<HTML><FONT FACE=arial,helvetica><HTML><FONT COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" FAMILY="SERIF" SIZE="3">These events unfolded while the General Assembly was in session that year, and some Baltimore lawmakers responded to the popular sympathy for the sign maker by proposing that "Hon" be officially added to the "Welcome to Baltimore" sign on the highway. (If it was 1994 then it was an election year, the first following the decennial redistricting, so many lawmakers were in a populist mood.) But the idea was shot down by African American legislators who pointed out that "Hon" is an expression that is only found in the white community and would not be an appropriate expression to represent a city of Baltimore's diversity. (The legislators who wanted to add it to the sign were all white.) I think it was then-Senator Larry Young whose counter-proposal was that "Bro" be added to the sign instead of Hon. And maybe there was a Jewish legislator who joked that a good compromise would be to have it say "Welcome to Baltimore, bubbala" or something along those lines. I know there were some articles about it in the Sun at the time, so you should look those up. And the owner of Cafe Hon in Hampden came down to Annapolis and distributed "Welcome to Baltimore Hon" mugs to all the legislators to support adding Hon to the sign and as a publicity stunt for the restaurant. I think I still have one of those in my cabinet. Anyway, obviously the legislative proposal never went anywhere after that, but it did receive considerable attention at the time. <BR>
<BR>
-Matthew<BR>
<BR>
In a message dated 8/24/06 9:21:20 PM, langwidge@erols.com writes:<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE CITE STYLE="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px" TYPE="CITE"></FONT><FONT COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" FAMILY="SERIF" SIZE="3">Mary,<BR>
<BR>
I live in Baltimore and remember news about the sign. <BR>
<BR>
I think someone taped a piece of paper with the word Hon on it to the sign.<BR>
I don't think the word was ever part of the "official" sign.<BR>
<BR>
I'm forwarding your message to the Charles Village list.<BR>
<BR>
Maybe someone on it can help.<BR>
<BR>
Christine Gray<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
-----Original Message-----<BR>
From: H-Net Discussion List on Maryland History and Culture<BR>
[mailto:H-MARYLAND@H-NET.MSU.EDU] On Behalf Of Mary Beth Corrigan<BR>
Sent: Thursday, August 24, 2006 7:00 PM<BR>
To: H-MARYLAND@H-NET.MSU.EDU<BR>
Subject: Welcome to Baltimore Sign<BR>
<BR>
From: rizz0015@umn.edu [mailto:rizz0015@umn.edu]<BR>
Sent: Thursday, August 24, 2006 10:16 AM<BR>
Subject: INQ: Welcome to Baltimore Sign<BR>
<BR>
Dear List Members:<BR>
<BR>
In 1994 there was a bit of a public brouhaha over adding the word 'hon' to<BR>
the Welcome to Baltimore sign on I-295. I'm researching this incident as<BR>
part of an essay that looks at tourism and the representation of<BR>
contemporary post-industrial cities. While I have numerous articles that<BR>
discuss the details of the debate, I can't quite figure out if 'hon' was<BR>
added to the sign or not. And if it was added, the last time I drove into<BR>
Baltimore, I didn't notice it (though that certainly doesn't mean it wasn't<BR>
there.. I was going 65 mph, after all).<BR>
<BR>
Can someone let me know--does the I-295 Welcome to Baltimore sign say<BR>
'hon'? If not now, did it? And, boy, if someone has a photo of it they'd<BR>
like to share, that would be great.<BR>
<BR>
Thanks, as always!<BR>
<BR>
Mary Rizzo<BR>
rizz0015@umn.edu<BR>
<BR>
_______________________________________________<BR>
Chat mailing list<BR>
Chat@charlesvillage.info<BR>
http://charlesvillage.info/mailman/listinfo/chat_charlesvillage.info<BR>
<BR>
</BLOCKQUOTE></FONT><FONT COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" FAMILY="SERIF" SIZE="3"><BR>
<BR>
</FONT><FONT COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" FAMILY="SERIF" SIZE="3"></FONT></HTML>