Duda's Tavern

Duda's Tavern was established in 1949 by Walter P. Duda along with his wife Pauline at the corner of Bond an Thames Streets The building at 1600 (originally 83) Thames Street was built in the mid 1800's. At that time it was known as the Union Hotel and was owned by Captain Thomas Lewis. Described as "Famous Resort for Officers of the Merchant Marine" it became a popular meeting place for ship owners, captains and area businessmen. It was here on June 3rd 1852 that all of the State's Licensed bay pilots met to establish the Association of Maryland Bay Piots, the first port-wide association of pilots in the entire country. The pilots maintained their offices here for 30 years before moving to the pier at the foot of Broadway. The building continued as boarding house for active and retired seafarers while the first floor hosted various businesses and offices through the years. Even serving as a seaman's bethel or chapel at the time of prohibition. After repeal, a barroom waa opened and ran by succession of owner until purchased by Mr. Duda Fells Point in those days was very much different from the Fells Point of today. Ships still docked at the piers and warehouses along Thames Street and most of the waterfront was given to heavy industrial use. The railroads still plied the Belgian block streets vying with the trucks serving the various warehouses and factories