The Persnickety Pilgrim

When we bought Glen Burnie we knew very little about the history of the house. The day we moved in was the day that former residents began to educate us. As we began to unpack prior to the renovation/restoration we had a series of experiences which convinced us that we were not alone in the house and these other occupants were opinionated!

The first thing we realized was that these folks did not particularly like George Washington. Day 1 a painting of Mt Vernon rose up off the mantle and tried to hit Ran in the back of the head. Later that same painting came off the wall for no reason and smashed into the dining room floor. We started to notice that small items would be moved in the house as if someone was inspecting them and occasionally relicating them to a preferred location.

As we began to meet people in the area we were often asked how we were getting along with the ghosts and it seemed like everybody had a story. Ran was skeptical while I started researching previous owners to try to pin an identity on our roommates. A lot of people have lived and died here, but since the spirits take a proprietary interest in the house and the time period fits, I focused on the original builder/owner and his family.

Elijah Hutchison is credited with expanding the original one over one dwelling into the manor house which was the centerpiece of a 950 acre plantation. He is buried in the cemetery along with his wife Louisa Minor (we think) and his grandson Chiles Terrell Barker Jr. Louisa was 35 when she married 52 yr old Elijah in 1822. She gave birth to her only child, Mary Louisa Hutchison, in 1823 and passed away in 1828. Elijah remained alone in the house until his death in 1841. Their daughter grew up at Bracketts, a nearby plantation owned by her aunt and uncle. Within 2 weeks of her father’s death Mary married her 1st cousin once removed Chiles Terrell Barker and moved back into Glen Burnie where she gave birth to 4 of her eventual 12 children.
Her second son, Chiles Jr was born in 1845 and passed away in December of 1847. That spring his father began selling off parcels of land. By 1849 the family had relocated to Christian County Kentucky to a house they also named Glen Burnie. Today the Barker family still operates Barker Beef on the property.

During construction the ghosts delighted in playing tricks with the security system. Random doors would be left open according to the system and then miraculously close themselves at 2 am. Tools would be in different rooms than they were left. Workmen would put something down and later find it across the room or under a pile of blueprints. The front door would slam shut if anyone left it open for any length of time and occasionally it would open on its own as someone approached. By the time we finished everyone was a believer. They said Good Morning and Good Night to the unseen occupants every day.

we have heard so many different stories and have come to believe that mostly Louisa, Elijah and their grandson are still hanging out at Glen Burnie. Life short changed all 3 of them so I guess they have stayed to keep each other company and to keep an eye on us. So when the door opens or closes by itself, or the tvs randomly turn on in rooms we don’t use or the dog sits by a chair and stares at someone we can’t see, we just say hello and wish them well. They will most likely be here long after we are gone or just maybe we will linger too and keep an eye on future owners!