Haunted Salisbury Maryland: Wicomico County/ Poplar Hill Mansion Ghost Expedition 2015

Poplar Hill Mansion is the oldest building in the city of Salisbury. Construction on the manor home began in 1795 on a plantation estate called “Pemberton’s Good Will” owned by Major Levin Handy.

Major Levin Handy was never able to complete construction on the home. He lost the estate due to mounting debts and declining health. He died in 1803.

In 1805 the home was acquired by Dr John Huston, a prosperous physician. His family held the home throughout much of the 17th century. Dr Huston performed many surgeries in the home, some of them on soldiers during the War of 1812. Dr Huston died in 1828 and the estate was left to his wife Sarah.

His family continued to reside in the mansion as the town of Salisbury grew. The estate was subdivided around the 1840′s and by then had acquired the name Poplar Hill. Two streets near the mansion were named for the youngest Huston daughters, Isabella and Elizabeth. Sarah Huston died in 1853.

Her daughter Elizabeth sold Poplar Hill to George and Caroline Waller in 1882. The Waller family held the estate through 1945. The home contains numerous items of memorabilia acquired by the Waller family.

During parts of Huston and Waller family tenures, Salisbury experienced two disastrous fires in 1860 and 1886 that both destroyed the downtown business district. The 1886 fire destroyed over 22 acres of property and claimed 209 buildings. The estate survived both fires due to its location at the edge of town.

The estate was briefly held by Fred Adkins who attempted to restore the home as a Masonic temple. In 1948 the home was acquired by the Garber family who operated an 18th century antique shop downstairs. The home was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971 and acquired by the city of Salisbury in 1974 who operates the home as a museum in the public trust.

Haunted legends were formed during the Huston years.The home is believed to be inhabited by multiple spirits.

One of them is possibly a house servant named Sarah, who died tragically when her clothes were quickly engulfed in flame from fireplace embers. According to multiple accounts, she is said open dressers and drawers, and pull linens as if she were still in service.



Additional spirits could include the late Dr Huston and possibly another servant named Samuel.

REFERENCES

Ghost Stories from Poplar Hill Mansion, [shorebread.com], Ali Baker, July 15, 2015

Poplar Hill History, [poplarhillmansion.org], Friends of Poplar Hill Mansion

Poplar Hill Mansion, [msa.maryland.gov] Maryland Historical Trust [MSA_SE5_20757]

Poplar Hill Mansion Haunted by Young Spirits, Sara & Sam, [shorebread.com], November 1, 2012

Two Fires Devastate Downtown Salisbury, [delmarvanow.com], Brice Stump

IMAGES

Poplar Hill SW ELEVATION, (Dec 1936), Wicomico County, Leonardtown MD, [loc.gov], Photo: E.H. Pickering [Library of Congress Historic American Buildings Survey]

Poplar Hill Memorabilia From Waller Family (2015), [shorebread.com], Photo: Gina Whaley

Poplar Hill Mansion (2015), [shorebread.com], Photo: Gina Whaley

Aftermath of Salisbury Fire, View from Camden Bridge (1886), [msa.maryland.gov], Photo: Maryland State Archives, [MSA SC 1477-6482]

Salisbury Maryland (c 1910), [historicsalisburymaryland.blogspot.com], Photo: Historic Salisbury Maryland

Land Survey: Plot of Lot 2 “Poplar Hill” (1945), [mdlandrec.net], Drawing: Maryland Land Records [Malone and Williams Architects Salisbury MD]

Poplar Hill (1968), [msa.maryland.gov], Photo: Maryland Historical Trust [Michael Bourne]