Page 58 - Rukert - 100th Anniversary

HISTORIC CANTON: BALTIMORE’S INDUSTRIAL HEARTLAND AND ITS PEOPLE
NORMAN RUKERT SR.’S SECOND BOOK, PUBLISHED IN 1978, CHRONICLES THE FOUNDING, EARLY SETTLEMENT AND PHENOMENAL COMMERCIAL GROWTH OF CANTON, an industrial center of Baltimore. Calling on his own memories of the waterfront and interviews with Canton residents, Norman Sr. recounts in vivid detail the tales and curiosities, sights, sounds and smells of this community.
The book examines the great industrial enterprises in Canton, beginning with the Canton Company, the real estate investment firm at the center of the area’s development. It also describes the shipyards, oil refineries and breweries that once lined Canton’s streets. One section includes memories of some
of Canton’s own, including a scowman, a prizefighter and a steeplejack.
The book was praised as a positive look at the distinctive character of Canton. Norman Sr. sent the first autographed copy to Baltimore Mayor William Donald Schaefer. In an attached letter, he described his book as “a history of an area of Baltimore we are both proud to be a part of.”
so Norm decided to repurpose it for use as the loading dock on Building #12. Cap, who used to cut up used envelopes, turn them inside out, tape and reuse them, would have been proud of his grandson’s resourceful- ness! This was around the time when Norm, who had only taken drafting in high school, became known as a “seat-of-the-pants engineer.”
As cargo and operations moved from Lazaretto to Pier 5, several long-term and key company figures left their harbor duties behind them. Whitey Hedges retired on August 1, 1979, after serving 31 years as Superintendent of the Clinton Street terminal. The position was filled by Donald Perryman, who was Hedges’ understudy for nine years. On December 1, 1979, Assistant Vice President Milton Bacon retired after 17 years of excellent service. Earlier that year, Cap’s youngest daughter, Catherine Butz Wertz died, after serving eight years on the Board of Directors
of both Rukert Terminals and Rukert Marine. In January 1980, the Board of Directors approved these company title changes: Norman G. Rukert Sr., to
FACING PAGE:
The M/V Rostand discharges cargo at expanded Pier 5
in 1980.
BELOW: McLean Contracting works
on the Pier 5 extension in 1979.
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