Dec 13, 1978
National Register of Historic Places - Canton House (See Also:Business and Government Historic District)
Statement of Significant: The Canton House was designed and constructed as the headquarters of one of Baltimore's largest and most colorful businesses, the Canton Company. This business was established in 1828 by Peter Cooper, most remembered for inventing and manufacturing the Tom Thumb steam locomotive, and Ames Benney, a Boston entrepreneur. A number of top businessmen helped purchase 6000 acres of land, stretching from Harris' Creek to Back River, which would serve as the pier and service area of the Canton Company. This speculative venture was dependent on plans that called for the rapid construction of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, conceived to revitalize the local goods movement being eroded by the recently opened Erie Canal and Mississippi River steamship trade. By 1830 the State of Maryland endowed both companies with very liberal benefits and the beginnings of two commercial giants were firmly established. Since 1830 the Canton area, through the efforts of the Canton Company, has served as a nerve center of import and export traffic, and as a large manufacturing center for the entire Baltimore area. The Canton House was conceived by Walter B. Brooks, then president of the Canton Company, with the idea of giving the company a permanent homelike atmosphere. suggested that the design of the home building should reflect the beginnings of the company that had been identified with the growth of Baltimore for almost a century. Consequently, it was decided that the building should follow the "Colonial" style popular in this state when the Canton Company was in its formative period. When completed the Canton House received many compliments on its architectural design: "By the simplicity of its Colonial outline and the dignity of its style it arrests the eye of the passerby and wins from even the casual at least a moment's notice as a tribute to its beauty." (The Baltimore Sun, May 4, 1924.) The Canton House is located within the boundaries of the Municipal District Urban Renewal Area. The Area was designated in 1973 to assure the preservation of the many fine, architecturally significant buildings concentrated within the district. recently renovated City Hall and the Block, currently undergoing renovation, are located in the area. Early in 1977 the Canton Company moved its offices to the World Trade Center in the Inner Harbor. The Canton House has recently undergone interior renovation by its new owners, Canton House Associates, for commercial use as a modern office building. Hartman, McLean and Schmidt, Inc., the main tenant of the building, is one of the largest general insurance agents in the Baltimore area.
National Register of Historic Places - Canton House (See Also:Business and Government Historic District)
Statement of Significant: The Canton House was designed and constructed as the headquarters of one of Baltimore's largest and most colorful businesses, the Canton Company. This business was established in 1828 by Peter Cooper, most remembered for inventing and manufacturing the Tom Thumb steam locomotive, and Ames Benney, a Boston entrepreneur. A number of top businessmen helped purchase 6000 acres of land, stretching from Harris' Creek to Back River, which would serve as the pier and service area of the Canton Company. This speculative venture was dependent on plans that called for the rapid construction of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, conceived to revitalize the local goods movement being eroded by the recently opened Erie Canal and Mississippi River steamship trade. By 1830 the State of Maryland endowed both companies with very liberal benefits and the beginnings of two commercial giants were firmly established. Since 1830 the Canton area, through the efforts of the Canton Company, has served as a nerve center of import and export traffic, and as a large manufacturing center for the entire Baltimore area. The Canton House was conceived by Walter B. Brooks, then president of the Canton Company, with the idea of giving the company a permanent homelike atmosphere. suggested that the design of the home building should reflect the beginnings of the company that had been identified with the growth of Baltimore for almost a century. Consequently, it was decided that the building should follow the "Colonial" style popular in this state when the Canton Company was in its formative period. When completed the Canton House received many compliments on its architectural design: "By the simplicity of its Colonial outline and the dignity of its style it arrests the eye of the passerby and wins from even the casual at least a moment's notice as a tribute to its beauty." (The Baltimore Sun, May 4, 1924.) The Canton House is located within the boundaries of the Municipal District Urban Renewal Area. The Area was designated in 1973 to assure the preservation of the many fine, architecturally significant buildings concentrated within the district. recently renovated City Hall and the Block, currently undergoing renovation, are located in the area. Early in 1977 the Canton Company moved its offices to the World Trade Center in the Inner Harbor. The Canton House has recently undergone interior renovation by its new owners, Canton House Associates, for commercial use as a modern office building. Hartman, McLean and Schmidt, Inc., the main tenant of the building, is one of the largest general insurance agents in the Baltimore area.
Dec 13, 1978
Posted Date
Aug 13, 2023
Historical Record Date
Dec 13, 1978
Source Name
National Register of Historic Places
