpg
Detail from the "Blacks in the Ballpark District" exhibit on display at PETCO Park. (San Diego Padres)
SAN DIEGO -- The Padres' new home, PETCO Park, has a single season under its belt. But that doesn't mean San Diego's ballpark district isn't rich in history.
Karen Huff, the chairperson of the Black Historical Society of San Diego, spent three years researching the history of the East Village, the historically African-American area where PETCO Park was built.
With the help of the Padres and the archaeological consulting firm of Brian F. Smith and Associates, all relevant artifacts recovered at the site early in the construction phase were recorded and preserved.
"We knew that there were several historical African-American sites in the ballpark construction zone," said Huff. "We had an interest in seeing if we could identify some of the artifacts and have them removed and see if we could put them on display."
Those artifacts are now on display in the "Blacks in the Ballpark District" exhibit, which is a featured stop on Black History Month tours given by the Black Historical Society of San Diego.
The exhibit includes artifacts, relics, photographs and historical documents that pay tribute to the African-American experience in the area during the end of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th century. It is located on the third floor of the Western Metal Supply Co. Building, the historic building which was incorporated into the ballpark and serves as PETCO Park's left-field foul pole.
"We were allowed access to the construction site with the archeologist who did the digs and we monitored it," Huff said. "We showed them where the African-Americans lived and now we have this fine exhibit."
The African-American presence in the ballpark district can be traced back to the 1870s. During that time black settlements existed in and around what is now PETCO Park.
Henry H. Brown operated a barber shop at 5th Avenue and K and also a liquor saloon at 8th Avenue and L Street. There are combs and bottles from what may have been his establishments.
Mrs. Julia Glenn set up what is believed to be the first black-owned laundry in downtown San Diego in 1889. It was located on 8th Avenue near J. Street.
Edward Anderson founded the IXL laundry in 1897 and that grew to become one of the largest in all of San Diego.
Cutlery and silverware is on display from the Bon Ton Restaurant, owned by Elvira Price in 1892.
And pieces of harmonica were found that were likely used by African-Americans.
"There is a lot of rich African-American folklore in that ballpark," said Huff. "I remember telling [former Padres president] Larry Lucchino the story of Cordelia Caddles and what he might expect to happen where they were going to build the ballpark."
According to legend, the ghost of Cordelia Caddles, who killed herself in the 1890's, haunts the ballpark district.
"I told him don't be surprised that if one of your star baseball players is throwing the ball and all of a sudden it's snatched out of his hand or the ball goes crazy," Huff said.
But fear not, Padres fans. Caddles, who lived where the Park at the Park is now located, roots for the home team.
"They say that Cordelia Caddles is a Padres fan," said Huff. "And we're confident that she is, so she won't be snatching the ball out of Trevor Hoffman's hand. She'll probably snatch it out of a one of the visitors and throw it in another direction or make it go crazy."
Sandy Burgin is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
New exhibit honors local African-American tradition
By Sandy Burgin / Special to MLB.com
http://sandiego.padres.mlb.com/images/2005/02/24/OFKhNXkV.jpg
Detail from the "Blacks in the Ballpark District" exhibit on display at PETCO Park. (San Diego Padres)
SAN DIEGO -- The Padres' new home, PETCO Park, has a single season under its belt. But that doesn't mean San Diego's ballpark district isn't rich in history.
Karen Huff, the chairperson of the Black Historical Society of San Diego, spent three years researching the history of the East Village, the historically African-American area where PETCO Park was built.
With the help of the Padres and the archaeological consulting firm of Brian F. Smith and Associates, all relevant artifacts recovered at the site early in the construction phase were recorded and preserved.
"We knew that there were several historical African-American sites in the ballpark construction zone," said Huff. "We had an interest in seeing if we could identify some of the artifacts and have them removed and see if we could put them on display."
Those artifacts are now on display in the "Blacks in the Ballpark District" exhibit, which is a featured stop on Black History Month tours given by the Black Historical Society of San Diego.
The exhibit includes artifacts, relics, photographs and historical documents that pay tribute to the African-American experience in the area during the end of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th century. It is located on the third floor of the Western Metal Supply Co. Building, the historic building which was incorporated into the ballpark and serves as PETCO Park's left-field foul pole.
"We were allowed access to the construction site with the archeologist who did the digs and we monitored it," Huff said. "We showed them where the African-Americans lived and now we have this fine exhibit."
The African-American presence in the ballpark district can be traced back to the 1870s. During that time black settlements existed in and around what is now PETCO Park.
Henry H. Brown operated a barber shop at 5th Avenue and K and also a liquor saloon at 8th Avenue and L Street. There are combs and bottles from what may have been his establishments.
Mrs. Julia Glenn set up what is believed to be the first black-owned laundry in downtown San Diego in 1889. It was located on 8th Avenue near J. Street.
Edward Anderson founded the IXL laundry in 1897 and that grew to become one of the largest in all of San Diego.
Cutlery and silverware is on display from the Bon Ton Restaurant, owned by Elvira Price in 1892.
And pieces of harmonica were found that were likely used by African-Americans.
"There is a lot of rich African-American folklore in that ballpark," said Huff. "I remember telling [former Padres president] Larry Lucchino the story of Cordelia Caddles and what he might expect to happen where they were going to build the ballpark."
According to legend, the ghost of Cordelia Caddles, who killed herself in the 1890's, haunts the ballpark district.
"I told him don't be surprised that if one of your star baseball players is throwing the ball and all of a sudden it's snatched out of his hand or the ball goes crazy," Huff said.
But fear not, Padres fans. Caddles, who lived where the Park at the Park is now located, roots for the home team.
"They say that Cordelia Caddles is a Padres fan," said Huff. "And we're confident that she is, so she won't be snatching the ball out of Trevor Hoffman's hand. She'll probably snatch it out of a one of the visitors and throw it in another direction or make it go crazy."
Sandy Burgin is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.