BALTIMORE -- South Durham Street was once an obscure, average alley in the Fell’s Point community of Baltimore. But, the 200 block includes the site thought to have been where Billie Holiday lived as a child.

Holiday, perhaps the greatest jazz vocalist of all time, was raised by an aunt  and great aunt in Baltimore. Born in 1915 in Philadelphia, she was soon living with her mother’s half-sister on this block when her mother found herself ill-equipped to raise a child.

In the last couple of years, a project was undertaken to go beyond a simple marker commemorating the location. Organizers went with plaques and public art to renew the entire block.

Kitty and I were happy to stumble on the charming alley while we were walking near Emily’s house just before Christmas.