Union Square in Baltimore, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
H. L. Mencken House
Photographed By Christopher Busta-Peck
1. H. L. Mencken House Marker
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.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Arts, Letters, Music. In addition, it is included in the Maryland, Baltimore City historical markers
this page online
Location. This marker has been replaced by another marker nearby. It was located near 39° 17.252′ N, 76° 38.507′ W. Marker was in Baltimore, Maryland. It was in Union Square. Marker was on Hollins Street. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 1524 Hollins Street, Baltimore MD 21223, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location. Henry Louis Mencken House (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named H. L. Mencken House (here, next to this marker); World War I Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away); Bon Secours Hospital (approx. 0.4 miles away); CSX Corporation (approx. half a mile away); B&O Railroad Museum (approx. half a mile away); Main Line Electrification of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O) 1895 (approx. half a mile away); Connectivity: Street Art at the Intersection of Rail, Community, & Identity (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Baltimore.
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. This marker has been replaced with the linked marker.
Also see . . .
1. H.L. Menkin. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on December 24, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Photographed By Christopher Busta-Peck, January 27, 2008
2. National Historic Landmark
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.)
Photographed By Christopher Busta-Peck
3. 1524 Hollins Street
Photographed By Christopher Busta-Peck, January 27, 2008
4. View from Mencken House toward downtown Baltimore
Photographed By Michael Gross, Unknown
5. H. L. Mencken
Credits. This page was last revised on March 22, 2024. It was originally submitted on January 27, 2008, by Christopher Busta-Peck of Shaker Heights, Ohio. This page has been viewed 1,950 times since then and 22 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. 5. submitted on December 24, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.
