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Last week, amid the chaos of the US Power Boat Show, my girlfriend and I took in one of Annapolis Tours’ Historic Ghost Walks. Annapolis Tours is run by the folks at Watermark that operate the tour boats, history tours, and the water taxis in Annapolis. But this was not a “make you scream” tour, nor was it a pub crawl–it was steeped in history, led by the able bodied Squire Richard (former Annapolis Mayor Dick Hillman).
The air was crisp and cold and nearly 30 of us departed down alleyways rarely seen and led on a verbal excursion of history and intrigue. All of the stories have been published and reported in the local papers or documented, so there is very little rumor or speculation.
We learned of the hauntings at the old Mayor’s Office where a Mayor has once committed suicide. The playful spirit on the top floor of a law office. The eerie coincidence of a premonition of death at the Little Brice House, the falling death of a workman in the Capital’s dome, and much more. However, the highlight was the Big Brice House.
Until recently, the home was privately owned and now it is owned by Historic Annapolis. After a brief history of the building itself, we were led up the stairs and into the main hallway where we were met by a costumed guide. Reported to be the most haunted home in the City, she led us through each room on the first floor explaining the mysteries and curiosities that have happened over the years. Jame Brice was bludgeoned to death in this home right in front of the fireplace as he read. No one is sure who killed him, but it is said that his spirit resides in the home to this day.
I don’t want to spoil too much of the tour. You probably are not going to see any ghosts or apparitions, but you will think about them and you will get a very new and unique perspective of the darker side of Annapolis history!
The tours are offered Fridays and Saturdays through October 31st and advanced tickets ($22 adults, $14 children) are required. Plan to spend 90 minutes walking around downtown–so comfortable shoes are recommended.
If you are a visitor or a local—take the tour, it is worth your time!
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