Henry Fite House
Encyclopedia
The Henry Fite House, located on Baltimore Street between Sharp and Liberty Streets in Baltimore
, Maryland
, was the meeting site of the Second Continental Congress
from December 20, 1776 until February 22, 1777. Built as a tavern in 1770 by Henry Fite (1722-1789), the building became known as Congress Hall during its brief use by Congress, and later as Old Congress Hall. It was destroyed by the Great Baltimore Fire
in 1904.
Congress moved from Philadelphia to Baltimore in the winter of 1776 to avoid capture by British forces, who were advancing on Philadelphia. As the largest building in Baltimore, Henry Fite's tavern provided a comfortable location of sufficient size for Congress to meet; its site at the western edge of town was beyond easy reach of the British. A visitor described the tavern as a "three-story and attic brick house, of about 92 feet front on Market Street, by about 50 or 55 feet depth on the side streets, with cellar under the whole; having 14 rooms, exclusive of kitchen, wash-house and other out-buildings, including a stable for 30 horses."
Thus, Baltimore became the nation's capital for a two-month period. While meeting here on December 27, 1776, Congress conferred upon George Washington "extraordinary powers for the conduct of the Revolutionary War."
The Maryland Society of the Sons of the American Revolution
placed a bronze memorial tablet in front of the Henry Fite House on February 22, 1894, describing the building's brief service to the nation. An inscription on the tablet proclaimed to visitors, "On this site stood Old Congress Hall, in which the Contenental Congress met". Ten years later, only the memorial tablet remained after the fire on February 8, 1904.
In her 1907 biography of the Fite family, Elizabeth Fite corrected earlier historians who mistakenly reported Jacob Fite as owner of the house. She explained that while Henry's son, Jacob, lived in the house, he was a child when the building was occupied by Congress and never actually owned the building. After Henry died on October 25, 1789, his estate was distributed among his seven surviving children; the Henry Fite House became the property of his eldest daughter, Elizabeth, and her husband, George Reinicker.
When philanthropist George Peabody
moved to Baltimore in 1816, the Henry Fite House served as his home and office for the next 20 years. Peabody left Baltimore for London in 1837.
The former location of the Henry Fite House is currently occupied by the 1st Mariner Arena
, originally known as the Baltimore Civic Center when it was built in 1962.
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, was the meeting site of the Second Continental Congress
Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress was a convention of delegates from the Thirteen Colonies that started meeting on May 10, 1775, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, soon after warfare in the American Revolutionary War had begun. It succeeded the First Continental Congress, which met briefly during 1774,...
from December 20, 1776 until February 22, 1777. Built as a tavern in 1770 by Henry Fite (1722-1789), the building became known as Congress Hall during its brief use by Congress, and later as Old Congress Hall. It was destroyed by the Great Baltimore Fire
Great Baltimore Fire
The Great Baltimore Fire raged in Baltimore, Maryland, United States, on Sunday, February 7, and Monday, February 8, 1904. 1,231 firefighters were required to bring the blaze under control...
in 1904.
Congress moved from Philadelphia to Baltimore in the winter of 1776 to avoid capture by British forces, who were advancing on Philadelphia. As the largest building in Baltimore, Henry Fite's tavern provided a comfortable location of sufficient size for Congress to meet; its site at the western edge of town was beyond easy reach of the British. A visitor described the tavern as a "three-story and attic brick house, of about 92 feet front on Market Street, by about 50 or 55 feet depth on the side streets, with cellar under the whole; having 14 rooms, exclusive of kitchen, wash-house and other out-buildings, including a stable for 30 horses."
Thus, Baltimore became the nation's capital for a two-month period. While meeting here on December 27, 1776, Congress conferred upon George Washington "extraordinary powers for the conduct of the Revolutionary War."
The Maryland Society of the Sons of the American Revolution
Sons of the American Revolution
The National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution is a Louisville, Kentucky-based fraternal organization in the United States...
placed a bronze memorial tablet in front of the Henry Fite House on February 22, 1894, describing the building's brief service to the nation. An inscription on the tablet proclaimed to visitors, "On this site stood Old Congress Hall, in which the Contenental Congress met". Ten years later, only the memorial tablet remained after the fire on February 8, 1904.
In her 1907 biography of the Fite family, Elizabeth Fite corrected earlier historians who mistakenly reported Jacob Fite as owner of the house. She explained that while Henry's son, Jacob, lived in the house, he was a child when the building was occupied by Congress and never actually owned the building. After Henry died on October 25, 1789, his estate was distributed among his seven surviving children; the Henry Fite House became the property of his eldest daughter, Elizabeth, and her husband, George Reinicker.
When philanthropist George Peabody
George Peabody
George Peabody was an American-British entrepreneur and philanthropist who founded the Peabody Trust in Britain and the Peabody Institute in Baltimore, and was responsible for many other charitable initiatives.-Biography:...
moved to Baltimore in 1816, the Henry Fite House served as his home and office for the next 20 years. Peabody left Baltimore for London in 1837.
The former location of the Henry Fite House is currently occupied by the 1st Mariner Arena
1st Mariner Arena
1st Mariner Arena is an arena located in Baltimore, Maryland. In 2003, it was renamed by 1st Mariner Bank, which purchased naming rights to the arena for 10 years. It was reported that 1st Mariner Bank will need to pay the city $75,000 for the next ten years to keep the naming rights to the complex...
, originally known as the Baltimore Civic Center when it was built in 1962.
See also
- Former national capitals