Norman Lane

Location Description

Exit I-495 at 31 or 31B, then head south on Georgia Ave for approximately 2 miles. Located on the east side of Georgia Ave./US Hwy 29, the location is in an alley south of the Greenhouse Restaurant, between Thayer Ave and Silver Spring Ave.

Bio

Norman Lane was a well-known figure in downtown Silver Spring. He always wore a hard hat, had a signature phrase “Don’t worry about it!”, and would give roses to women he encountered on the street and at the train station. He used the small change he received to buy Pall Mall cigarettes and Pabst Blue Ribbon beer. He did odd jobs, including groundskeeping at Bethesda Naval Hospital, where he met President Lyndon Johnson, who was so impressed with Norman that he later sent him a personally signed photo. In 1979, “Real People” asked Silver Spring residents if they would vote for Norman as mayor, and everyone said yes. From then until his death 8 years later, “Mayor” Norman was a local celebrity.

Monument Description

Sculptor Fred Folsom revealed a life-size bronze bust of Norman in the alley that was one of Norman’s preferred hangout spots. The alley is now called “The Mayor’s Promenade” or “Mayor Lane”.