Franklin Square

Location

Franklin Square is located in West Baltimore just north of Union Square.  It is bounded by Carey Street on the East, Fulton Street on the West, Baltimore Street on the South and Mulberry Street on the North.

Description

Franklin Square is a historical and ideal urban community. This greatly admired community is located blocks away from the main Baltimore City Commuter thoroughfare known as Route 40 which extends to Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.

History

A historical community, Franklin Square received its name from Franklin Square Park.  The park is the oldest of six mid-19th century hilltop squares in the city.  The Douglass Theater, forerunner to the Royal Theater, was located on Gilmor Street near Saratoga Street. Franklin Square Apartments, the 65-unit apartment house on Saratoga and Mount Street, was built in 1888 as Coppin Normal School. Today it is known as Coppin State College.  Coppin Normal School was one of the first public schools with an African American staff.  Saint Martins Church located at Fulton and Fayette Streets is the neighborhood's oldest continuous church congregation.  Franklin Square Hospital on Calhoun and West Fayette Streets was built in 1898. The hospital moved to Baltimore County in the mid 1960's.