Marburg Mansion

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Marburg Mansion
Photograph of 14 W Mount Vernon Place in Baltimore Maryland, 2002 01.jpg
14 West Mount Vernon Place (2002)
Location Baltimore, Maryland
Built1847
Part of Mount Vernon Place Historic District (ID71001037)
Building details
Alternative names14 West Mount Vernon Place; Theodore Marburg mansion; Marburg-Iliff Mansion
General information
Renovated1890s
Technical details
Floor count5

The Marburg Mansion is a historic five-story townhouse at 14 West Mount Vernon Place in the Mount Vernon neighborhood of Baltimore, Maryland. [1] Built in 1847 for Mr. and Mrs. George Tiffany, in 1897 it became the residence of diplomat and peace advocate Theodore Marburg. [1] [2] Through the late nineteenth and into the mid twentieth century, the mansion served as a venue for civic, cultural, diplomatic, and social gatherings, including meetings connected to peace and internationalist organizations. [3] [4] [5] [6] It was later adapted for medical offices and was used by ophthalmology practices associated with Charles E. Iliff, III, M.D. and the Wilmer Eye Institute of Johns Hopkins Hospital. [1] [7] [8]

Contents

History

The mansion was originally built in 1847 for Mr. and Mrs. George Tiffany. In 1866, Mr. and Mrs. George Small purchased the property from the Tiffanys. [1] [2] Theodore Marburg purchased the property in 1897 and added one and one-half stories and a new façade as part of an extended renovation. [1]

Photograph of 14 West Mount Vernon Place showing its five-story height (2002). Photograph of 14 W Mount Vernon Place in Baltimore Maryland, 2002 02.jpg
Photograph of 14 West Mount Vernon Place showing its five-story height (2002).

The mansion hosted large receptions, dinners, and dances and was used for meetings involving civic and cultural organizations. [3] [9] [4] [6] It also served as a site of peace-movement organizing and internationalist activity, including planning meetings for the Third National Peace Congress in 1911 and the drafting of covenants to the League of Nations in Ambassador Theodore Marburg’s study, where figures such as Woodrow Wilson and William Howard Taft were among those received. [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] In 1924, Sir Willoughby and Lady Dickinson of London stayed as guests of Mr. and Mrs. Marburg at 14 West Mount Vernon Place. [16]

Marburg died in March 1946, and probate reporting described the residence and its contents in estate coverage following his death. [17] [18] [19]

In 1955, the building was acquired by ophthalmologist Charles E. Iliff, III, M.D., of the Wilmer Eye Institute of Johns Hopkins Hospital, and was used as medical offices. [1] [7] The mansion remained a private-practice location for Iliff and related practitioners into the late twentieth century. [7] [8]

In 1994, Agora, Inc. purchased the building from the Iliff family. [20] The building is part of Agora's Mount Vernon office campus, a collection of historic buildings used as offices. [21] [22] [23] [24]

Architecture and interior

Photograph of the stairwell skylight (2002). Photograph of Stairwell Skylight in 14 W Mount Vernon Place in Baltimore Maryland, 2002.jpg
Photograph of the stairwell skylight (2002).

The building contains approximately 21,000 sq ft (2,000 m2) and includes 15 rooms and a finished basement. [1] Interior features include high ceilings, ornamental plasterwork, carved woodwork with leaded-glass elements, parquet floors, and a stained-glass skylight over the stairway. [1] It was the first home in Baltimore to be equipped with a hydraulic elevator, later enclosed and converted to electric operation. [1]

Photograph of a marble stair-landing statue (2002). Photograph of Stairwell Statue in 14 W Mount Vernon Place in Baltimore Maryland, 2002.jpg
Photograph of a marble stair-landing statue (2002).

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Haar, Audrey (March 25, 1990). "Historic Mount Vernon house for sale: Diplomat once lived in elegant home". The Baltimore Sun. Baltimore, Maryland. p. 1J – via ProQuest Historical Newspapers.
  2. 1 2 "Mr. George Small". The Baltimore Sun. Baltimore, Maryland. April 13, 1891. p. 4 – via ProQuest Historical Newspapers.
  3. 1 2 "Other social events: Largely-attended reception by Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Marburg, West Mt. Vernon Place". The Baltimore Sun. Baltimore, Maryland. December 14, 1898. p. 7 – via ProQuest Historical Newspapers.
  4. 1 2 "Art Society at dinner: Business also transacted at home of Mr. Theodore Marburg". The Baltimore Sun. Baltimore, Maryland. November 28, 1901. p. 12 – via ProQuest Historical Newspapers.
  5. ↑ "Peace leaders meet: Plans for coming congress mapped out at Marburg dinner". The Baltimore Sun. Baltimore, Maryland. February 15, 1911. p. 14 – via ProQuest Historical Newspapers.
  6. 1 2 "For City Beautiful: Baltimore's future considered at Mr. Marburg's ...". The Baltimore Sun. Baltimore, Maryland. January 19, 1906. p. 14 – via ProQuest Historical Newspapers.
  7. 1 2 3 "Dr. Charles Edwin Iliff Sr., 86, ophthalmologist". The Baltimore Sun. Baltimore, Maryland. August 23, 1997 – via ProQuest.
  8. 1 2 Kelly, Jacques (April 22, 2008). "Alfred A. Filar". The Baltimore Sun. Baltimore, Maryland – via ProQuest.
  9. ↑ "The Week in Society: Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Marburg to give a large dance at home". The Baltimore Sun. Baltimore, Maryland. December 28, 1908. p. 9 – via ProQuest Historical Newspapers.
  10. ↑ "Peace Leaders Meet: Plans for Coming Congress Mapped Out at Marburg Dinner". The Baltimore Sun. February 15, 1911. p. 14.
  11. ↑ "Wants Treaties That Will End War". The Baltimore Sun. April 14, 1912. p. 2.
  12. ↑ "To Send Maryland Ship: Belgian Relief Hand Discussed at Theodore Marburg's". The Baltimore Sun. November 6, 1914. p. 12.
  13. ↑ Kelly, Jacques (August 23, 1997). "Dr. Charles Edwin Iliff Sr., 86, ophthalmologist". The Baltimore Sun. p. 4B. Dr. Iliff also maintained a private practice in the historic Theodore Marburg mansion at 14 W. Mount Vernon Place, where the covenants to the League of Nations had been drawn in Ambassador Marburg's study.
  14. ↑ Dorsey, John (1991). Mount Vernon Place. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 55. Woodrow Wilson drafted the League of Nations proposal while staying at the Theodore Marburg house at 14 West Mount Vernon Place.
  15. ↑ History Trails: Baltimore County. Baltimore County Historical Society. 1987. p. 27. The former President and former Chief Justice William Howard Taft visited the Theodore Marburg home at 14 West Mount Vernon Place.
  16. ↑ "Titled Briton due in Baltimore today: Sir Willoughby and Lady …". The Baltimore Sun. Baltimore, Maryland. November 21, 1924. p. 26 – via ProQuest Historical Newspapers.
  17. ↑ "Marburg, 83, dies on visit to West Coast: Former U.S. minister to Belgium won renown as peace advocate". The Baltimore Sun. Baltimore, Maryland. March 5, 1946. p. 24 – via ProQuest Historical Newspapers.
  18. ↑ "Marburg estate left to relatives: Property bequeathed is estimated at $950,000". The Baltimore Sun. Baltimore, Maryland. March 16, 1946. p. 22 – via ProQuest Historical Newspapers.
  19. ↑ "Marburg left $946,875.20: Estate of former ambassador to Belgium inventoried". The Baltimore Sun. Baltimore, Maryland. May 10, 1946. p. 20 – via ProQuest Historical Newspapers.
  20. ↑ Baltimore City Circuit Court (Land Records), Liber SEB 4145, folios 333–336 (deed dated February 18, 1994). Baltimore City Circuit Court (Land Records). February 18, 1994.
  21. ↑ "Meet the new Agora companies". Technical.ly. September 10, 2015. Retrieved January 28, 2026.
  22. ↑ Gunts, Edward (August 12, 2019). "Agora adds another Charles Street landmark to its portfolio". Baltimore Fishbowl. Retrieved January 28, 2026.
  23. ↑ "Doors Open Baltimore 2018 Pocket Guide" (PDF). Doors Open Baltimore. October 2018. Retrieved January 28, 2026.
  24. ↑ "The Agora". The Agora. Retrieved January 28, 2026.
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