Baltimore, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

H. L. Mencken House

By Christopher Busta-Peck

1. H. L. Mencken House Marker

Inscription. Henry Louis Mencken was born on Lexington Street on September 12, 1880. His father hoped his eldest son would continue the family cigar manufacturing business, but after his father's death in 1899, Mencken headed straight for the Baltimore Morning Herald. By the age of 25, he was the paper's editor-in-chief. When the Herald folded in 1906, Mencken began his long association with the Baltimore Sunpapers, where his outspoken and entertaining views soon won him a national following.

Besides his work as a journalist, the "Sage of Baltimore" was a literary critic, a magazine editor, an authority on American linguistics, and amateur musician and a humorous critic of American life. During the Twenties, his influence as an iconoclast was so widespread that The New York Times called him "the most powerful private citizen in the United States."

Mencken and his family moved into this house in 1883. He lived there until his death on January 29, 1956.

Erected by the City of Baltimore, Jeff Jerome, sponsor, William Donald Schaefer, mayor.

Marker series. This marker is included in the Maryland, Baltimore City historical markers, and the National Historic Landmarks marker series.

Location. 39° 17.252′

National Historic Landmark image. Click for full size.

By Christopher Busta-Peck, January 27, 2008

2. National Historic Landmark

N, 76° 38.507′ W. Marker is in Baltimore, Maryland. Marker is on Hollins Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1524 Hollins Street, Baltimore MD 21223, United States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Bon Secours Hospital (approx. 0.4 miles away); Irish Railroad Workers Shrine (approx. half a mile away); Edgar Allan Poe House (approx. half a mile away); a different marker also named Edgar Allan Poe House (approx. half a mile away but has been reported missing); Baltimore & Ohio Railroad (approx. half a mile away); Lucille Clifton (approx. half a mile away); Mother Lange and the Oblate Sisters of Providence (approx. half a mile away); Clarence and Parren Mitchell (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Baltimore.

Also see . . .
1. Short Biography of Mencken. The most prominent newspaperman, book reviewer, and political commentator of his day. (Submitted on January 28, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)

2. Collection of H.L. Mencken Quotes. (Submitted on January 28, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
3. Friends of the H.L. Mencken House. (Submitted on October 17, 2008, by Christopher Busta-Peck of Shaker Heights, Ohio.)

Categories. • Arts, Letters, Music •

1524 Hollins Street image. Click for full size.

By Christopher Busta-Peck

3. 1524 Hollins Street

View from Mencken House toward downtown Baltimore image. Click for full size.

By Christopher Busta-Peck, January 27, 2008

4. View from Mencken House toward downtown Baltimore

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. This page originally submitted on January 27, 2008, by Christopher Busta-Peck of Shaker Heights, Ohio. This page has been viewed 1,562 times since then and 46 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 27, 2008, by Christopher Busta-Peck of Shaker Heights, Ohio. 4. submitted on March 10, 2008, by Christopher Busta-Peck of Shaker Heights, Ohio. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.