Glenn Dale has a long history of reported hauntings. Some of the online information regarding its use over the years is inaccurate. I believe there might be mixed reports from other nearby facilities. There are, however, many factual sites on which to find Glenn Dale's history.
Glenn Dale began as a Tuberculosis Sanitarium in 1934, with the Children's Building being reported as opening first. The Adult building opened in 1937. The Hospital was closed as a Tuberculosis Sanitarium in 1960, due to the decreased incidence of TB, and was subsequently used as a facility for the chronically ill. It closed permanently in 1981 due to numerous fire code and safety violations as well as significant problems with asbestos, which were discovered when the buildings were inspected for renovation. It was estimated that it would cost $23 million to make the required repairs to continue operating. The hospital was abandoned with much of it's equipment remaining in place.
Glenn Dale was transferred to the Maryland National Park and Planning Commission in 1995. While there have been a couple of bids for purchase and development, State Law (House Bill 841) requires that the facility be used as a continuing care retirement community and the prospective buyers were not licensed to run this type of facility. Glenn Dale will most likely be demolished if not purchased by the Historic Preservation Society, and funds made available to restore it.
This was my first visit to Glenn Dale. Upon entering the structure through one of its many broken windows, I immediately heard a car approaching. Stepping around a corner into a darkened hallway, I heard the crunch of tires on gravel, the sound of an engine stopping, and a car door opening. I waited quietly but heard nothing more. There was no sound of approaching footsteps and no flashlight appeared to explore those dark recesses where I waited quietly, with bated breath. I did not hear any further door or engine noises nor any sound of a car departing. After several minutes I crept quietly from the hallway and peered around the corner of the window. There was no car outside in the paved lot. Soon T joined me and we began our exploration of the adult building, respirators in place!
We began in what we thought was the basement. (I clarify here because we have since discovered a lower level, but have been unable to explore it due to standing water.) I was saddened at the amount of destruction and debris. I was also focused on the architecture of the building and the probably use of the various rooms. One of the reasons I believed this to be the lowest level was due to the appearance of a dirt floor. I now believe that the dirt may have been mud washing in from flooding. We progressed through the various floors, noting the presence of unused spaces which have been opened up by the vandalism.
We explored each floor extensively, although we know we missed many rooms due to the fascination with the various stairwells and wanting to see where they went. We found the auditorium with its stage mostly still intact, we found classrooms, we found patient rooms, kitchens, laboratory areas, possible surgical areas, etc. We found old x-ray plates, and old x-rays in a room on one of the floors. The plates still bear the ID tags of the last facility that was operational. In the main entry way there is a lobby with the valance still present over the windows, and carpet still on the floor. You can still find various call boards with names etcetera in this area as well.
On the second level there is the projector room. This room has approximately 3 feet of standing water, but on a bench the old projector still stands, with a few empty reel cans laying with it. On the third floor we found an old newspaper which was still legible. I believe it was dated for 1981. This was found in an area which appeared to be a staff lounge. You can also still find blackboards in some of the old classrooms. We did wonder why they would have classrooms in an adult building, but these facilities were purported to provide for all the patients needs.
We continued to explore each level working our way back and forth from one end back to the other. On the 4th floor we finally felt like we might be having some paranormal contact. T was wanting to take a picture of me through a window, and proceeded to walk out onto the outside terrace. As he started to walk away, I kept hearing a noise which sounded like a susurration behind me. I stopped to listen, trying to determine if it was a product of the wind, or if it was what it sounded like - whispering. I waited several minutes, quietly listening. Unable to determine the source, and unable to hear it well with any background noise, I began walking out to the veranda with T. About half way across the room, I had a feeling that something was hidden. It was strange, and I wasn't certain why that thought was suddenly in my head. I commented on it to T, and we discussed it while we continued exploring. We walked along the outside veranda to the last room, entered through the room, and proceeded back the way we had come in the inside hallway. The room between the one where we passed outside, and the one we came back in through, had its door closed. Following instinct only I entered the room. There we found a locked locker - 451 A. We made multiple attempts to open this locker, but to no avail. Quietly I promised that we would return and make further attempts to open the locker, if that was what was needed. With that we continued our explorations.
This point in time it is also important to note that T had to keep changing his camera batteries. He put in fresh batteries just prior to entering the building, but they drained almost immediately.
We made our way all the way into the eves, and back down to the 5th floor. Here we found rooms that once again resembled laboratories or surgical suites. I found a picture on a website of a sterilization room that used to be on the 5th floor, and based on the cupboards in the photo, I am sure we were in that room. At one end of the floor there is a covered outdoor patio. Just inside this patio we entered a room that had the appearance of the many bathrooms we walked through - yellow tile, etc. The windows of this room were also broken, and the wind was blowing briskly. When we walked out of the room again, we closed the door most of the way.
We turned to leave when, suddenly, the door slammed shut. No surprise. Just the wind, right? I would have believed that but the door continued to open approximately a foot and slam closed again 6-8 more times as we watched. When we turned back toward the door, it decreased its opening to about 6 inches before slamming closed again. Definitely less violent than previously. This action happened 3-4 more times as I walked back to the door. I reached out and placed my bare hand on the door, expecting it to continue slamming, but it stopped immediately.
Now this is a point where T and I need to share our different perspectives on the incident. My own perspective was one of empathy. I felt like the slamming door was a direct bid for attention, and also frustration that we weren't getting it. When I turned back to the door, my focus narrowed to strictly that. I don't remember anything except the need to move toward it. When I touched the door I was reassuring with "It's OK. You'll be OK."
I remember feeling that someone or something was upset. Not necessarily any anger, but definitely sadness. I felt a compelling need to give comfort. If I could have given a hug I would have but, the door stopped slamming with my touch. Giving reassurance that we would return and try again, we once again turned away. There was no further slamming, just the sense of grief and perhaps a sigh.
(Ok T, this is your cue... T? Where the heck did he wander off to this time?)
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Hey, L. Hey, Everybody. I was just digging a hole in the backyard. <ahem> Anyway, L and I were standing in a hallway near the almost-closed door. We had been in that area for a while and nothing seemed unusual about it. At the very moment we turned to leave the door violently flew open, and then slammed shut, and repeated this about eight or so times. When it first started I felt this was nothing more than the wind doing what wind does.
As it continued I saw that the force and speed of the door as it slammed shut and was yanked open never varied, despite what the wind might have been doing. No change. I looked at L, and could see that we were both thinking and feeling the same thing... this was not the work of the wind.
It was at this point that I became transfixed as I realized I was witnessing something truly supernatural. I had been in countless old buildings with slamming doors, windows, shutters and so on, but this was different, and it could be felt as well as visually observed. And still it continued.
It was insistent and constant. I felt no fear, but was waiting to see what would follow. I noticed a change in L's demeanor, and immediately knew she was feeling something about and for whomever the entity was that seemed to want our attention badly. L's expression became one of empathy and concern for the individual. And still the door banged open and closed.
As if drifting, L began moving towards the door. At that same instant the door's slamming and opening slowed down, and became less forceful. It seemed to me that the entity realized that L was aware of its presence, and its apparent calls for attention or contact. I knew L was going to try to comfort the poor soul.
She moved close to the door and put her hand upon it while leaning towards to bestow something as close to a human hug as one can give to any area and object under the control of something apparently supernatural. As she leaned her head close to the door I was worried the door would open and slam hard against her head. Thinking some poor soul might react appreciatively to a kind gesture is not the same as knowing it will react appreciatively.
I started to warn her she might be putting herself in more danger, but things we happening rather fast, and there was also the matter of not wanting to interfere with what was already an emotionally charged and supernaturally charged scene. Plus, I've learned I can't tell L what to do anyway once she makes up her mind (especially about comforting others less fortunate). (laughing, but oh so serious)
At this point, with L's hand (and heart) to the door, I heard her say something to the effect of, "It's okay" or "It's all right". With that the door ceased to move, and from that point on it remained closed. We waited a while longer to see what might happen, but nothing, not even the wind moved it at all.
During all this I could see that L was focused solely upon the door and the plight that some unfortunate spirit might be going through. I felt she was no longer aware of my presence or other things around her, but was in a place that I was not a part of. Despite this, I still could feel that someone needed to communicate with us (or more probably with L), and that for at least the present the departed was, indeed, comforted to a large degree.
Later on I would find that L was in a different place, and was unaware of other things that were going on around her at the time, and also was almost in a trance-like state during her attempt to provide comfort to someone no longer of this plane of existence.
I consider this particular event to be one of the most moving and obviously paranormal events I have ever been witness to. Yet, I am aware that unless one were there with us, this will be considered by many to just be a case of the wind's force, and I do understand that; however, I must restate that I have been present for many slamming doors and other movable items in old buildings, and recognized these moments for what they truly were... the action of the wind. With that in mind, I can say that what I witnessed of the interaction described above, this was a whole 'nother thing, indeed.
We all may not have keen psychic abilities, and as such I just want to say that even us regular folks will experience our own supernatural moments if we don't get frustrated by any such lack. I do feel that a positive and non-stressful approach to one's ghostly outings will most certainly provide rewards. Just do not be discouraged by the abilities of others (most are fakers, anyway), but instead just be you, and have your own adventures. I truly believe you will not fail, for sometimes it is 'the wind and something more'.
peace, my friends...
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back to L:
The last event that we would like to add happened as we were at the car once again. I observed one of the street lights flicker on and off a couple of times as we loaded up to go home. Also, this was the first time we started making note of the fact that I had a headache after leaving. At first I put this down to all the CO2 we were rebreathing in the face masks, but T pointed out that I also had a headache after the visit to Hilltop House Hotel. I make note of this here because it will become a common thread after each of our Ghostly explorings.
I know that I really haven't expressed the outrage that I feel at the state of destruction that Glenn Dale has suffered, as well as the blatant neglect. Had the owners taken measures in 1982 when it closed, perhaps roofs wouldn't be falling off, and vandals might have had a harder time harvesting all the wiring for it's copper. Sadly, the wiring is not the most of the damage as almost every window in each of the buildings is broken, the porcelain fixtures are destroyed, etc. These buildings are not salvageable, and someday they will be destroyed and replaced. I can not say that any spirits will remain in the new facility, but it will be sure to acquire it's own, if it becomes a progressive care retirement community. The danger for any facility at this site will remain with it's proximity to the run down tenements less than a mile away.
