Lost America: The Sellers Mansion, a three-story grand home built in 1868 at 801 North Arlington Street in West Baltimore’s Lafayette Square, was a prominent, historic residence that served as a community hub before a fire and then demolition in February 2023. Built by railroad merchant Matthew Bacon Sellers Jr., it was a landmark in the city.
Built in 1868, the large three-story brick house combined Italianate and Second Empire architectural styles and stood out from surrounding rowhouses because it was a detached mansion on a prominent square. The home was the birthplace and long-time residence of aviation pioneer Matthew Bacon Sellers Jr. (1869-1932). In the late 20th century it also served as the headquarters for the community program Operation CHAMP from 1967 to 1980. Although the property was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2001, restoration plans never materialized. After years of neglect and a major fire, the city demolished the building in 2023.
Early History
The mansion was built by Edward Davis as the primary home of Matthew Bacon Sellers Sr. and his wife Angelina Leathers Lewis Sellers. Sellers Sr., a former Louisiana slaveholder, moved to Baltimore after the Civil War and later became president of the Northern Central Railway. Seeking a residence that reflected the grandeur of his former plantation life, he purchased a large and prestigious lot on Lafayette Square. At the time, the square was considered a fashionable address for Baltimore’s professional and upper-middle classes. The house also became notable as the birthplace of aviation pioneer Matthew Bacon Sellers Jr., who lived there until 1918.
Later Family Years
Two of Sellers Sr.’s younger children, Samuel and Annabel Sellers, spent their entire lives in the mansion and lived off their inheritance rather than working. By the 1930s they had become extremely reclusive, rarely leaving the property. Neighbors occasionally helped them with meals, and the pair developed a habit of hoarding possessions. After Annabel died in 1953 and Samuel shortly afterward, relatives discovered the home filled with antiques, clothing, Confederate currency, and hidden valuables such as diamonds. The property was eventually sold at auction in 1955.
Community Use and Decline
Following the sale, the mansion briefly housed the city’s Commission on Urban Renewal. In the late 1960s it narrowly avoided demolition and was instead restored for community use. From 1967 to 1980, the youth program Operation CHAMP operated from the building, using trucks loaded with games and equipment to create temporary playgrounds in neighborhoods throughout the city. By the early 1990s, however, the mansion had been abandoned and gradually fell into disrepair.
Final Years and Demolition
A developer purchased the deteriorating property in 2018 with plans to convert it into senior apartments and began stabilizing the structure. However, the cost of meeting historic preservation requirements made redevelopment difficult. After a small lightning-caused fire in 2021, a larger blaze in 2023 severely damaged the building. Although the exterior walls were still standing, the city demolished the structure on February 24, 2023, while the cause of the fire was still under investigation.
