Five Minute Histories: The Horse You Came In On Saloon

Was it Edgar Allan Poe’s last stop before he died? How did it get its name? The Horse You Came In On Saloon is shrouded in mystery and myth, and traces it roots to 1775. Thanks for watching today’s new Five Minute Histories video and we’ll see you later this week!
This is our series called "Five Minute Histories." We record short videos about different historic places all over Baltimore and post them on our Facebook page, RUclips channel, and website. For more information or to become a member of Baltimore Heritage, check out: baltimoreheritage.org/support/

[@darrenmargolis9648]

Thanks for posting this. I miss my friend Howard Gerber very much and I appreciate videos like this.

[@wallismeeks9420]

Had many good times at The Horse back in the mid/late 70's

[@shannonwilson8605]

This one was really cool. Thank you.

[@susantager9043]

I knew Howard fromwhen he was the door man at No Fish Today. He told me he was opening a bar and mentioned the name. When I asked him about it, he said it was from the old saying, F**k you, and the horse you came in on." I had never heard that but I believed him that night when he told me. I used get a big hug from him every time I saw him at the door of the bar. I really miss those bear hugs.

[@montibify]

Thank you Johns Hopkins

[@quinnmarshall8653]

One thing I don't understand is if Maryland never adopted the Volstead Act, why are there all these stories about the Owl Bar being a speakeasy, and how those stained glass owls above the bar were coded signals related to liquor availability?

[@darrenmargolis9648]

Prohibition was a federal law and the law put the burden on the states to help enforce the law too. Even though Maryland law enforcement did nothing to enforce prohibition, the feds still enforced it. So although The Owl Bar had nothing to fear from Baltimore City Police, it could still have been raided by the FBI.

[@quinnmarshall8653]

@@darrenmargolis9648 Awesome thanks! That makes sense. I always worried that Owl Bar was pulling the wool over my eyes : ) No longer.

[@yakamarezlife]

@@quinnmarshall8653 the whole reason prohibition wasn't enforced in maryland was because of the Catholics our lovely governor had to have his sacrament

[@douglasthompson8927]

@@yakamarezlife do you have a problem with catholics ?

[@travelbyjones]

I think you may have misspoke in saying the oldest bar was 1673 and then saying the one in NYC was 1672 which is a bit older than the horse (1775)...I rewound it once or twice to make sure. Did I maybe miss something or did I catch something useful? haha

[@baltimoreheritage1006]

I think you are right that we misspoke :)

[@jguyfletch2187]

ok, I have to ask; What was the bar called at the time E.A.Poe went there?

[@baltimoreheritage1006]

Good question and we don't know! Maybe someone else does?

[@jeffjerome4805]

According to Poe Historian David Gaylin, "First, I consulted the R. L. Polk & Company Baltimore City Directory for 1887 that lists all the new street numbers as changed the year before (I wanted to establish the original street number of the place). I then took that number and did a targeted search in the Matchett's Baltimore directories from 1845-1860. What I found I will quote here as stated as an endnote in the book:
"When street numbers in Baltimore City were rationalized to the present system in 1886, the address of 64 Thames Street was changed to 1626 (the current location of "The Horse You Came in On Saloon"). However, directories reveal that from 1845 to 1851, Mr. John Bennet operated a grocery store at 64 Thames Street. As late as 1860, the location was still shown as a confectionery and boarding house."
So it appears perhaps another theory on Poe's death will be added to the long list of possible causes of his demise...an overdose of candy!? That's my statement.

[@bigtime911]

What is the history of Al and Anne’s?

[@kimmanning2913]

"Fell's Point"

[@kimmanning2913]

I have a huge problem with the "horses they came in on."

[@amitisshahbanu5642]

tems, not thames