Haunted Ellicott City Maryland: Howard County/ Mount Ida Home Ghost Expedition 2014 [The “Benevolent” Spirit of Miss Ida Tyson]

Mount Ida was constructed in 1828 for William Ellicott, son of Jonathan and Sara Ellicott, and grandson of Andrew Ellicott, one of the founders of Ellicott Mills (now Ellicott City).

The home was built of rubble stone, stucco and painted old Maryland gold. The architecture is expression Greek Revival blended with Quaker simplicity. William Ellicott’s time in his new home was unfortunately short-lived; he passed away in 1836 at the age of 43.

In 1845, Mount Ida became the residence of Judge John Shoemaker Tyson and his wife Rachel P Snowden, who were among Maryland’s more prominent families. After Judge Tyson’s death in 1864, the property passed to his heirs and this is when the ghost legends took form.

Rachel Tyson passed away in 1889. The following year, their only son John, an attorney, died tragically in a boating accident. John left behind three maiden sisters (Cornelia, Anna and Ida), all of whom resided in the home for the rest of their lives. Cornelia and Anna died respectively in years 1893 and 1895. The last to pass away was Miss Ida Tyson in 1925. Locals believe her ghost maintains a presence in the house. The elder Miss Ida reportedly kept a ring of keys with her at all times. Workers claim to hear the sound of her keys rattling as she roams the house. “During the last years of her life, Miss Ida was recalled as a lively person who used and ear horn and a cane to move about.” “She is said to have loved the old house and the spirit that she left behind certainly seems to be a benevolent one.”

Historic Mount Ida is now the visitor center and office for the Patapsco Female Institute Historic Park and has offices for Historic Ellicott City Inc.

Ellicott City will host the Hallowread conference Oct 24-26 2014. The conference will feature a public paranormal investigation at the home.

References: [Haunted Ellicott City] [EllicottCity.Net] [Library of Congress]

[maryland-paranormal.com]

Images:

Mount Ida, Ellicott City MD (2012), NW (Rear) and W Elevations. Photos: Jennifer K. Cosham [Maryland Historic Trust Inventory]

Mount Ida [William Ellicott House], Ellicott City, MD (c 1835), SE Elevation, ‘A Sketch from Rock Hill’, Lithograph of Thomas Campbell, Drawn by R. C. Long [Library of Congress: Historic American Buildings Survey]

Mount Ida [William Ellicott House], Ellicott City, MD (c 1854), 'View of Ellicott’s Mills from the Heights above Elizabeth Ellicott’s Residence’ Lithograph, E. Sachse & Co. [Library of Congress: Historic American Buildings Survey]

Mount Ida [William Ellicott House], Ellicott City, MD (Oct 1964), SE Elevation. Photo: Lanny Miyamoto. [Library of Congress: Historic American Buildings Survey]