David Bule
(11/2022) Taneytown has a steep history pre-dating the American Revolution. Tales of Tories storming homes and searching Federalists' homes were not uncommon in the early days of the town's history. A town with such a long history is bound to have a haunting. There are two notable ghosts in Taneytown: Anna "Annie" Hagan (1886-1908), of 6-8 Frederick Street, and Benton Brining (1855-1945), of 7 Frederick Street. We will examine the histories of both individuals and the historic residences they occupy.
Taneytown was a center for the tavern business in the late 18th century because of its location along two major routes. At an early date in its history, there was a tavern on each corner of the square. The Adam Good Tavern became the most renowned of Taneytown's taverns because it was the location of a stop by George Washington on June 30, 1791, as documented in his diary entry of that date. The tavern was initially constructed of logs by Adam Good in the 1770s and was located on the square's northwest corner. A brick building was built on the original Adam Good tavern site after it burned down around 1839.
In 1807, John McKellip, Sr. purchased the property from Adam Good. After the sale and until 1890, it is unclear whether the McKellip family continued to own the house. In 1890, however, the area was cleared to make way for the current Hagan House, located on lots 6-8 Frederick Street, and built for Norman Bruce "N.B." Hardin Hagan, Sarah Orndorf Hagan, and their daughter, Anna "Annie" Hagan. Despite plans and construction beginning in 1890, the project took until 1894 to complete. Family members lived in the upper portion of the building, while Hagan operated a grocery store at the bottom.
According to local legend, Anna died of a heart attack on her wedding day, and her ghost haunts the property. On more than one occasion, Anna has been observed running through the house in her wedding dress, crying and calling out for unrecognizable names. Before her death, Anna suffered from inflammatory rheumatism. But, most likely, she died from cardiovascular disease, which has been observed in younger patients.
Given N.B. and Sarah's marriage in 1886, their family home design must have considered business and residential innovations. Some of the original Adam Good Tavern timbers were incorporated into the building's framework and some of the original doors were still in the basement. The bronze plaque on the front of the building was presented to Sarah Hagan and placed there by the City of Taneytown in 1932.
After the death of Sarah, the house was auctioned and purchased by John Leister and his wife Flora Belle Arnold Leister for $8,000 (approximately $150,000 today). The bottom portion of the house was used as a bowling alley/ice cream shop, while the Leisters used the remaining home areas as the living area. On September 7, 1945, John died of a heart attack. His obituary states that he was the proprietor of Taneytown Bowling Alley and had formerly conducted the Central Hotel for 24 years. He served as the Director of Birnie Trust Company in Taneytown. He belonged to the Chamber of Commerce and the Taneytown Chapter of the Independent Order of the Odd Fellows. After John's death, the bowling alley remained until the mid/late 1950s.
Flora Leister remained in the house, where printing presses were present, until she died in 1967. After Flora's death, it is believed that Charles Whitfield Drury bought the house and published the Carroll Record.
On May 6, 1984, in the Baltimore Sun, an ad appeared announcing the building's sale to be conducted via auction. According to the ad, the auction included the building, office, and printing equipment. From 1985 to 2002, Jim Fogle operated his "Come Saturday Morning" antique shop at the Hagan House. In 2007, the property was purchased by Jeff Lewis and named "The Cherry Tree." Paul Kluth currently owns the property.
The John McKellip House, located at 7 Frederick Street, was the first of the Dempwolf-designed buildings in Taneytown. John McKellip operated a drugstore on this lot in 1853. The house was built in 1880 with a drug store on the right side. The home features a double front door, a peaked dormer, and end chimneys. It was occupied by McKellip's daughter, Clara Abarilla McKellip, and her husband, Benton Brining. Brining was also McKellip's business partner. It is unclear when the pharmacy portion of the home was removed. However, in an article on John McKellip that appeared in the April 1908 edition of "The Druggist Circular," McKellip stated that the business was the oldest in Taneytown, having been established in 1853 and that both his home and business were built on the original property of Major John McKaleb. a veteran of the War of 1812.
Many people reported seeing a well-dressed man appear in the McKellip home's windows after his death in 1945. However, the spirit of Benton Brining is not at rest in Taneytown, and it is unclear why he is searching.
Although the current owners have not reported any paranormal activity, note what is to the right and left when you sit at the light on the town square when you come from Frederick. You may see Anna or Benton peering at you.
