Ghosts at the Rossborough Inn in the University of Maryland
The University of Maryland has a rich history dating back to its founding in 1856 as the Maryland Agricultural College. Built between 1804 and 1812, The Rossborough Inn is the oldest building on campus today (Ghost Tour, 2). With its history, it is no surprise that the Inn has been a hotspot for ghost activity. Knowing that there have been numerous reports of ghosts at Rossborough, I visited the Inn to ask current employees at the Knight Center for Specialized Journalism, located in Rossborough Inn, if they themselves had experienced anything bizarre or if they had known others who had. I entered the small office where three women were talking and with their permission asked about their experiences with ghosts at Rossborough. Upon asking my question, all three smiled, although shaking their head, they indicated they had not. However, they all had heard of the stories, and one of the women replied and told me to speak with the University Archivist. She told me that she has spoken with the archivist, and upon learning the stories, she said that she “got freaked out and really wanted to go home.”
The next day, I contacted the University Archivist by phone to inquire about the happenings at the Rossborough Inn. She was happy speak with me, and indicated that the Rossborough Inn has been a hotspot for legends of paranormal activity, having more “sightings” than most any other building on campus. In addition to sharing with me one story of the Inn, she also sent me a script of a ghost tour that she has given on campus that includes other reported happenings at the Inn as well as the history of Rossborough. The story she shared with me tells of a dining services ...
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... of the Rossborough Inn use hospitality and kindness to help us understand. In doing so, even though operating in a time of violence and warfare, the Rossborough Inn can reflect the love and care that represent the core values of the Inn and the University.
Works Cited:
Brunvand, Jan Harold. The Vanishing Hitchhiker: American Urban Legends & Their Meanings. New York: W. W. Norton, 1981.
“Haunted Maryland”. September 12, 2006. UM Newsdesk. Retrieved March 30, 2006 from http://www.newsdesk.umd.edu/culture/2006/Halloween/Rossborough.cfm.
McCombs, Alan J. “Ghostly Tales Offered of University Tours.” October 27, 2006 Maryland Newsline. Retrieved March 31, 2006 from http://www.newsline.umd.edu/etcetera/specialreports/campusconnections/ghoststory102706.htm.
Turkos, Anne and McAllister, Liz. Ghost Tour. University of Maryland. October 16, 2006.
Brunvand, Jan Harold. The Vanishing Hitchhiker: American Urban Legends & Their Meanings. New York: W. W. Norton, 1981.
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