Did you know Baltimore, Maryland had a municipal anthem?

Baltimore was known as the cradle of municipal music, putting music into its charter for its citizens. Band and orchestra music was sponsored by the city for decades, entertaining Baltimoreans each summer with outdoor concerts. Sadly, this has faded away.

In 1915, the city of Baltimore held a municipal contest to select an official city anthem. Three thousand manuscripts were submitted, but “Baltimore, Our Baltimore” was the unanimous choice. The lyrics were written by Folger McKinsey, a well-known columnist for The Baltimore Sun, known as the “Bentztown Bard.”

The music was composed by Emma Conrad Hemberger, a local student of voice and piano, and the wife of Baltimore composer Theodore Hemberger.

The song made its debut on February 22, 1916, at the Lyric Theatre in Baltimore. It was performed by a professional choir and a group of 300 high school girls. McKinsey and Hemberger received $250 in gold each for their work.

For years, schoolchildren were taught this anthem in class and sang it alongside “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “Maryland, My Maryland.” The last public performance of “Baltimore, Our Baltimore”, to my knowledge, was at the funeral of former Baltimore Mayor William Donald Schaefer in 2011.

Lyrics:

Baltimore, where Carroll flourished and the fame of Calvert grew!

Here the old defenders conquered as their valiant swords they drew.

Here the starry banner glistened in the sunshine of the sea,

In that dawn of golden vision that awoke the song of Key:

Here are hearts that beat forever for the city we adore;

Here the love of men and brothers: Baltimore, our Baltimore!

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