Garnet Douglass Baltimore, a distinguished civil engineer and landscape designer who was the first African American to earn a bachelor’s degree from Rensselaer, was celebrated on Sept. 8, when the City of Troy ceremonially renamed a portion of 8th Street in his honor.

Photo by RPI/Kris Qua

“Garnet Baltimore left his mark on this beautiful city and state in so many ways, through the parks, cemeteries, canals, and railroads he had a hand in building. Though most may have forgotten who brought them these magnificent feats of design and engineering, many to this day enjoy the benefits of his work,” President Jackson said. “I applaud his family, Mayor Tutunjian, Troy City Council President Marge DerGuharian, and others in our community who have led the effort to honor Garnet Baltimore's legacy.”

The ceremony, held on the corner of 8th Street and Federal Street, also included speeches from Troy Mayor Harry Tutunjian, Troy City Council President Marge DerGuharian, County Executive Kathy Jimino, other local dignitaries, and Baltimore’s family members.

“By all accounts, Garnet Douglass Baltimore was a man of vision who loved the City of Troy,” Tutunjian said. “For too long his remarkable successes have been overlooked by so many residents of this area. He is responsible for one of the great treasures in the City of Troy and should be an inspiration to many people. The story of his legacy will begin to be told with this great event.”

A civil engineer from the Rensselaer Class of 1881, Baltimore designed and engineered Troy’s Prospect Park, which offered a 25-mile view of the Hudson Valley. Today — more than a century after its conception — Prospect Park is still used by members of the Troy community. Baltimore also helped design the Oakwood Cemetery.

Baltimore also lent his talents and expertise beyond Troy, including supervising the extension of the “mud lock” on the Oswego Canal, acting as assistant engineer and surveyor on the Erie Canal, and leading a preliminary survey party for the 56-mile Granville & Rutland Railroad.

An active alumnus of Rensselaer, Baltimore served as secretary of the Alumni Association’s 50-Year Club until his death in 1946. His remarkable achievements and contributions to society inspired Rensselaer to sponsor the annual Garnet Baltimore Lecture Series in his honor, a series that presents distinguished African American speakers.

On Sept. 9, Baltimore was inducted into the Rensselaer Alumni Hall of Fame, along with three other alumni.

Published September 12, 2005