The Terrifying Tale of a Haunted School in Maryland

Maryland boasts a fascinating history, but it is also home to many enigmatic and unsettling secrets. Among these secrets lies the abandoned campus of The Tome School – a once-respected and esteemed boys’ school that now lies in ruins. The campus has become a site of paranormal activity, as it is believed to be haunted by the ghosts of its past.

The Tome School: A Brief History

Jacob Tome, a millionaire and philanthropist, founded the Tome School in 1894 with the aim of offering quality education to boys from diverse backgrounds. The school was situated in Port Deposit, a small town on the Susquehanna River. The school opened its doors to students from kindergarten to high school and rapidly gained prestige as a distinguished educational institution. In fact, students from out of town would travel to enroll in the school, a testament to its reputation.

After Jacob Tome passed away in 1898, he had already made provisions for the expansion of the campus and construction of multiple granite buildings. His plans were executed flawlessly, and The Tome School continued to prosper for many years to come. Known for its academic brilliance, athletic achievements, and high societal status, the campus was also renowned for its exquisite architecture and picturesque views of the river.

The Tome School: The Decline and Fall

Regrettably, due to financial difficulties caused by the Great Depression, the school was compelled to shut down in 1941. From 1950 until 1977, the campus was utilized by the Naval Academy Preparatory School and the Susquehanna Job Corps Center, respectively. Eventually, the campus was deserted and left to deteriorate.

Throughout the years, the campus has fallen victim to vandalism, theft, and arson, leaving many buildings damaged by fire, water damage, and harsh weather conditions. Broken windows, graffiti on the walls, and littered floors with trash and debris have become a common sight. Additionally, the campus has become a popular destination for urban explorers, thrill-seekers, and ghost hunters who are intrigued by the unsettling and abandoned atmosphere.

The Tome School: The Haunting

Numerous reports have surfaced claiming that the spirits of past students, teachers, and staff haunt the campus of The Tome School. Witnesses have reported experiencing a variety of paranormal activities, which include:

• • Voices, whispers, screams, and laughter heard in the empty halls and rooms.
  • Footsteps, knocks, bangs, and crashes heard from the floors above or below.
  • Shadows, orbs, mists, and apparitions seen in the dark corners and windows.
  • Cold spots, temperature drops, and breezes felt in the closed and sealed buildings.
  • Electronic devices malfunctioning, batteries draining, and cameras failing.
  • Feelings of being watched, followed, touched, or pushed by unseen forces.

Morrill Hall and the Rossborough Inn top the list of the most eerie buildings on campus. The former is the only college building that withstood the Fire of 1912, while the latter is believed to be haunted by “Miss Betty,” its manager from the Civil War era. Numerous paranormal groups, such as the Maryland Paranormal Research and the Maryland Society of Ghost Hunters, have probed these buildings and produced compelling evidence of ghostly presence in the form of EVPs, EMF readings, and photos.

Conclusion

The Tome School offers a captivating yet heart-rending illustration of how a sanctuary of knowledge and optimism can turn into a wasteland of fear and remorse. Its grounds serve as a poignant testament to the magnificence and misery of bygone days, as well as the enigma and dread of the present. Venturing into the campus is a daunting task that demands courage, while disregarding its sanctity is a perilous mistake. Consequently, the Tome School stands tall as one of the most eerie educational institutions in Maryland, and conceivably, in the entire nation.