Explore Maryland || Ghost Stories
Disclaimer: I do not condone trespassing or illegal activity of any kind. Urban exploration is a dangerous activity with many risks. There are many hazardous materials at these places and the buildings are entered at your own risk. Do not attempt to copy any activity shown within this post. By continuing to read this post, you accept that I will not be held liable should you choose to ignore this warning.
Well, it’s October 31st. I can’t believe it’s already October 31st, but here we are. Happy Halloween guys!
So throughout the month, I have been doing some exploring. Abandoned buildings, oddities shops, you name it. Every person I have ever met lies on some side of the “Do you believe in ghosts?” spectrum. Everyone has their stories, and I’m still trying to figure out where I lie on this line. Even after my adventures this month, I’m still on that line. These stories are in the words of others, and I suppose I will let you decide for yourselves if the stories are true. The photos on the other hand, are mine. Enjoy!
The Legend of Hell House, Ellicott City
Nestled in the woods in Old Ellicott City, Maryland lies “Hell House”; an abandoned catholic college dating back to the 19th century. Rumor has it that the school was forced to close its doors after the number of students continued to dwindle. Some say there was a psychotic priest who slaughtered several female students, others say another priest raped several female students. Others say that many students were murdered when nuns were posessed by demonic forces. These nuns were later found hanged with a pentagram drawn in blood beneath their feet and the priest dead from a gunshot wound nearby. Very few college ruins remain to this day in those woods.
More recent stories include visitors who report cold spots in the heart of summer, voices whispering “open the gates”, the sensation of being pushed, satanic followers making sacrifices at the altar, and a strange man with guard dogs.
Fort Armistead, Baltimore
Okay so if you’re looking for a ghost story here, you’re going to be easily disappointed. This place is still absolutely horrifying, however. But in a much different way.
When we first got to the park, the entire grounds were overrun with crickets. Any movement invited the sound of hundreds of creepy little hopping black insects. The walls, the tunnels, the concrete, everywhere was covered in graffiti.
There are no ghost stories that I could find regarding this place, but what I did dig up was much more disturbing. The sunken two-level fort is hidden behind a dimly lit parking lot in the brush. The entire place is crawling with feral cats, prostitution commonly occurring in the parking lots, drug paraphernalia, empty liquor bottles, and undergarments in the corners of the rooms, tunnels, and floors.
This place may not contain any ghosts, but it does contain large rats, homeless people, drug users and deals, gay male prostitutes, etc. Supposedly the location really started to deteriorate around the early 2000’s. Many of the locals are sad to see the current condition and are working to improve this.
Daniels Ghost Town, Ellicott City
Not quite haunted, this little ghost town can be found off of Daniels Rd in Ellicott City Maryland. There is a trail that can be followed along the Patapsco River, or for the more adventurous soul, the old church can be accessed by a railroad bridge near the dam.
The church ruins was the only portion of the ghost town I visited, but from what I have read and heard, there are numerous buildings and ruins including old cars that are strewn throughout the woods here.
Jericho Bridge, Kingsville
For me, this location is an old highschool memory. The Jericho Bridge lives in the old historic village of Jerusalem Maryland.
Stories behind this bridge consistently include cars inexplicably stalling out for minutes at a time, powdery handprints left behind on the windows, but the most popular story to be told regarding this bridge is the appearance of bodies hanging from the bridge when looking at the bridge in the rearview mirror after passing through the bridge.
Many believe that this bridge was once used as a spot for hanging runaway servants and slaves in the past, which may explain the sightings. The old highschool game goes as follows: Drive your car into the bridge. Turn off the car, take the keys out of the ignition, flash your headlights three times, restart, drive, and look in the rearview. I will note that the bridge is now under heavy surveillance with cameras posted in front of the bridge as well as behind, so I probably wouldn’t attempt this.
Protean Books & Records || Dr. Gloom’s Crypt of Curiosities
Last on my list of creepy little adventures, is a quaint little bookstore in the city of Federal Hill, Baltimore. The bookstore itself is pretty cool. Plenty of books, records, and even old board games that brought back plenty of childhood memories.
The most interesting part of this bookstore however, is the oddities shop that is located in the back of the shop hidden behind a set of red curtains.
The shop contains all things creepy, gross, and just plain weird, ranging from shrunken heads, to a vampire slaying kit, to a really, really, old penis.
All in all, the month of October was a month of weird, cringe-worthy, creepy, and eery places, people, and things. I mean, isn’t that what Halloween is all about?
Creep it real,
-C
Ps. I leave for Denver in 2 days! Bring on November, a month of gratitude, pre-Christmas excitement, bargain shopping, and most importantly TURKEY. Keep an eye out for my post next week! I’ll be covering my Jarrettsville trip from this week.
