Downtown Silver Spring in Montgomery County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

The 'Mayor' of Silver Spring

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), May 29, 2021

1. The 'Mayor' of Silver Spring Monument

Inscription.

The 'Mayor' of Silver Spring. . "Don't Worry About It" The 'Mayor' of Silver Spring. Norman Lane 1911-1987.. Remembering the Loving Kindhearted Forbearance of the People of Silver Spring, The "Mayor of Silver Spring" was our official town drunk. Although he was born into a prominent DC family, Norman got off to a rough start. His mother had TB and the stress of bringing him to term took her life and left little Norman with life-long problems. He ran away from a school for retarded children when he was six. He grew up as an outcast, drifting around the country doing odd jobs, farm work and washing dishes. He was an odd shaped piece that never quite fit into society's jigsaw puzzle., Norman's was the picture of misery. Often wearing his shoes on the wrong feet, his rumpled clothes hung off his 90 pound frame like a scarecrow. He looked like a gargoyle peering out from under a hard hat. After returning to the DC area, he spent the winter of 1966 in Glenmont, sleeping in the fire department coal bin. That spring he wandered down Georgia Avenue., In Silver Spring he found a home. The Phillips family set up a cot for him in the back of their auto body shop. For 25 years Norman lived in that back alley garage, which was directly behind this statue. It was the only real home he ever knew. After his death, Norman's alley, "Mayor Lane" was named for him. Silver Spring's business community, the shoppers, the police and the fire departments were his family. They accepted his drinking, his coarse manners and came to love his quirky Tom Sawyer sense of humor., "Don' worry 'bout it" was Norman's answer to everything. As our "Mayor" made his rounds he generously shared a bit of his permanent vacation with us work-a-day shut-ins. He owned nothing. He shambled through these streets happily living out our worst fears for us. After seeing Norman, we really didn't worry about it quite so much. Fridays were his big day. He retrieved armloads of flowers from the flower shops' trash and passed out bouquets to the ladies (Norman loved the ladies). His weathered, toothless face looked like a rusty ax stuck in the midst of those brightly-colored flowers. , One day he put out his last cigarette in his last beer and just like that he quit. But the truth is he wasn't much different sober. Silver Spring's loving care allowed Norman to live out his life on his own terms. Silver Spring's finest hour lasted 25 years. , This monument was sculpted and donated by Fred Folsom in 1991

"Don't Worry About It"
The 'Mayor' of Silver Spring.
Norman Lane 1911-1987.
Remembering the Loving Kindhearted Forbearance of the People of Silver Spring

The "Mayor of Silver Spring" was our official town drunk. Although he was born into a prominent DC family, Norman got off to a rough start. His mother had TB and the stress of bringing him to term took her life and left little Norman with life-long problems. He ran away from a school for retarded children when he was six. He grew up as an outcast, drifting around the country doing odd jobs, farm work and washing dishes. He was an odd shaped piece that never quite fit into society's jigsaw puzzle.

Norman's was the picture of misery. Often wearing his shoes on the wrong feet, his rumpled clothes hung off his 90 pound frame like a scarecrow. He looked like a gargoyle peering out from under a hard hat. After returning to the DC area, he spent the winter of 1966 in Glenmont, sleeping in the fire department coal bin. That spring he wandered down Georgia Avenue.

In Silver Spring he found a home. The Phillips family set up a cot for him in the back of their auto body shop. For 25 years Norman lived in that back alley garage, which was directly behind this statue. It was the only real home he ever knew. After his

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death, Norman's alley, "Mayor Lane" was named for him. Silver Spring's business community, the shoppers, the police and the fire departments were his family. They accepted his drinking, his coarse manners and came to love his quirky Tom Sawyer sense of humor.

"Don' worry 'bout it" was Norman's answer to everything. As our "Mayor" made his rounds he generously shared a bit of his permanent vacation with us work-a-day shut-ins. He owned nothing. He shambled through these streets happily living out our worst fears for us. After seeing Norman, we really didn't worry about it quite so much. Fridays were his big day. He retrieved armloads of flowers from the flower shops' trash and passed out bouquets to the ladies (Norman loved the ladies). His weathered, toothless face looked like a rusty ax stuck in the midst of those brightly-colored flowers.

One day he put out his last cigarette in his last beer and just like that he quit. But the truth is he wasn't much different sober. Silver Spring's loving care allowed Norman to live out his life on his own terms. Silver Spring's finest hour lasted 25 years.

This monument was sculpted and donated by Fred Folsom in 1991

Erected 1991 by Fred Folsom. A significant historical year for this entry is 1966.

Location. 38° 59.535′ N, 77°

The ‘Mayor’ of Silver Spring Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Elia J. Prats, June 8, 2006

2. The ‘Mayor’ of Silver Spring Marker

"Don't Worry About It"
The Mayor of Silver Spring
Norman Lane, 1911-1987
This is perhaps the original plaque below the bust.

Remembering the loving kindhearted forbearance of the people of Silver Spring who cared for this homeless man for twenty five years.

1.58′ W. Marker is in Silver Spring, Maryland, in Montgomery County. It is in Downtown Silver Spring. It is on Georgia Avenue (Maryland Route 97) north of Silver Spring Avenue, on the right when traveling north. Bust faces the sidewalk in the walkway between two storefronts leading to the parking lot behind the stores. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Silver Spring MD 20910, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies

and also the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Visions Realized (a few steps from this marker); Finding a Niche (a few steps from this marker); The Burger King (within shouting distance of this marker); Land, Lumber & Lyrics (within shouting distance of this marker); ‘Most Lonesome Spot’ (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Enticing Business (about 300 feet away); Spirited Entertainment (about 400 feet away); First Bank, First Heist (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Silver Spring.

More about this marker. Fred Folsom sculpted this bust and had it erected at his own expense in 1991. The plaque has changed over time. The original plaque had a short text referring to the "kindhearted forbearance" of the people of Silver Spring. A long form plaque, added in 2006 contains an eloquent biography of Norman Lane. It was originally gold (brass) colored with dark lettering; the current plaque is bronze colored

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, July 22, 2012

3. The ‘Mayor’ of Silver Spring Marker

This is a previous iteration of the marker. The content is identical, although the metal had rusted significantly.

with bright lettering.

Also see . . . The Artist's Eye: Downtown Silver Spring. For background on Norman Lane scroll halfway down the page. (Submitted on June 16, 2006, by Elia J. Prats of Columbus, Ohio.)

Additional commentary.
1. Language on the marker
The transcription includes the verbatim text from the marker, including the offensive term for people with intellectual disabilities.

— Submitted October 5, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.

2. This page has a slur that offends me
I was appalled to see that this page has the slur "r*tarded" in it, even though it was reviewed in 2023 and that word was removed from the medical lexicon over 15 years ago and is widely acknowledged as profoundly offensive. The correct term is "intellectually disabled" —Anonymously posted

Editor's response: Our job for the Historical Marker Database is to photograph and faithfully transcribe signs in the public way that relate a bit of history. It is not for us to pass judgment on what we find—our periodic reviews are solely for correctness. This sign was put up in 1991 and as you point out, the lexicon has changed. You did the right thing
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), May 29, 2021

4. The 'Mayor' of Silver Spring Marker
by writing this commentary pointing out what offends you. We provide the opportunity for our readers to post commentary in order to spark conversation. I am pleased you have taken the time to start it. /JJP

— Submitted October 5, 2025.

Additional keywords. homelessness, mental illness, alcoholism

Detail of the bust image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, July 22, 2012

5. Detail of the bust

The Mayor's Promenade image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, August 9, 2008

6. The Mayor's Promenade

The short walkway between 8221 and 8217 Georgia Avenue is the Mayor's Promenade. The sign has since been removed.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, August 9, 2008

7. Mayor Lane

The back alley paralleling Georgia Avenue on the east is punningly named "Mayor Lane".

Bob Phillips' Silver Spring Autobody image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, July 22, 2012

8. Bob Phillips' Silver Spring Autobody

The body shop where Norman found a home is gone now, but the concrete pad is visible at the end of “The Mayor's Promenade”

Fred Folsom's Signature image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, July 22, 2012

9. Fred Folsom's Signature

This monument is the work of Fred Folsom, an artist who once worked in a nearby art store, a long-time friend of Norman Lane. He erected the monument at his own expense in 1991, four years after Lane was found dead in an abandoned car in 1987.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 9, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 16, 2006, by Elia J. Prats of Columbus, Ohio. This page has been viewed 4,223 times since then and 129 times this year. Last updated on November 28, 2014, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. Photos: 1. submitted on May 29, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 2. submitted on June 16, 2006, by Elia J. Prats of Columbus, Ohio. 3. submitted on July 25, 2012, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 4. submitted on May 29, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 5. submitted on July 25, 2012, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 6, 7, 8, 9. submitted on November 28, 2014, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.