Woodberry Kitchen, an excellent restaurant in Baltimore, Maryland, finds itself nestled in various layers of interesting communities.

The area is referred to as Hampden, itself part of Woodberry. The building that the eatery calls home is near a series of mills known as Union Mill and sits in the current Clipper Mill Park. Eleven mills were originally in the area of Jones Falls, settled in 1661 by David Jones.

Woodberry was based around 19th century mills which brought beautiful stone homes and a thriving industry. Frederick County grain was processed here as early as 1802. Today, various mills are repurposed as shops, offices and ling spaces.

Union Mill was built in 1866 as the world’s largest producer of cotton duck, a heavy, woven cotton fabric. Its uses range from sneakers to painting canvas.

Clipper Mill (originally known as the Union Machine Shops) shares the remains of the former Poole and Hunt Foundry, dating to the 1850s. The site manufactured steam engines, boilers, saw-mills and railroad cars. Rail siding and track helped move materials in and products out. The columns that support the U.S. Capitol dome were cast at Clipper Mill, and cannon barrels and balls were cast during our own Civil War.

After a 1920s bankruptcy, the Franklin Balmar Company took over, manufacturing airplane wings and parts for the Manhattan Project during World War II.

A substantial fire in 1995 changed the building forever, but allowed completely new uses via redevelopment. Early in the new century, it evolved into the Clipper Mill Park. The restaurant sits in what was once the foundry building, a stone structure constructed in 1870 with additions added during the remainder of the 19th century. Its neighbors now include several artistic studios.

The Poole and Hunt buildings are registered with the Maryland Historical Trust as a Maryland National Register Property.

Woodberry Kitchen, Baltimore, Maryland
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