You are cordially invited to attend and participate the unveiling of a century old Dundalk Secret on Monday June 30 at 6 p.m.
Squire’s Italian Restaurant and Catering located at 6723 Holabird Avenue in Dundalk is a popular restaurant and carry-out. It has seen a few expansions both inside the restaurant and outside parking lot.
It started in the 1920s by Fred Squires as Squire’s Café a small neighborhood tavern and pool hall. A recent remodeling of the upstairs banquet room revealed a well-kept secret for decades.
Behind a wall measuring about 30 feet by 8 feet was a blackboard. No Squire’s was never a school but a betting parlor for horse racing. On this blackboard written in chalk were the names of horses and jockeys for races in New Orleans and Cuba!
Kevin J. Garrity, Vice President of the Dundalk-Patapsco Neck Historical Society, did extensive newspaper research to find out who placed First, Second and Third to add to the history and excitement of the discovery!
Squire’s current owner Bob Romiti was thrilled and amazed to discover this lost piece of history. He wanted to showcase and preserve this discovery.
Jennifer J. Egan, a local artist and Co-Chairperson of the Defenders’ Day Committee and a Board Member of the Dundalk-Patapsco Neck Historical Society was hired to do the restoration and preservation of the wall.
She spent 80 hours using chalk paint to do a partial restoration of this valuable piece of local history.
To mark the occasion, the Dundalk-Patapsco Neck Historical Society is featuring Squire’s on its annual Christmas Tree ornament.
The public is invited to see the restoration of the blackboard and a piece of history in the banquet room on June 30 at 6 p.m. While at Squire’s enjoy a good Italian dinner. Mention Defenders’ Day Committee and a portion of the proceeds benefit the Defenders’ Day Committee, a 501(c) (3) organization which commemorates the Battle of North Point and the British attack on Baltimore one day before the Bombardment of Fort McHenry.
