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Posts Tagged With: Ellicott City
The Scary Red Hat Society
Before I could see Hats on Souls, I’d never heard of the Red Hat Society.
Unfortunately, I discovered their dark secrets.
The Red Hat Society is an international organization and I’m sure there are happy members all over the world, but I wish to relate my experience in the hope that others will learn from my sad tale and do some research before jumping in as I did.
After I made the discovery of seeing Hats, someone suggested that I join the Red Hat Society. It made perfect sense. After checking out their website, I anticipated a joyful experience in sharing my ability to see hats with my new friends. I mistakenly thought that a society that celebrated hats would be delighted with someone so connected to hats.
Silly, silly me.
The website talks up a good story and it sounds great, but it’s a perfect example of “Buyer Beware”. I didn’t catch on to the fact that if you’re under fifty years old, forget it. Qualifications should mention that a Medicare card is required.
My local group meets once a month and my busy schedule finally allowed me to attend a dinner at a local restaurant. Previous meetings were held further away and after the kazoo incident, I wished I had attended a meeting at one of those less-convenient locations.
One of the members was celebrating a birthday, so everyone pulled out their Birthday Kazoos. After instructions on what end to blow out of (it’s the large end by the way), a Happy Birthday Kazoo Serenade was played.
We weren’t at a local pancake house or McDonald’s. We were at a nice restaurant, near my home. I prayed that my neighbors were all having dinner at home this night.
When the discussion turned to trips and vacations, I mentioned my trip this year to Costa Rica. I assumed that this fun group, as advertised on the website, which also endorses fitness, would share my joy of days filled with snorkeling, horseback riding on the beach, zip lining through the jungle and my first surfboarding lesson. Instead, I was met with deafening silence and stares. I felt as though I’d just declared that I was an alien visiting from another planet.
After our first and only get-together, the group leader checked out my book, Presidential Souls. Without reading the book or asking me for clarification, she called me early the next morning and informed me that I wasn’t a good fit for the group. I was told that they are a Christian group and my beliefs do not fit in. I attempted to give some explanation and I said that if she read the book she would get a better understanding of the true nature of my beliefs, but her mind was already made up.
Obviously, I did not wish to remain a member of this crabby, narrow-minded society, especially when the leader had someone from the corporate office call me to complain about my beliefs! When I told the woman from corporate headquarters that I was looking for a local professional organization of my peers to share the Red Hat Society’s claims of fun and friendship, I was told, “This is definitely not a professional organization!”
No kidding, really?
For me, I’m going back to ghost hunting. The Ellicott City ghosts I hang out with are infinitely friendlier, a lot more fun and a hell of a lot less scary!
My Ellicott City Crabby Guy
Have a Rum and Ghost at the VFW
It was a weekend of Spirits, ghostly birthday reminders and fun!
I attended an investigation at a local haunted VFW Post. Regular ghosts at this lively VFW include:
Skippy: a foul mouthed sailor who likes rum and coke. We picked up several of his foul expressions on the ghost box. We had to cut him off.
Gene: loves cigars and was in attendance this night when we smelled his cigar smoke. Ghosts don’t have any respect for “No Smoking” signs.
Mike hangs out in the hallway as Vick sips his wine. We caught a few others lounging in the chairs by the bar:
During an amazing interactive flashlight session, the recently deceased Joe acknowledged that he is safe on the Other Side and he has been happily reunited with his wife.
Finally, we have the Unknown Orb guarding the Memorial Corner. The names of members on Sick Call are posted and a reserved table, chair and empty boots complete the memorial for all veterans and those lost in the service to their country.
And then there’s Grandma.
I’m usually the one who remembers every birthday, but this year I’ve been so preoccupied with my book release that I forgot the anniversary of my grandmother’s 104th birthday.
Never fear. She reminded me.
It was the weekend and I got up early, let the dogs out and went back upstairs to do some work on the computer. A few hours later I went downstairs and the television was on. No one had been downstairs. Even the dogs didn’t have access to the room where the television was located. I turned the TV off, and went back upstairs. I came right back down, and the TV was on again. No one was around, and no one could have turned it on. It’s never done this before.
My son and husband finally got up and came downstairs. I mentioned the television and my son said that last night while he and his friend played video games, the music box started playing. We haven’t played that music box in ages. The music box is directly under the haunted television. Then my sister texted me reminding me of my grandmother’s birthday.
The pieces finally fell into place. My grandmother was known for her lack of skills with electronics, but obviously she’s picked up a few pointers on the Other Side. This is the same grandmother who called my husband on his cell phone the day of our daughter’s wedding. Grandma was letting me know then that she’d be in attendance at the wedding, and she was reminding me now that it was her birthday.
Happy Birthday Grandma!
Grandma as a young mother
Categories: Ellicott City, Ellicott City Ghostly Happenings, Ghost, Orb, Paranormal, Presidential Souls, Uncategorized, VFW
Tags: Ellicott City, Ghost, Ghost Hunt, Orb, paranormal, VFW
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It’s Official! He’s Real!
I told you the presidents weren’t happy and now it’s official.
The photograph of George Washington has been verified by experts and the verdict is in:
IT’S REAL!
I knew it was real, since I took it, but now the experts agree with me.
Joshua P. Warren is the host of a syndicated weekly paranormal program, Speaking of Strange, and he is regarded as “one of the great paranormal investigators of all time” by George Noory, host of Coast to Coast AM.
I sent the photo of George Washington to Mr. Warren and his team of experts did their best to prove that this was not a picture of a ghost.
They took it apart, pixel by pixel, and after an extremely thorough examination, they decided that this was an authentic photo of a ghost.
Mr. Warren is even planning a visit to the tavern where the photo was taken and I have no doubt that the presidents will be there with us.
Ghost of George Washington
Do you realize what this means?
It gives validation to what I’ve been saying.
The presidents are upset and they’ve come forward to be heard, and to be seen. They are crying out for you to hear what they have to say. They may be on the Other Side, but they retain their love and passion for the United States and they have more than a few choice words about what we’ve done with it.
They want you to hear their words before you cast your vote.
Stay tuned! It won’t be long now.
I Got A Ghost For Christmas
This is Dwight. He’s the ghost we brought home for Christmas.
His name is Dowaito, but I call him Dwight. It makes it easier for me to talk to him, and he doesn’t mind.
My husband received a WWII Japanese Arisaka rifle as a Christmas present. I only caught a quick glimpse of the gift during the flurry of holiday festivities, and I had forgotten about it, until I sensed an extra passenger when returning home on Christmas night.
I as I listened to a screaming Dwight behind me in the car, I asked my husband to tell me the story about the rifle. The Arisaka Type 38 rifle belonged to a Japanese soldier in WWII. This rifle is unique because the Chrysanthemum Flower Seal, stamped on the top of the receiver, is intact.
Chrysanthemum Flower Seal (Arrow) on the rifle receiver
I chose the picture of the Japanese soldier (above) because he looks like Dwight. A face appeared in a reflection in one of the photos I took of the rifle. The eyes in the photo appear overly large, but later when I searched for a Japanese solider image, I realized that the large eyes could be glasses.
Dwight Ghost Face
Dwight was used to yelling a lot because no one has listened to him for a very long time. Thankfully, the fates brought him to me so I can help him find his way home.
I thought the story ended here, but Dwight wasn’t finished with me yet. He knew I was listening, so he invited his former comrades to raise their voices.
In family discussions about the rifle, I learned that my husband’s brother (the gun owner before he gifted it), also has in his possession a Japanese Good Luck flag, complete with blood stains.
WWII Japanese Good Luck Flag
A wallet with Japanese family photos was acquired with the flag during WWII.
When a door to the Other Side is opened, multiple Spirits may use it. Thats’s exactly what happened with these Japanese soldiers and it’s why I wrote, Presidential Souls, about all of the U.S. presidents who came forward to deliver their messages.
The Moral to this story is: If you took home any antique gifts this holiday season, be aware that you may have been gifted with some extra special Christmas Spirits!
Categories: Ghost Hunters International, Haunted Collector, Presidential Souls, U.S. Presidents, Uncategorized
Tags: Ellicott City, Ghost, WWII
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The Paranormal Birthday Party!
The big day finally arrived!
We descended upon the Howard County Historical Society Museum in Ellicott City to perform a paranormal investigation for
Robby’s 16th birthday party!
Robby and his friends wore “Ellicott City Ghostly Happenings” T-shirts that I designed for the party.
Do you recognize the Goblin from the Ellicott Family Cemetery?
I love that Crabby Guy!
The Ghost Hunter Participants
Besides Robby and his four friends, we had two guest Ghost Hunters. The Director of the Museum, Shawn Gladden, brought his sons and they were amazing! All of the Ghost Hunters performed their tasks so expertly that I was blow away.
Investigating the Basement
Checking for EMF Readings
Using the Laser Grid
We were allowed to investigate the basement of the museum and what a find! The basement was a hot-spot for Spirits and the EMF meter was particularly active around an old stove. Perhaps one of the Spirits used to be a chef or maybe a cook?
Stove with Orb
Stove Orb
We got a total of eight Orbs in the basement!
But we also got something else:
A Skeleton Face!
Ordinarily, Robby and I would have returned to see if the apparition could be explained, but since we couldn’t this time, we’ll have to leave this Spirit as a mystery. We did get EMF spikes in the area of the basement where this Spooky Spirit appeared in the photo.
Skeleton Face
And then there was the upstairs investigation…
Performing a Voice Recording Session in the Main Hall
…where we captured a Shadow Figure!
I reviewed the photos and I checked with everyone to see if the figure was one of the others, or if they recognized the figure, but as we zoomed in, we realized that there wasn’t a body!
Shadow Figure
We were doing a voice recording session at the time and we thought we heard the word, “South”
and the figure appears to have a hat, so perhaps this was a
Civil War soldier.
He was also standing near the gun case.
During the entire investigation, the Ghost Radar was talking up a storm.
We got words like:
Friendly, John, Circus, Ann, Lost, Golden, Join, Handsome, Gray, German, Explanation, Bridge, Cave, Believed, Dug
This was a much longer investigation than usual so I will feature the photos, instead of writing a story from the Ghost Radar.
Basement Orb
Another Basement Orb
Basement Orb
Twin Orbs
Basement Orb
Basement Orb
I believe that the Paranormal Investigation Birthday Party was a huge success and I am extremely grateful to the Howard County Historical Society Museum and Shawn Gladden, Karen Griffith and Mary Schwanz for allowing us to have the privilege of communing with the Spirits of the Museum. I believe that the Museum is haunted and that the Spirits may be attached to some of the objects in the Museum.
On our way out, we captured many Orbs near the haunted Ellicott City Courthouse, which is next to the Museum…
Courthouse Orbs
And of course we had cake for the Birthday Boy!
Happy Birthday Robby!
And finally, this was obviously a blurred photo, but it looks like a Spirit so I thought it was a fitting end to a Paranormal Party or…
The Spirit of the Howard County Historical Society Museum
…was it just a blur????
Ellicott City’s Chocolate Vortex
We had a special request this week to investigate Ligon Road in Ellicott City. It seems that a high number of residents on Ligon Road have been victims of cancer.
Could there be a supernatural explanation for this phenomenon?
Robby and I set off to investigate Ligon Road.
As soon as we turned onto the street, we felt a strong energy. Robby said at once that this was the location of an Energy Vortex.
An Energy Vortex is a swirling center of energy coming out of the earth. The energy on Ligon Road and the surrounding area was exceptionally strong.
Since this was a residential street, I didn’t want to take pictures of private residences and properties so I didn’t have any pictures, but we did get some remarkable readings.
As soon as we turned onto Ligon Road, the KII meter started going crazy. The KII meter does not go off lightly and we were getting readings in the red along the entire road. I made a circle by going onto Frederick Road, then going several streets over and circling back several times and each time the KII meter spiked many times, only on Ligon Road.
Orb
Then there was the Chocolate Factory smell.
On one pass, I stopped the car to get some readings. Robby started sniffing and said it smelled like a Chocolate Factory. I have no sense of smell (thanks to a battle with meningitis as a baby), so I couldn’t confirm this strange occurrence, but Robby said it was overpowering and smelled delicious! We had the windows rolled up in the car, so we rolled them down thinking that perhaps someone was doing some baking, but when we put the windows down, the smell stopped.
On all of the other passes that we made on Ligon Road, Robby never smelled the Chocolate Factory again, so it couldn’t have been coming from one of the homes.
As we drove around, I felt drawn to the street on the other side of Ligon Road and the energy actually grew stronger.
It wasn’t long before I started feeling strange and Robby felt sick, so we had to leave.
Tree Orb
We were close to Whipps Cemetery, so we stopped in for a short visit. The tranquility of Whipps helped to ground us and I captured a few Orb photos. We felt revived and back to normal in no time at all.
As we were leaving Whipps, I was facing Robby and taking pictures at his direction (he had the Ghost Radar), so I was looking at him and he wasn’t moving. I heard footsteps behind me and I whispered to Robby that maybe the Caretaker was here. Robby asked me what I was talking about. I turned around, but no one was there and Robby hadn’t heard anyone. I clearly heard someone walking on the mulch pathway behind me and I expected to find someone when I turned around.
There was no one.
Orb
Our findings are that the area around Ligon Road has a powerful energy, but I don’t feel that it is harmful or bad in any way. The Chocolate Factory smell tells me that the energy is good – just like you would welcome a visit to a Chocolate Factory! The energy extends to Whipps Cemetery, which is why we had so many amazing paranormal happenings on our prior visit. (See the Angel Garden or Alien Sanctuary post). Perhaps the energy is too strong for some people to handle and it can become harmful, but I don’t think it is intentional, if that is the case.
Ligon Road is named after Thomas Watkins Ligon who lived from 1810 to 1881. He was the 30th Governor of Maryland, a Congressman for Maryland and a President of the Patapsco Female Institute. He was buried at the St. John’s cemetery, which is across the street from Ligon Road.
I think this means that our next investigation should be to check out Mr. Ligon and the St. John’s Cemetery.
This looks like a mist and something was trying to form. I’m not sure what it is, but it’s something!
Ligon Road Ghost Radar Conversation
Words From the Other Side:
Perfect Mark Cowboy Japanese Eaten Jeff Or Dirt Guide Pleasure Principal Constant Nose Character Main Research Hello Fought Common Tribe Chemical
Perfect is the word that describes Ellicott City. People from all over the world have travelled here, and many have been drawn to make this beautiful city their home. Mark was a cowboy who settled here with his Japanese wife. Their Inn became a popular travel destination and their guests raved that the meals were the finest that they had ever eaten. Jeff, or the famous “Dirt Guide“, claimed that his greatest pleasure was when he travelled to Ellicott City and stayed at the renowned Inn.
The Principal of the Patapsco Female Institute was a constant visitor to the Inn. He had a nose for good food and wine and he relished the fine character of Main Street’s Inn. He claimed to be doing research for his students cooking classes and his hearty “Hello” was as regular as the noon school bell. He fought rumors that there was a woman who drew him to the Inn, but the simple truth was that it was the food, company and ambiance that he loved so much. His presence was so common that upon his death, a local Indian tribe declared his usual seat at the Inn to be sacred ground.
Ellicott City’s attraction is like a chemical reaction that can’t be denied.
Just like a kid in a Chocolate Factory!
The Next Investigation:
St. John’s Cemetery
Angel Garden or Alien Sanctuary? How About Both!
Nestled amongst a beautiful community on St. John’s Lane in Ellicott City, the Whipps Garden Cemetery is a one-acre sanctuary full of life.
Started in 1855, it was used as a cemetery until the early 1900’s. When the cemetery became inactive, it was overgrown, damaged and nearly destroyed, until it was saved and restored in 1987. There are a variety of native plant species, pathways, benches and old tombstones making it a garden paradise.
But plants aren’t the only thing alive in this garden!
Rob and I could feel the energy before we got out of the car. What we found left me speechless.
During the investigation, Rob said he felt as if someone had their hand on his heart. When we reviewed the pictures I found…
That is my father looking down on Robby. It is my father’s brow, nose and mouth.
My father. He was the one holding his hand on Robby’s heart.
In a few days it will be the anniversary of my father’s death. Coincidence? I don’t believe in them.
My father was the Angel, then I found the Alien. Here’s what happened.
I took this picture…
On the left it looks like arms and a head tilted to the right. On the right it looks like a small Alien.
I couldn’t figure out who these two were, so I went back the next night and tried to take the same picture. I didn’t have much time and I was getting ready to give up finding the exact spot when – Plop! A huge raindrop fell on the top of my head. It hadn’t rained in eight hours. I looked up and realized that I was in the right spot. It was as if they smacked me on the top of the head to make me see.
I took a picture and I couldn’t believe what I saw. Remember, this was the next day, in the same spot…
Cat Alien
So I said, “Did I really see that?” And I took another picture in the same spot, and I got…
Cat Alien Orb
It was as if they were saying, “Duh!” The Cat Alien was still there, but this time there was an Orb at his feet.
Then I asked, “What about the figure with the arms?” I took another picture in the same spot. The Cat Alien was gone, but now there was an Orb where the figure with the arms was.
Arms Figure Orb
I then asked for a picture with no Cat Alien, no Arms Figure and no Orbs to show that they were really there, and I took another picture and…
They were all gone.
An Angel, an Alien, and still we got more.
This was a face that was in one of the collection boxes. I went back the next night and took the same picture, but there was no face and no way that I could recreate it.
Face in the Box
There there’s the Kneeling Man.
I went back the next night and I found that the “body” is a bench, but the way that the man’s head is tilted, and considering the other amazing encounters in this garden, I believe this is a man kneeling in the cemetery.
Then there is this Tombstone Spirit. He’s just hanging out as he rises out of the tombstone…
Tombstone Spirit
And more Orbs…
This is a very light Orb, to the left of the yellow flower, but it was one of three Orbs in one picture.
Bright Orb
The other two Orbs from the same picture
The KII meter was going off the entire investigation like we’ve never seen – flashing red and going crazy, and the Ghost Radar was talking up a storm.
The Whipps Garden Cemetery is truly a wondrous place that I heartily recommend.
You will be enchanted with all of the life, both Earthly and from the Other Side.
Whipps Garden Cemetery Ghost Radar Conversation
Words from the Other Side:
British Growth Bound Done Leg Under Sell Division Weak Mark Generally Factor Buried Shot Involved Deal Coast Wheel Market Given Found Company Pig Circle Appropriate Smell Mad
The Whipps Spirits
“I’m British!”
There are no shy Spirits here. We promote spiritual growth and we are not bound by Earthly ties. We choose to remain until our job is done. We touch your leg, we hide under your bench, and we try to sell you on the idea that we are here!
We know there is division amongst you regarding your opinions about us, but don’t be weak! Stand your ground and leave your mark on this world while you can. Generally, there are many factors to prevent you from obtaining your goals, but soon you will be buried like us so take your best shot and get involved! Deal with life as it comes at you. Don’t coast through life! Take the wheel in both hands and market your talents. Not for money, but for the growth of your soul. You have been given the great gift of Life and you have found your way to us, so know that you are in loving company.
Are you acting like a pig with your life? Are you making a mess of it?
Look at the Circle of your Life Cycle and consider how appropriate your actions are. Does your life pass the Smell Test? Do your actions make you mad?
Come and see us. We’re here for you. You don’t have to believe.
We’ve given you proof!
The Next Investigation:
Robby and I will be on vacation next week, but we’ll continue to explore and investigate. It won’t be in Ellicott City, but it will be in Maryland.
Categories: Alien, Ellicott City, Ellicott City Ghostly Happenings, Fairy, Ghost, Orb, Paranormal, Patapsco State Park, Uncategorized
Tags: Angel, Cemetery, Ellicott City, Ellicott City Maryland, Ghost Radar, Maryland
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Give A Little And Get A Magical Gift from a King
I didn’t think it was possible to get another picture that would equal a picture of a Gnome, a Tree Spirit or a Ghost Dog, but…
We did.
When Robby and I started our investigations, I began secretly asking the Fairies to let me take a picture of them. I’ve had glimpses of them out of the corner of my eye and I’ve felt them – ever so fleetingly, but I’ve never actually seen one.
I kept hoping and unbelievably, my wish was granted.
Here’s how it happened.
This week’s investigation took us to the Ellicott Family Cemetery. Just off Main Street, on Old Columbia Pike, a Maryland Historical Society Road sign says: “Friends Meeting House and Graveyard”. The Ellicott brothers created this burial ground around 1775.
We always visit our investigation sites twice and on our first visit, not only did we get very little activity, but I was eaten alive by mosquitoes and we left pretty much empty handed.
Except for a picture of a Crabby Guy.
The picture is pretty cool, but this guy doesn’t look too happy.
Crabby Guy
The next time we visited the cemetery, I had an idea.
We took our fantastic Gnome and Tree Spirit picture after we had delivered a few gifts to the Ghost Dog, so I thought maybe we could sweeten the Crabby Guy with a few flowers for the graves, and maybe a little laughter.
I was humbled by the gifts we were given.
I picked flowers from my yard and I didn’t have enough flowers for all the graves, but I spread them around as best that I could. Robby and I also had fun.
Well, I had fun and Robby was embarrassed by his crazy mother.
I used the voice recorder and KII meter and I “interviewed” the spirits as if they were on a talk-show and I was the host. I went up to the tombstones, put the microphone up close and said,
“So John, tell the audience what you have to say for yourself.”
Silence.
“Oh, your wife is the talker in your family? Now, that’s not what she said. You’d better speak up and defend yourself.”
Robby’s response was, “Mom! This isn’t a TV show!”
Maybe not, but the activity on the Ghost Radar increased exponentially from the time before, and I would later find out that we captured incredible photos from the Other Side.
Flowers and laughter chased away the Crabby Guy and brought us magic.
Here’s what we got:
I got a picture of someone peeking out at us from behind a gravestone. Not a shadow – this spirit is in full color.
Peeking Spirit
The tombstone was Ephraim Haines, born 1839, died 1873
Peeking Spirit
I got a picture of a colt – lounging on the cemetery wall. Or could it be a Unicorn?
Colt Spirit
Colt Spirit Outline
I got a picture of three Fairies. One of them is the Fairy King, complete with a crown!
We got the word “Bronwen” on the Ghost Radar, so I’m calling him King Bronwen.
Fairy King, Partial Fairy and Tiny Girl Fairy
I know this one is hard to see, so I’ve done some extra outlines. Please forgive my outlines!
Fairy King, Partial Fairy, Tiny Girl Fairy
Girl Fairy
Girl Fairy Outline
Fairy King Foot and Ball – Notice the Shoelaces!
Fairy King Foot and Ball Outline
King Bronwen was sitting on top of one of the founders of Ellicott City’s tombstone: Andrew Ellicott, which is right next to his brother and other founder, John Ellicott.
John and Andrew Ellicott – and Fairies!
My belief in fairies, gnomes and nature spirits didn’t require photographic evidence, but now that I have been given his incredible gift, I feel as though I’ve been touched by magic. The small bouquet of flowers could never begin to equal the Kingly gift that I was given, but I will be forever grateful for their generosity.
Ellicott Family Cemetery Ghost Radar Conversation
Words from the Other Side:
Soft Differ Position Mental Worried How Early Listen Here Part Trip Gold Rapidly Body Season Older Quick Definition Courage Frog Keep Shout Worry I’ll Bronwen Too Yesterday Whom Limited Above Hand Child Cut Important Poor Familiar Got Life Everything Sun Poetry Atom Engine
King Bronwen’s Sonnet
Tread softly on this hallowed ground.
Travelers from near and far may differ in their positions on the mental state of those who visit us, but for the worried, fear not.
How we came to be here is no mystery. Come early or late and listen, for those of us who dwell here stay because a part of us enjoyed the trip that was our life. Gold can fly rapidly from a physical body, but seasons pass as we get older and we quickly learn the definition of life and the courage to live it.
Learning to delight in the joy of a frog will keep you grounded.
Learning to shout your joy will keep worry away.
I’ll be here, King Bronwen, too and I will be with you yesterday and tomorrow. Whom you chose to come with is limited only by your imagination so rise above your doubts and give me your hand, as a trusting child to a loving parent. Cut loose and live for every day is important! Poor is the soul who grows familiar with failure and forgets how he got there. Live life as it is, where everything is precious and kissed by the Sun.
See poetry in an atom and it will fuel your soul’s engine giving you the power to live!
The Next Investigation:
Robby enjoyed the Ellicott Family Cemetery so much that he wants to do it again! He’ll be at Karate camp next week (he’s a Brown Belt), so I’m going to take this time to work on my novel, Both Sides. We’ll be looking for another site to investigate as soon as Robby returns from camp.
Categories: Ellicott City, Ellicott City Ghostly Happenings, Fairy, Ghost, Orb, Paranormal, Uncategorized
Tags: Andrew Ellicott, Ellicott City, Fairy King, Ghost Radar, John Ellicott
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How About A Little Ghost With Your Wine?
Leisurely strolling down Main Street, stopping for a sip of wine, hearing ghost stories.
What could be better?
Unfortunately, Robby couldn’t go with me for this week’s investigation. I went on the Spirits Tour and you must be at least twenty-one years old to attend the tour. The walking tour takes you to four of Ellicott City’s establishments that sell alcohol and participants are invited to have a drink at each stop.
The Wine Bin: Formerly the Ellicott City Fire Station
The Wine Bins’ owner, Dave, was kind enough to tell us some ghostly tales about Captain Harry Shipley, the resident ghost.
I could feel the Captain as soon as I entered the store. I felt that he was far from threatening, in fact, from the stories that I heard on the Spirit Tour, the Captain seemed quite playful. It is obvious that the Captain loves his Fire Station home and he shares it with the current owners.
I didn’t need any validation that Captain Shipley was present, but I got it anyway. Dave talked about the movies that he shows outside on the wall of the Wine Bin and he mentioned two Jimmy Stewart movies. Jimmy Stewart is my cousin so I knew that was a sign to me that that Captain was present. I captured a photo with four Orbs so obviously Shipley is not alone. I’m certain that one of the Orbs was a former firehouse dog.
Four Wine Bin Orbs
Ellicott Mills Brewing Company: Formerly the Talbot Lumber and Supply Building
I took one of the best photos of the night here. I didn’t see it until the review, but in one of the photos there was a Shadow Man and a Shadow Child standing next to him. The figures seemed too clear, so I went back to the Brewing Company a few days later to see if it could have been a reflection of someone in a window.
There was no window.
When I showed the picture to the Brewing Company story-teller from the Spirits Tour, he said, “Of course it’s him. We get that all the time.”
He was referring to the resident ghost who hung himself in the building during the Great Depression.
Obviously, the Shadow Man had been watching us from above and even did a bit of posing for the camera.
But who is the smaller person next to him?
The Shadow Man used to have a family, so is he telling us that he has been reunited with them? Is this his child?
I certainly hope so.
Shadow Man and Child
Shadow Man Original Photo – Upper Left Corner
Brewery Orb
The Diamondback Tavern
Tales of Davey Crockett and a Ghost Girl with long brunette hair made this former livery stable a tavern rich with ghostly history.
I took several photos in a hallway where the Ghost Girl has been seen. In one photo there is a clear Orb and in the next photo, taken immediately after, the Orb is gone.
The Tavern was full of patrons that night, and I’m certain that the resident ghosts were also in attendance.
Diamondback Tavern Orb
Rumor Mill Alley Mist
The Rumor Mill
Not to be outdone, The Rumor Mill has a Man in the Bowler Hat spirit who makes believers out of skeptics. Our Rumor Mill tour guide that night admitted to being a former skeptic, but not after his encounters with the Man in the Bowler Hat.
It’s no wonder. The Rumor Mill building used to be owned by an undertaker!
Just outside, before we entered the Rumor Mill, I took two pictures. I took almost the same shot twice, but the first time there was a strange mist in the photo, and in the shot immediately after – no mist! I took the pictures one after the other and there was barely a second between the shots so if it was fog, (which we didn’t see that night) it was the speediest fog that I ever saw!
Then I took another photo that bothered me for days. I knew there was something about the photo that I needed to see, but I couldn’t figure it out. As with the Brewing Company, I went back to the Rumor Mill a few days later and I asked to take the same shot. They were kind enough to oblige and I got a picture in daylight for comparison.
I was about to write it off as nothing, but in two other photos of the same room, I found a very bright Orb and in another picture, I saw two very light Orbs, right in the area that I was questioning. I took another look at the first photo…and I found it. It was close to where the Orbs were. They were obviously showing me where to look.
It was a Bowler Hat!
On a chair, there appears to be a large Orb, with a brim, sitting on the chair seat. The Man in the Bowler Hat is said to be seen sitting at the tables.
He let me take a picture of his hat, and he bugged me until I saw it!
They do that sometimes.
Bowler Hat
Bowler Hat
Rumor Mill Orb
Bowler Hat Outline
Spirits Tour Ghost Radar Conversation
Words From the Other Side:
Flight Stranger Factor Combine Father Thread Halfway Ben Forth Stuck Dutch Facing Mixture Relationship Path Level Package Wide Party Beginning End Car Quarter Object Characterization Somebody Age It Score Drove Surprise Metal Drive History Only Imagine Advice Mud Kind Help Buffalo Parent Push Probably Love Riding Cannot Mr. Except Raise Kristin Primitive Find Star Property Stepped He’d Mood
Wandering Souls
Take Flight ye Strangers of fear and gloom! Our factors of history demand that you to combine our Father with yours! Never forget that we are woven together with the same Spiritual Thread and you exist halfway between Heaven and Hell! Ben, the scoundrel, brought forth treasonous tales and he was doomed to remain stuck in his Dutch attire, facing a mortifying mixture of shame and everlasting woe! His relationship with non-believers led him down a path of blindness and took him to a terrifying level of morbidity. Tragedy was like a package, delivered to his door, and when opened, it laid wide his weakness for being misled.
The party was a ruse and the beginning of the end for him. Better that a car had run him over than to meet his end of being drawn and quartered. Always the object of scorn and envy, such characterization could only lead to somebody eventually cutting his life short at such an early age. It was a score for the Grim Reaper that drove the town to feign surprise as the undertaker hammered away at his metal and wood sarcophagus. The horse drawn hearse was a drive into history down the only path that one could imagine as doomed for eternity. No advice was heeded and when the mud-slinging began, not a kind word was said to help the former Buffalo Soldier and parent of sorrow on his ghostly journey. The push from a neighbor was probably the only love that he could expect. Riding away cannot stop Mr. Lonely from finding anything except a broken heart.
Raise a glass to Kristin! Her primitive nature is a welcome find in this wretched life. She is our shining star who guards our property that is stepped in blood.
If he’d only known the mood of the city, he would never have come.
Now he was doomed, never to leave.
The Next Investigation:
The Ellicott Family Cemetery
Categories: Ellicott City, Ellicott City Ghostly Happenings, Ghost, Orb, Paranormal, Uncategorized
Tags: Brewery, Ellicott City, Ellicott City Maryland, Orb, Shadow Man, Spirit Tour
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Ellicott City Ghostly Happenings 