Patapsco Female Institute Investigation by Josh Cordero and Lori Baker
The article “Patapsco Female Institute Investigation by Josh Cordero and Lori Baker” recounts a paranormal investigation conducted on November 16, 2001, at the historic Patapsco Female Institute in Ellicott City, Maryland. Upon arrival, the investigators received equipment, including an EMF detector and cameras, to document potential paranormal activity. Significant findings were reported in the chapel and theater areas, where numerous orbs were captured in photographs. In the former classroom area, Josh reported seeing the apparition of a young girl with long hair, estimated to be around thirteen years old; however, the figure vanished before he could photograph it. During a break at a picnic table, the team experienced a sudden temperature drop, with readings ranging from 20°F to -9°F, despite ambient temperatures around 45°F. They interpreted this as the presence of spirits named Leslie, Abbey, and Annie, with whom they attempted communication using the EMF detector. Josh also described feeling an intense coldness, suggesting an energy drain associated with a spirit. Towards the end of the investigation, visual phenomena such as orbs and a red vortex were observed on the third floor of the building. The team concluded their investigation by expressing gratitude to the spirits for their perceived interactions.
The date of November 16, 2001, will be a date that stands out in our minds for a very long time. Our names are Josh and Lori. We were invited to the Patapsco Female Institute ghost investigation [with the MGSA]. The Patapsco Female Institute is located in the historic district of Ellicott City. Lori and I have heard stories about the Institute, but nothing prepared us for what was ahead that evening.
When we arrived we met with the rest of the investigators and proceeded to the yellow house, Mt. Ida. This is where we met up with Jackie, the woman in charge of taking care of the Institute. After a brief history, a couple of rules, and signing some papers we were ready to go to the Institute, located on top of the hill.
After a nice brisk walk, we came upon the Institute, and Lori and myself found it was in ruins. But, it was still beautiful. All the investigators met up quickly to receive some equipment from Beverly. The piece of equipment that we received and used most of the night was an EMF detector. So, now armed with our EMF detector and two cameras, we were ready! We brought a digital and a 35mm camera to use. Now we were ready to do some investigation and exploring. So, let us take you through our night of investigation and tell you about the places in the Institute where we had the most pictures and activity.
The one place we felt had the most activity was what used to be the chapel and theatre area. The EMF detector was not picking up a lot, but the pictures we picked up from the digital camera gave us some insight to where activity was happening. The chapel area is where we got the most pictures. The pictures we captured in this area were really amazing. The pictures contain dozens of orbs.
Another location where we got some great pictures of orbs was where the classrooms area used to be. This area is also where I encountered the ghostly apparition of a little girl. The girl I saw looked like she was no more than thirteen years old. She had very long hair. I was so awe struck as to what I was looking at that by the time that I went for my camera she disappeared.
One of the most interesting of the night’s events happened while Lori, Beverly, Jackie and myself and a few other people were taking a break at the picnic table. As we were talking the EMF detector near Beverly starting getting a reading. Just as the EMF detector picked up something, Beverly tells us of a cold spot that she feels right beside her. Jackie was sitting right beside Beverly and felt it getting colder, too. Beverly picked up the infrared thermometer and took some readings. The temperature was reading from 20 degrees to -9 degrees. [Ambient] temperature that evening was around 45 degrees. That is not a small or accidental change.
Beverly then started to communicate with the spirit that had come to visit with us. The names of the spirits were Leslie, Abbey and Annie. The names were confirmed by using the EMF detector. The meter gauge would go up higher for positive answers and down for negative answers. My experience with these ghostly visitors was a cold one. For whatever reason, I seem to have made a friend with the spirit, and it continues to hang around me. The ghostly friend I met made me colder than I ever felt before. I had to wear a blanket that was given to me by Beverly for the entire duration of the investigation [talk about an energy drain!].
Another location where I got to see visual orbs and vortices was in the front of the Institute. There I saw two orbs and a red vortex on the third floor of the building. Beverly was also there to see these; she also saw an ectoplasm. At the end of the night before leaving we thanked the spirits for allowing us to visit and for spending time with us. The Institute was a wonderful place to visit and investigate. The investigation will be a great memory to have due to the paranormal experiences that we had that evening.
SOURCE: v2 MGSA Oct 2003
