Last week, I wanted to know what your favorite Maryland myths and legends were. You provided your own suggestions in the comments, and you didn't disappoint! Without further ado, here's part two of the story, based on the comments of our readers.
Black Aggie
I had never heard of Black Aggie before starting this article, and now I'm pretty sure I'll never sleep again. If you want a spooky Maryland tale, look no further than the statue that once stood watch over the grave of a general in Pikesville.The statue was meant to be a representation of grief--fitting for a graveyard statue--but seems to be the representation of urban legend horror instead. The rumors about the evil statue spread. It even got a spot on the Travel Channel!
Video via Travel Channel
Supposedly, those who spent the night in the graveyard risked getting caught by the spirit that resided in the statue, and trespassing led to the statue being moved out of the cemetery in the late sixties. Aggie now resides in D.C., but the legend lives on in Maryland. Personally, I don't mind that she's decided to hit the road. She looks like a Lord of the Rings villain, and if any statue could come to life, it'd be her.
Snallygaster
Like me, the Snallygaster is a resident of Western Maryland. Like me, its name is a mispronounced German one (seriously--people do not know how to say Eva Niessner. I digress). The German immigrants who settled in the area brought their legends of dragons and forest beasts, and reported seeing a schneller geist--a fast ghost. That term became Americanized, and the Snallygaster legend was born.
The Snallygaster was dragon-like with tentacles like a squid, often seen flying in the air and preying upon livestock. Newspapers even reported on it with zeal, though it might have had more to do with selling papers than journalistic integrity. Seriously, if the local paper was reporting on a dragon-squid, you know you'd buy that issue.
According to Timothy Cannon's Ghosts and Legends of Frederick County, the Washington Post went looking for the beast in the 70's, but had no luck. But that doesn't mean it's not out there somewhere...waiting to snatch you up.
The Pig Lady
I love how straightforward this story is. Like the Goat Man, the Pig Lady is a half-human, half-beast creature that preys on unsuspecting teenagers foolish enough to stop their cars and smooch near the bridge she calls home. Some say she also has magical powers that can force cars to stall out so she can make her move, and residents have reported hearing pig noises near her reported hang-out spots in Cecil County.
So next time you're out on a date in Rising Sun or Elkton, and you hear a scraping sound coming from your car, you might not need a mechanic--it's just a terrifying pig woman trying to scare you! Nothing to worry about here.
The final touch on her story is that supposedly you can summon her, Bloody Mary-style, by calling out her name three times. But who wants to invite a pig lady to their bonfire or party?
Er...sorry, Miss Piggy.
This post was written by Route One Apparel blogger, Eva Niessner.
