Walther Gardens: the Oldest Snowball Stand in the Country? Sure seems like it. - Entrepreneur Generations

It's no secret that I love Walther Gardens (my review here), the delicious snowball stand in my neighborhood. Since it was purchased last year by brother-sister team Matthew and Paula Wittek, it has metamorphosed into much more than a snowball stand, embracing its moniker of "Walther Gardens" with a growing nursery (greenhouse still coming), a gift shop (my review of the Christmas store here, though this time of year it's filled with arts and crafts), and a community center for workshops and gatherings (more information here).  

But it's back to the snowballs that I want to talk about. Recently, I read that Walther Gardens was "one of the oldest" snowball stands in the country. That made me wonder: what's older? A quick google search revealed that Hansen's Sno-Bliz in New Orleans is thought to be the oldest snowball stand in the country. The thing is, Hansen's opened in 1934, one year after Walther Gardens.

Indeed, Walther Gardens officially opened in 1933, one year before Hansen's. In fact, Mr. Wittek says that's only when the official paperwork was filed with the city; in fact, Walther Gardens has been open since 1928. But a documented opening of 1933 still makes Walther Gardens the oldest snowball stand in the country.

So, next time you're enjoying a sweet and refreshing snowball from Walther Gardens while relaxing on its handmade benches and watching the bees buzzing around the zinnias, know that you're sitting in a one-of-a-kind place: the oldest snowball stand in the country. It's not just a part of Baltimore history, but also American history. 

Please shoot me a message if you know of an older snowball stand. Unless I hear differently, I'm declaring Walther Gardens the oldest.

Walther Gardens is located on the corner of Walther and Southern Avenues in northeast Baltimore.

from Epiphany in Baltimore http://ift.tt/29ctfLd Walther Gardens: the Oldest Snowball Stand in the Country? Sure seems like it. - Entrepreneur Generations

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