City Hall Of Frederick

Stories & Folklore

Stories & Folklore are just that. Stories and personal accounts that have been reported about the location and passed down from generation to generation. This section could also contain research notes as well.

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The Old Frederick Courthouse has long been associated with paranormal activity, drawing the attention of both curious locals and dedicated investigators. Visitors often report an unsettling atmosphere as soon as they step near the building, particularly after sunset. Some claim to feel a sudden drop in temperature or the sensation of being watched, even when the area appears completely empty. These eerie sensations are frequently cited by those who believe the courthouse is still inhabited by the spirits of those who once stood trial within its walls.

Over the years, there have been numerous accounts of shadowy figures appearing in the courthouse windows long after the building has closed. Witnesses describe the apparitions as tall, human-like shapes, often standing motionless before vanishing without a trace. These sightings are most commonly reported from the street, where passersby are startled by the presence of someone seemingly watching from above. The figures are often said to resemble old-time judges or condemned prisoners, caught in a loop of history they cannot escape.

Auditory phenomena are another common occurrence in the Old Frederick Courthouse. Echoes of footsteps pacing the halls, the creak of wooden benches, and even hushed voices have been reported by those brave enough to venture inside. Former employees and nighttime visitors alike have described hearing the gavel strike, as if a trial were still underway in one of the now-empty courtrooms. These unexplained sounds lend a spectral dimension to the building’s already weighty past.

One of the more chilling stories involves the repeated appearance of three ghostly figures walking together in chains. Witnesses say the apparitions appear to be moving in sync, shackled as though being led to trial or execution. The image evokes the building’s darker history when justice was swift and severe, and not always fair. These specters are thought to represent prisoners from a more brutal era, whose spirits remain trapped where their fates were sealed.

Despite modern renovations, the courthouse seems unable to shake the imprint of its long and often grim history. Paranormal investigators continue to be drawn to the site, reporting high levels of unexplained activity and spiritual presence. Whether one believes in ghosts or not, the stories surrounding the Old Frederick Courthouse add an extra layer of mystery to an already storied landmark, keeping the past very much alive in the present.

Added by: sdonley on 07/10/2025 DB#: 1721
Source(s): Various

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Peter Suman went to meet his maker in 1781; some say the spirit of the one-time British sympathizer still haunts the site of his execution.

Courthouse Square, located in front of city hall, is the most haunted square in downtown Frederick, according to Ron Angleberger, owner of Candlelight Ghost Tours of Fredrick. The devil's playground, as one Frederick resident called it.

Inside the building, staffers have reported hearing thumps and clangs late at night, witnessing toilets flush on their own, and faucets turn off and on, and elevators going from floor to floor with the doors opening, but noone inside.

When the sun sets and the moon rises, Peter Suman once again takes center stage at the courthouse square and in the old courthouse, Angleberger said. Former Frederick alderman David "Kip" Koontz was told that a shadowy figure attired in black Victorian garb had been seen entering his office late at night. Koontz had also been told that city staff had their calendars switched months ahead on occasion, and pictures hanging on the wall would be slanted in the morning.

From the people who told me and witnessed that, I don't think they would be prone to making it up, Koontz said.

Suman was executed on August 17, 1781, with two other British sympathizers in front of a crowd of 2000 spectaters. Accused of high treason, Suman was hanged, beheaded, and then drawn and quartered. The cruseum punishment involved being hanged and then cut down before he was dead. After the crowd witnessed the event, they begged for mercy for the remaining prisoners. It worked; the other two were only hanged. Right before his execution, Peter Suman put a curse on the old courthouse, Angleberger said. Shortly after Suman's execution, the courthouse caught fire and burned to the ground. A second courthouse built at the same location burned down in 1861. The fire started simultaneously in multiple locations, according to Angleberger. When the fire brigades arrived, they found the water supply had been mysteriously turned off. They watched helplessly as that courthouse burned to the ground.

Angleber believes that the shadowy figure seen outside of Koontz's office was Suman's wife, who stood by her husband's grave for days after his execution to protect what was left of him. Koontz said it could have been someone who was in the courthouse when it burned in 1861. Although those who work in city hall are aware of the stories, not everyone is a beliver. There are always rumors, but it is just an old building, said Susan Harding, the city's public information officer.

Joe Adkins deputy director of planning, had an office in city hall for more than 15 years. While working late at night, Adkins investigated some of the weird noises heard but never found anything. It's one noisy building at night. Whether it is the bats in the belfry or rats in the basement, it's a very noisy building, he said. It has all the possibilities and the elements of having ghosts in there.

Judy Arnold, the city's facilities manager, has had members of the cleaning staff tell her stories of the elevator going up and down and opening at random floors and office lights turning on by themselves. While sharing an office on the second floor with the legal department, Arnold's radio turned on while she was working. "I didn't have it on; it just started playing, but that is the only time anything weird happened to me," she said.

Secretary Chuck Thompson has heard many of the stories associated with ghosts in the building but has yet to have any encounters of his own. Fortunately, I haven't seen anything he said; I don't want to.

Added by: sdonley on 07/10/2025 DB#: 1722
Source(s): https://www.fredericknewspost.com/archive/ghost-to...

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Paranormal Claims

Here are the paranormal claims for this location. These have been found through Internet research, reports from members, or reports from personal interviews. To add a claim, please contact PANICd.com, and we will review and add your information.

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Claim #	Added	Added By	Claim
3874	07/10/2025	sdonley	Strange noises have been heard at night.
3875	07/10/2025	sdonley	Toilets flush on their own.
3876	07/10/2025	sdonley	Facets have turned on and off on their own.
3877	07/10/2025	sdonley	The elevators go from floor to floor with nobody inside.
3878	07/10/2025	sdonley	A shadow figure in black Victorian garb has been witnessed.
3879	07/10/2025	sdonley	Calendars have switched months ahead on their own.
3880	07/10/2025	sdonley	Pictures have been slanted on the walls when staff come in to the office in the morning.
3881	07/10/2025	sdonley	Lights turn on and off by themselves.
3882	07/10/2025	sdonley	A radio turned on by itself on the second floor.

Additional Resources

This is a collection of Internet resources for this location. This section will house links to other websites that contain information related to history, claims, investigations, or even the location's website.

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City Hall (The City of Frederick) • Downtown Frederick Partnership Added: 07/10/2025 By: sdonley	Information about the location.
City Hall (The City of Frederick) • Downtown Frederick Partnership Added: 07/10/2025 By: sdonley	Events at this location.
Peter Balthasar Suman (1727-1781) - Find a Grave Memorial Added: 07/10/2025 By: sdonley	Peter Suman was hanged in Fredericktowne (now Frederick) alleged to be sympathetic to the British. His body was taken at night to the Ausherman School House Cem. and buried with a blank field stone marker. This was to prevent identification of his grave; the family fearing it be desecrated. The exact location of...