This historic neighborhood, one of Baltimore's friendliest, is marked by pre- and post-Civil War architecture, period street lamps, brick sidewalks and stately row homes. Walking tours of historic sites are available.The lifelong home of 'The Sage of Baltimore' H.L. Mencken, is at 1524 Hollins St. Much of the neighborhood is built on the former estate of Thorowgood Smith, a merchant and shipper who was also mayor of Baltimore from 1804 to 1808. In 1799 Smith built Willow Brook, a Palladian style villa popular in mid-18th century England and America. Falling on difficult times, Smith was forced to sell Willow Brook within a year and it then passed to his nephew, John Donnell. The land, comprising twenty-six acres in all, was then parceled out by Donnell's children for lots for the construction of new homes. Willow Brook's interior oval drawing room had long enjoyed local and national acclaim and it was moved intact to the Baltimore Museum of Art for permanent display. The estate house was acquired by Emily Caton McTavish, granddaughter of Charles Carroll (signer of the Declaration of Independence) She in turn, donated it to the Roman Catholic Church which modified and renovated the structure for use as a school for delinquent girls. In 1965 the school closed for good and its buildings were dismantled. The Steuart Hill Elementary School now stands on the site. The land for the one-block, two and a half acre park was donated to the city by the Donnell family in 1847.
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