Millard “Coop” Cooper: The Ghost Rumored to Haunt the Sykesville Town House

“Strange sounds and smells, disappearing coffee, knocked over boxes and other odd occurrences are just part of the first stop on the Sykesville Ghosts and Legends Tour.”

“Groups leave the Town House rumored to be haunted by former Police Chief Millard Cooper and go on to investigate an old jail, cemetery, hangouts of the famous Sykesville monster and other haunted places downtown.”

“Town House staff members blame strange occurrences there, like doors opening/closing on their own, floors creaking when no one was there, and scarier incidences on the ghost of Millard Cooper.”

Cooper — who lived from 1926-1980 — served as the town mechanic, maintenance and sanitation supervisor, and a policeman in Sykesville during his lifetime.

Millard had a reputation as a prankster. And most reported activity at the Town House can be characterized as prankish, especially reports of object displacements

His apparition and that of an unknown woman have been seen. Millard was also fond of cigars and the faint aroma of cigar smoke reportedly can be detected in the attic.

Millard Cooper preferred to be addressed as “Coop." The Town of Sykesville commissioned a park bearing his name in 1982.