The Ghosts of Fells Point
Today, Fell’s Point is a beautiful hub brimming with charm. Its historic district is a cobblestone street lined with antique red-brick buildings that tell centuries-old stories. It alludes to a simpler age when traders sailed into the deepwater ports, and local bars and churches attracted weary seamen to its shores. Developed in the late 18th century, the waterfront neighborhood has been a fixture of Baltimore, a storied slice of life that attracts travelers looking to get lost in historic Maryland.
For every light that illuminates the neighborhood’s historic district and its peaceful coast, a shadow is cast, and it’s within those shadows that a mischievous side of Fell’s Point hides. The spirits of over 150 years of history dance within the dark corners of the East Coast district, some curious of the visiting travelers, others distressed by the presence of the living.
An abundance of fascinating haunted history is strewn about the antiquated waterfront town.
Why is Fells Point Haunted?
Some believe spirits are drawn to water’s natural energy and feed off it to manifest as benevolent or malicious haunts. Fell’s Point’s long history has unfolded along the coast, giving its former residents all they need to return as ethereal forms. Learn more about the hauntings that plague Baltimore on a thrilling ghost tour with Baltimore Ghosts!
The Fells Develop Baltimore’s Coast
It all started with a land transaction. Shortly after arriving near Baltimore Town in 1726, Edward Fell and his brother William purchased 3,000 acres near the deep waters of Patapsco River and Chesapeake Bay. It was prime real estate, offering the brothers coastal access and an abundance of timber. It was only a matter of time before the Fell brothers built their first shipyard, turning the small settlement into a maritime hub.
Within years, as the Fells grew more prolific off their maritime bounties, they accumulated enough wealth to develop the land further. By 1761, William’s son, Edward, had taken control of the family’s wealth and used it to subdivide plots, create streets, and provide homes for those arriving at Fell’s Point. Unfortunately, Edward wouldn’t see his vision to completion as he passed away two years later, bequeathing the business he inherited from his wife, Ann Bond.
Under Ann’s control, Fell’s Point grew, eventually drawing enough attention from Baltimore to be annexed to join Baltimore Town and Jonestown. Within three years, the colonies launched the fight for their independence. Though the American Revolutionary War didn’t tear through Fell’s Point, the small settlement became a trading hub for the colonies.
As it turns out, it wouldn’t be the only time the region became crucial during a conflict, as Fell’s Point was an essential hub for trading and privateers during the War of 1812. In 1814, the British targeted Fell’s Point, hoping to set it ablaze and diminish its ability to aid the war effort.
As Fell’s Point still stands today, it’s clear to see how that worked out for the British.
The Fame of Fell’s Point
Though it’s way too easy to spend hours immersed in the wartime history of Fell’s Point and how those pivotal years further developed the neighborhood, it would take away from learning about the many famous names and faces tied to the waterfront region.
Of course, they weren’t so well known then, especially not Frederick Douglas. Upon moving to Fell’s Point to work as a shipbuilder, Douglas was still enslaved. Years prior, when he first visited Fell’s Point, he taught himself to read by making temporary teachers of the “white boys” he met in the street.
Fell’s Point was also home to Billie Holiday, who moved to Baltimore at a young age. Holiday may have passed away in New York, but a piece of her legacy remains in the waterfront neighborhood, particularly at her former residence on South Durham Street. Her vibrant talent touched much of Fell’s Point, from whiskey houses to churches, leaving their musical mark you may still faintly hear today.
Not every notable figure that touched the coastal town left a spark of light. Days before his death on October 7, 1949, author Edgar Allan Poe was found in a gutter in an idyllic neighborhood. He was said to have been delirious when found, though there was no known cause for his state. Maybe believe that his final stop before the gutter was a Fell’s Point staple pub initially built in 1775. The watering hole, a frequent stop for Poe during his time in Baltimore, was later renamed the Horse You Came In On Saloon and has become a haunted icon of Fell’s Point.
The Ghosts of Fell’s Point
Ghosts are as commonplace in modern Fell’s Point as sailors were generations ago. While you may catch wind of the spirits of Frederic Douglas or Edgar Allan Poe occasionally visiting, some of the ghosts of Fell’s Point are locals who stumbled into tragedy or unknowns with a mysterious past.
John Rutkowski isn’t a name recognized beyond the coastal neighborhood, but his antics from the afterlife are familiar to locals. The former pub owner had secured the Wharf Rat in 1907, a purchase that would be his downfall. After purchasing the bar, Rutkowski had also bought a Victrola and a record of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” He played the anthem so much that his cousin, Alexander Annszewsky, tried to force the Polish immigrant to shut it off. After a scuffle, Annszewsky returned with his brother, Adam, and shot Rutkowski.
Employees of the Wharf Rat state they can feel the former owner’s presence, a belief supported by his descendants, who firmly believe he’s still at the bar. Rutkowski is a known staple of Fell’s Point, as is the young girl scene at the Wharf Rat donning 19th-century attire. Who she is remains a mystery, though it’s likely she passed from one of the many epidemics that escorted death into the region.
If you’re walking the historic streets of Fell’s Point and feel a wisp of cold air and a chilled presence, it could be one of a few eternal residents that may have manifested nearby. Maybe it’s the ghost of William Fell, checking on his town, or one of the spirits who used to frequent The Whistling Oyster or still pops into the Cats Eye Pub.
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Sources:
https://fellspoint.com/history/
https://www.preservationsociety.com/rediscover/fells-point-during-the-war-of-1812
https://archive.org/details/DKC0109
https://tourfells.org/location.html?location=billie-holiday-houses
https://baltimore.org/what-to-do/edgar-allan-poes-baltimore-explore-his-home-legacy/
https://www.baltimoresun.com/2021/10/21/he-was-haunting-the-bar-ghost-stories-from-baltimores-fells-point/
https://seeksghosts.blogspot.com/2014/11/the-ghosts-of-fells-point.html