The mighty Macht. I don’t know what else to call you. Each morning as I pass through the puffs of smoke outside Hotel Junker, I gawk at how absolutely stunning you are, gently tucked between two otherwise unassuming buildings.

You sparkle. You bring light to even the haziest Baltimore mornings. I love your uniqueness: the more I read, the more I realize that you are truly special. You aren’t just a pretty building; you stood for something important. You were a sign of rebirth after the Fire of 1904, being one of only three mansard roofs built on a commercial property since. Your architect, Alfred Lowther Forrest, mostly did theaters. You’re a weird, but welcome, blip in his portfolio.

Beyond that, your inhabitants are also incredibly special: Ephraim Macht, who the building was named after, was the first Jewish real estate broker in Baltimore, and founded the Macht Real Estate and Welsh Construction companies. Both persisted, evolved, and still operate out of you over a century later. The city built up around you, but you never felt the need to change, with your exteriors remaining largely untouched since your completion in 1908. You speak softly but make a huge impact. We could learn so much from you. I see you, I believe in you, and I love you.

Kevin Miller, BAF President 2025