Robert Cary Long Jr. (1810–1849) was the son of a late 18th Century - early 19th Century famous architect Robert Cary Long Sr. of Baltimore, Maryland and was himself a well-known 19th Century architect. Like his father, Cary was based in Baltimore.
The Church of St. Alphonsus was commissioned by the Redemptorists who had come to Baltimore to tend the German-speaking Catholics. The work entailed not only the Gothic Revival church, but a convent and rectory, both brick Georgian townhouses, and St. Alphonsus Halle. Construction took place between 1842 and 1845, and was Long's first major project. The church is designed in Southern German neo-Gothic style.[3] The attached rectory served as the provincial headquarters for the Redemptorist Fathers and Brothers.[4]
Also known as a well-known local architect, Robert Cary Long Sr., younger Long's father, also assisted in the construction of the famous iconic old "Assembly Rooms" building which was designed by local landowner Col. Lloyd Nicholas Rogers of "Druid Hill" mansion in 1797. Sited on the northeast corner of Holliday and East Fayette Streets, of Georgian/Federal styled architecture, used for the Baltimore Dancing Assembly with their frequent receptions, dances, social events and soirees along with various intellectuctual and cultural events.
