Downtown Frederick is a bustling place – it’s full of interesting local businesses, constantly holding celebrations or street fairs, and never lacks a good place to eat or meet with friends. But for all the movement that defines the city, what about the constants of the area that set the scene?
Of all the details and quirks of the Downtown Frederick scenery, here are five of my most timeless favorites:
- “Charity” and “Guess” Statues
At 22 S. Market St. and 108 W. Church St., respectively, these two cast-iron dog statues almost seem like two members of a matched set. Yet, their casting and placement in front of two brick once-houses seem to have been completely unrelated. “Charity” bears the likeness of a Newfoundland, standing straight up and gazing upon the streets with ruffled fur and inquisitive eyes. “Guess” bears the likeness of a Greyhound, seated on a dais and regally staring ahead. In their different ways, each one gives the impression of a well-mannered companion. It’s not uncommon to see a passerby surreptitiously slip their hand onto the dogs’ heads for a quick pat.
- The Clustered Spires
Frederick is known as “The City of Clustered Spires” for the wealth of church steeples visible on its streets. The downtown area boasts several architecturally historic churches and places of worship, all of which are recognized and protected for the character they add to the landscape and color they add to the city’s local history. For example, St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church, and the Frederick Presbyterian Church were all converted into temporary hospitals for Civil War soldiers. The spires are common staples in the repertoires of local photographers and painters, serve as the logo on the Frederick City website, and even have a public golf course in the county named after them.
- “Splash of Color” / “Healing Bouquet” Mural
Located on the corner of South Market and East Market streets, this mural has been one of my favorite new sights in the city in the past handful of years. The bright blue wall depicts a pale blue hand with eyes on the joints of its fingers clutching a multicolored bouquet. The bouquet prominently features Black-eyed Susans, which are the official flower of the state of Maryland. Behind the hand and bouquet, the wall is speckled with a flock of flying herons. The mural was painted by prolific mural artist Gera Lozana in 2020, following a commission by the Frederick Arts Council to brighten untouched parts of Downtown Frederick with street art. Although the mural is referred to as the “Splash of Color Mural” on the Visit Frederick City & County Maryland website, visitfrederick.org, Lozana’s gallery on her professional website, geralozano.com, refers to the piece as “Healing Bouquet.” Each title makes sense when looking at the mural, in that it both provides a much-needed splash of color and encapsulates the sense of healing and transcendence in nature.
- “Earthbound” Mural
I suppose I have a weakness for murals. This particular mural on 45 N. Market St., was jointly painted by artists William Cochran and Paul F. Wilson in 1989. Its background is an arched white casement window with baroquely carved wood millwork. The window is open, both sides extended outward. Peering out from the other side of the frame is a bearded, white-haired man in a slightly disheveled shirt the color of marmalade; two white, feathered wings extend from his back. Something about the rumpled, wistful angel gazing out over the streets has always felt both intensely personal and distant – he gives the impression of a randomly witnessed cameo from another’s life, but one that is permanent instead of fleeting. If I had to guess, that might be why the mural is titled “Earthbound”: The subject is a universal concept compressed into one point in time and space.
- The Trees at Carroll Creek Park in Spring and Summer
The final entry to this listicle isn’t a traditional landmark per se, but it is one of the most enduring impressions I have of Downtown Frederick beauty. Anyone looking for a source of reflection or contentment need only sit by the trees of Carroll Creek Park and watch the sun shine through their leaves. Although urban environments aren’t necessarily the healthiest places for trees, it’s undeniable that trees contribute much to the atmosphere and ambiance of city streets. The shade and coolness they provide is unparalleled during a long walk through warm weather, and they complement all the architecture and art scattered throughout the manmade facets of the city.
