The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1902-09-06
RURAL sUPERsr1r1oHs.

a stranger visiting rural districts
ID the counties of Berks, Lebanon
and Lancaster, for the first time, says
the Philadelphia Rec0,d, is often star
tied by ancient superstitious beliefs
70 which the old people persistently
cling. in spite of the inroads of mod
ern ideas and education.
1t IS fact, however, that supersti-
tious beliefs and ideas are fast losing
bold on the people, but as stated be-
fore, in certain localities, it is sur
prlsing to learn of the many strange
beliefs indulged in.
Some of the favorite superstitions
Of the country folks are "spooks" and
witchcraft, and it is not uncommon
TO hear of witch doctors who perform
certain incantations for the relief of
PERSONS supposed to be afflicted. By
far the most popular belief is in
"spoCks" and ghosts. Whenever an
old house, bowed down with the
weight of years, acquires mysterious
ly, some strange noises, or the shut
tiers refuse to stay closed, the verdict
is Immediately that the house is
haunted.
For nearly score of year an old
log house, situated along the Man.
helm and Lancaster pike, near Me-
chanicsville, has had the reputation
of being haunted by spirits. Tradi-
ton states that the last tenants of the
house were disturbed by strange
noises accompanied by the peculiar
habit to which the doors and shutter
were addicted, namely, continually
banging or remaining open regardless
of the precautions taken by the owner
to fasten them. At any rate this be-
came SO annoying that the family
moved out and the place has never
found tenant since, so an enter
prising farmer nearby uses the house
at present as a drying shed for his to-
bacco.
Close to the South Mountains, in
Lancaster county, is a region of prim-
itiveness where superstition holds
sway among the rural folks, on whom
it is rather slow about losing its hold.
Near White Oak stood a house, until
recently, which was said to be haunt
ed, but an old gentleman who occu-
pied it, made discovery and the
spell was broken. The house had
been tenantless for several years, ow-
ing to strange noises which seemed
to proceed from the attic, and which
so disturbed the occupants that no
one would rent the house. Finally
a poor old man who didn' take stock
in such superstitions, agreed to rent
it for a mere song. He, too, heard
the noises at night proceeding from
the attic, but instead Of clearing out, as
his predecessors did, he decided to
investigate the matter the next morn
ing by daylight, and fiction-like as it
4-,av seer11 he f<.----a--1----------~.--k
raffers a board which was not quite
SO tight as it ought to be, and which,
perhaps, aided by the wind, produced
a peculiar noise.
But that was not all, he pulled up
the board and, to his astonishment,
discovered small crock which con-
tanned a number of old coins to the
value of $50. As the coins were
dated before the Civil War it is sup
posed they were hidden about the
time the Confederate Army attempt
ed to invade Eastern Pennsylvania.
The oldest residents recall the fact of
a miserly old woman living in the
house, who became afflicted with
paralytic stroke, and who on her
death bed vainly attempted to tell
about something, but the words were
inaudible to those around her bedside
and the secret died with her.
This house was torn down within
recent years, perhaps for the purpose
of further search for hidden treasure.