704 Cathedral Street

Built circa 1855, for William Hamilton Graham (1823-1885) and his wife, Isabel Brown (1827-1856). Mrs Graham's grandfather founded the banking firm Alexander Brown & Sons, and her father who succeeded him was reckoned the wealthiest man of his era in Baltimore. Their brownstone mansion was designed by Joseph F. Kemp. In 1860, Graham was living here with his widowed mother-in-law, Mrs Isabella Brown. After Graham died in 1885, he left his home to his brother-in-law, George Stewart Brown, who lived next door at No. 712. George died just five years later (1890) and willed the house to his only child, Alexander Brown. "Allie" however was happily ensconced next door and in 1894 sold the mansion. By 1918, it was divided into apartments - retaining many of its original interior features - with a swimming pool added in the basement....