McCauley Lecture: Hagerstown’s Modern Landmark - The Herald-Mail Building and Its Importance

The Herald-Mail Building is an important architectural masterpiece and socio-economic marker in downtown Hagerstown that is virtually unknown beyond the boundaries of Washington County, MD. This presentation will highlight the building, the owners, the architects, and the builders (and maybe some of the long-standing and significant employees) (TBD). Placed in the context of the 1970s and the heyday of independent, family-owned newspaper companies, the building was designed by a pre-eminent architect from Los Angeles who was – according to TIME Magazine – “The King of West Coast Architecture.” 

How did this architect end up in Hagerstown? Why does the building look like it does? Why is it important? These and other questions will be answered by the National Park Service Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) team that documented the Herald-Mail Building for the HABS/HAER/HALS Collection at the Library of Congress (MD-1534).