Giffen Hill is a highpoint on the campus of the

University of Maryland, Baltimore County The University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) is a public research university in Baltimore County, Maryland. It has a fall 2022 enrollment of 13,991 students, 61 undergraduate majors, over 92 graduate programs (38 master, 25 doctoral, ...

Arbutus, Maryland Arbutus is an unincorporated community and a census-designated place in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. The population was 20,483 at the 2010 census. The census area also contains the communities of Halethorpe and Relay, in which all th ...

, and is a historic site of the

Manual Labor School for Indigent Boys Manual may refer to: Instructions * User guide * Owner's manual * Instruction manual (gaming) * Online help Other uses * Manual (music), a keyboard, as for an organ * Manual (band) * Manual transmission * Manual, a bicycle technique similar ...

. The hill is a gathering place near the

UMBC Stadium UMBC Stadium is a 4,500-seat stadium on the campus of UMBC in Catonsville, Maryland. The stadium opened in 1976. It is home to the UMBC Retrievers men's and women's lacrosse, field hockey, and track and field programs, as well as an alternate ven ...

, and will be adjacent to the future site of the UMBC Events Center, planned to open in 2017.

History

Originally, the site was the location of the brick residence for the

, constructed in 1860. The school was also simply known as the Baltimore Farm School, due to agriculture being the main focus of curriculum. Numerous renowned Baltimoreans were involved with the school's operations, like

Johns Hopkins Johns Hopkins (May 19, 1795 – December 24, 1873) was an American merchant, investor, and philanthropist. Born on a plantation, he left his home to start a career at the age of 17, and settled in Baltimore, Maryland where he remained for most ...

, and Gustav W. Lurman Jr. who both served on the school's board of directors. The Farm School operated from 1839 to 1922, until it was absorbed by the

Spring Grove Hospital Center Spring Grove Hospital Center, formerly known as Spring Grove State Hospital, is a psychiatric hospital located in the Baltimore, Maryland, suburb of Catonsville. Founded in 1797 as a general medical and psychiatric retreat, Spring Grove Mental ...

, and then subsequently transferred to its present owner, the

. In May 1996, the Coalition for the Preservation of Southwestern Baltimore County, the Catonsville Historical Trust, and the Baltimore County Historical Trust dedicated the historical site. UMBC named the hill for Vice President Sallie Giffen. Historic

white oak The genus ''Quercus'' contains about 500 species, some of which are listed here. The genus, as is the case with many large genera, is divided into subgenera and sections. Traditionally, the genus ''Quercus'' was divided into the two subgenera '' ...

trees also occupy the historic hilltop.

External links

Baltimore Manual Labor School – Explore Baltimore Heritage

References

{{UMBC University of Maryland, Baltimore County