Baltimore Ghosts: History, Mystery, Legends and Lore

by Ed Okonowicz

Take a tour of Baltimore's haunted historic sites in this book based on more than a dozen personal interviews with park rangers, graveyard workers, saloon keepers and museum curators. The book includes more than 60 photographs of graveyards, tombstones, forts, ships, haunted restaurants and historic locations. The book's highlights include the city's colorful history as explained through ghost tales and legends, unexplained activities at the Edgar Allan Poe House and Poe gravesite; 19th century grave robbing practices at the University of Maryland Medical College; spirits in the "catacombs" graveyard beneath Westminster Church; the "Gallows Ghost" and many other active spirits at Fort McHenry; graves and stories in Green Mount Cemetery (including the burial plot of John Wilkes Booth); sailor spirits on the USS Constellation in the Inner Harbor tourist area; several saloon ghosts and sightings in Fells Point; the Legend of "Black Aggie," an active tombstone statue; secret tunnels under Federal Hill; the story of the mysterious Phantom of O'Donnel Heights... and more. In addition a special 1-to-5 "tombstone rating," which was provided by the Baltimore Society for Paranormal Research, is included at the end of each chapter. These tombstone symbols indicate the level of hauntings at each of these public sites. To help teachers use this book in the classroom, a special teacher's guide is available separately. The book is entitled "Baltimore Ghosts and History Teacher's Guide" and was prepared by Cassandra Cogan, a middle school special education teacher in Cecil County, Md.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Ghosts

Paperback

Published August 1, 2004

About the author

Ed Okonowicz, a Delaware native, is an editor and writer at the University of Delaware, where he earned a bachelor's degree in education and a master's degree in communication. Also a profesional storyteller, Ed is a member of the National Storytelling Association and specializes in local legends and folklore of the Delaware and Chesapeake Bays, as well as topics related to the Eastern Shore of Maryland.

Reviews

[Annette · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm an Ed Okonowicz fan! But, I was quite disappointed with this one. Not much new material was presented. Even the personal accounts (although accurate and interesting, Im sure), proved to be boring at best! Sorry, Ed! Not my favorite.

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a quick read but an interesting book. It tells a lot of the stories I have heard since I moved to this area and some that I hadn't heard. The stories are vignettes of tales that revolve around Fort McHenry, The Constellation, Fells Point, Poe's House and Green Mount Cemetery, among some lesser known stories. I enjoyed reading it.

[Morgan Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whether you need it for research like me, or just have an interest in some of Baltimore's weirder history, this is a great book. Well written, well researched, and a quick read.

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little folklore. A little history. A little ghost story. A great little book.