Agora Publishing, Inc. - 105 West Monument Street

105 West Monument Street

More About Our Locations

14 West Mount Vernon Place
105 West Monument Street
819 Charles Street
702 Cathedral Street
808 St. Paul Street

This stately brownstone mansion was designed by Louis Lang and built by Augustus H. Albert in 1859. As with many of the homes in the historic Mount Vernon district, this building has undergone many transformations.

Over the years, it served as an elegant private home, a hotel and the headquarters of the Episcopal Archdiocese. The basement was also used to stable horses during the Civil War.

1n 1867 - less than 10 years after it was built - the home became the Mount Vernon Hotel. Its rooms could accommodate 75 guests; single rooms rented for $1 a night and suites for $10. It is reported to have been one of the leading hotels of the day. The actor Edwin Booth stayed here when he was performing in Baltimore.

It was a gathering spot for the elite after evenings at the theater. The hotel was closed in 1902 and the building sold to Waldo Newcomer. He paid $100,000 for the mansion and immediately began extensive renovations. He added the walnut paneling to the first floor and the staircase. In 1936, the building was sold to the Episcopal Archdiocese of Maryland for $22,500 - less than what Mr. Newcomer had spent on the renovations.

The Archdiocese used the building as its headquarters until 1994. It converted Mr. Newcomer’s library to a chapel with an altar and a baptismal font.

Agora purchased the building in 1995 and completed renovations in 1996. It is currently the headquarters of The Oxford Club.