The areas available for use by the Cathedral are the library, archives, kitchen, Heritage Museum, GOCSS office, Golden Age Room for committee meetings, and the foyer, which has been used in the past for small audience lectures. The Preston Hall Ballroom is available for rental.
Historical/Architectural Significance of Preston Hall
Owned by the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation and considered part of Baltimore’s historic Mt. Vernon neighborhood, Preston Hall was built in 1984. The original townhouse facade from the mid-19th century remains today maintaining the integrity of the original five townhouses that actually serve as the footprint of the entire building. The columns throughout the building are located where the divisions among the mid-19th century townhouses were at the time.
The five townhouses were purchased with the purpose of renovating and converting them into a Cathedral center. The buildings were considered of historic architectural significance to the city, as they had been designed by John Appleton Wilson, one of the most prominent architects in Baltimore. Under Father Monios’ inspiring leadership, the Baltimore congregration began in 1980 an ambitious expedition to solicit funds for the Cathedral center. The pastor himself secured more than one-third of the amount. John Paterkis and Harry Tsakalos, brothers-in-law and business partners whose families had long been connected with Annunciation, donated one half million dollars. Boosted by this sizable donation, the committee went on to secure the rest of the funds from the membership. The delicate reconstruction and conversion of the townhouses began in the spring of 1982 and was completed in April of 1984.
