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| True Maryland Ghost Stories
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Fort McHenry
Baltimore, Maryland
Fort McHenry was established in March of 1825 and named after James McHenry, an Irish immigrant and surgeon who became Secretary of War under President Washington. Shaped like a star, it was built to defend the Port of Baltimore from enemy attacks, and was successful in doing so when British warships attacked in 1814. They continuously bombarded the fort for 25 hours but were unsuccessful in penetrating the American defense. The bombardment ceased and the Americans only suffered four casualties. Francis Scott Key, a Washington lawyer who had come to Baltimore to negotiate the release of a civilian prisoner of war, Dr. William Beanes, witnessed the bombardment from a nearby truce ship. An oversized American flag had been sewn by Mary Pickersgill in anticipation of the British attack on the fort. When Key saw the flag emerge intact the next morning, he was so moved that he began to compose the poem "The Defense of Fort McHenry" which was renamed "The Star Spangled Banner" and became America's national anthem. During the American Civil War, Fort McHenry served as a military prison, confining both Confederate soldiers as well as a large number of Maryland political figures who were suspected of being Confederate sympathizers in the dungeons. Francis Scott Key's grandson was one of these political detainees. One of the people is said to have killed himself there and he is believed to be one of the ghosts haunting the fort. People have reported seeing the apparition of a man marching along the parapets on the fort. Furniture has been know to move on its own, strange lights have been seen throughout the fort, footsteps can be heard when no one is around, lights turn themselves on and off, doors open and slam shut and windows have been known to open and close seemingly on their own. After the fort closes and all tourists are gone, employees have reported hearing strange voices.
Admiral Fell Inn
Baltimore, Maryland
Fell's Point is a historic waterfront village that was founded in 1730 by William Fell, an immigrant for Lancaster England, who was attracted by its beautiful deep water and proximity to agriculture and thick forests. It became known as a ship building and commercial centre and is the birthplace of the Baltimore Clipper, a topsail schooner. In the 1760s, William’s son Edward laid out streets and plots for homes. By 1773 Fells Point was incorporated with Baltimore Town and Jones Town. In 1889 The Anchorage was established by the Port Mission Women’s Auxiliary as a boarding house and safe haven for seamen. Due to the increasing amount of sailors additional space was required to accommodate them. The surrounding buildings were joined to boarding house to provide additional space. The YMCA took over in 1929 and converted the expanded boarding house into a one hundred and five bed seaman’s YMCA and continued to provide lodging for seamen until 1955. The interconnected buildings were transformed into a vinegar bottling factory which lasted until the mid 1970s. The Anchorage buildings remained un-occupied until 1985 when they were renovated and re-opened as the Admiral Fell Inn, a 38 room Bed and Breakfast in an 18th century European style. In the 1990s the Admiral Fell Inn was expanded into 80 rooms. The hotel is reported to be haunted by more than one entity. There are stories of a man who died in room 413 and ever since guests and employees have reported having strange feelings in that room. Feelings as if someone was staring at them and watching their every move. Cold spots are also felt in the room. There is another story about a manager that was sitting alone in the lobby when the hotel was empty who heard noises that sounded like a party coming from an upstairs floor. Voices and footsteps could be heard as if people were dancing. When another manager entered the lobby and began to speak the noise ceased instantly. A guest of the hotel has also reported be awoken by the sound of creaking floor boards. When he opened his eyes he saw the apparition of a tall, slender woman who looked at him then vanished through the wall. She is believed to be a nurse who worked at the boarding house in the 1800s.
Middleton Tavern
Annapolis, Maryland
An 18th century Georgian building and one of the oldest buildings in Annapolis originally built in the early 1700s. The building was sold in 1750 by Elizabeth Bennett to a ferry operator named Horatio Middleton. He operated the building as an Inn for seamen. Following his death, the tavern was operated by his widow and later by his sons. There have been many important historic figures who have stayed at the tavern, including but not limited to George Washington, Ben Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson. The tavern was also the site for meetings of the Maryland Jockey Club, Free Masons and the Tuesday Club, which was made up of the town’s most distinguished people. Many people have witnessed strange occurrences at the tavern. The first entity is referred to as “Roland” by the staff. He haunts the first floor dining rooms and is known to throw glasses and plates from shelves one by one, move tables and chairs and has even knocked over tables that were full of dishes. These experiences are accompanied by the smell of cigar smoke. An apparition of a man dressed in revolutionary era clothing has been spotted staring through the window out into the harbour as if waiting for a ship to roll in. As quickly as he is seen, he disappears. There have also been many reports of shadowy figures moving from room to room and lanterns mounted on the walls are reportedly turned upside down.
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