(This article originally appeared in the June 2026 issue of the South Baltimore Peninsula Post.)
The life of Pete the pigeon, who called South Baltimore home for a quarter of a century in the early 1900s, was depicted in Gary Meyers’ first and only children’s book, The Autobiography of a Pigeon Named Pete, published 10 years ago this year.
In the book, Pete recounts his life on the corner of E. Ostend and Patapsco streets as a love story with Muriel, a young girl who lived on that corner with her family. Meyers, Muriel’s son and a retired NASA engineer, interprets Pete’s tale with the help of illustrations from Stephanie Helgeson.
Meyers admits that he is not an author and frankly doesn’t much like to read or write, but he felt that the story of Pete and Muriel was one too good not to share. Pete was something of a Baltimore celebrity, Meyers discovered after reading news articles from the 1930s about the pigeon.
Pete spent his life flying in and out of his South Baltimore home. He was especially well known at the former Southern District Police Station (now the South Baltimore Learning Center) across Ostend Street from Muriel’s home. Pete would fly to neighbors’ homes, sitting on their windows as he waited for snacks. In his own home, Pete would pull out plugs and make nests in shoes.
There were some frightening moments, too. Once, a cat grabbed Pete by his neck, but he was saved by neighbors. Another time, a homeless man caught him and was going to have him for dinner. Most of the neighborhood went searching for him and luckily saved him.
Those are just a few of the tales told in Pete’s autobiography. In a recent phone conversation with Meyers, he recalled that his first draft was more than 2,000 words long. Meyers worked with Mascot Books, based in Arlington, Virginia, to simplify Pete’s tale. In addition to Meyers’ retelling of Pete’s story, the book includes news articles to show that the story was based on facts.
Pete died in 1944, before Meyers was born. The storied pigeon was buried at the Rosa Bonheur Memorial, Inc., Pet Cemetery in Elkridge. Meyers tracked down Pete’s final resting place in the cemetery from a photo and ensured Pete had a proper headstone. Meyers now volunteers at the cemetery cutting the grass.
When the book came out in 2016, Meyers held his first solo book signing at the South Baltimore Learning Center. He recalled telling the residents of Pete’s house across the street that there may be visitors stopping by now that Pete’s story was back in circulation. Meyers continues to spread the word about the book, sharing it in public schools and libraries across Central Maryland. He even keeps copies in his car to give out to children.
The Autobiography of a Pigeon Named Pete can be found at the Light Street branch of the Enoch Pratt Library (less than two blocks from Pete’s home) and ordered through Amazon and Barnes & Noble. – Gwendolin Schemm
South Baltimore Peninsula Post 