By Lennon Gross
This place is special, there’s no doubt about it. People love Poolesville, whether that’s because of the close-knit community, the small-town feeling of escaping the hustle and bustle of the city, childhood memories, or the generations of families that have lived here for centuries. Or perhaps it’s something more. After all, Poolesville isn’t just made up of the people who live here.
Stories of ghostly apparitions, graveyards all but returned to the earth, lives lived and lost: these are the tales we whisper around campfires and laugh about on crisp October nights. And yet, they are just as much a part of Poolesville as any other. So why is it that this part of history is swept under the rug?
Maybe it makes us uncomfortable. The idea of something we cannot know or begin to explain is unsettling. We hear the word “ghost” and think of movies like Paranormal Activity, The Exorcist, and The Conjuring. We are told to be afraid of what we do not know and there is truth in that, but this way also lies disaster.
Poolesville has a checkered past. One steeped in more than the crossings of the Civil War. Things you won’t see on the signs or placards Include Native American presences, the echoes of both the enslaved and the freed Black communities that built this town and made it what it is today. There are remnants here of voices we will never be able to hear but can still teach us.
When we have the courage to pursue the unexplained, we gain the ability to tell a story, one that may otherwise have never seen the light of day. By interviewing witnesses, researching historical places, and doing a bit of good, old-fashioned ghost hunting, we hope to bring to light pieces of the Ag Reserve which may otherwise be lost in time. We hope to gather these stories and make them known to honor the people who have come before us and to leave something for the next generation to continue to explore.
Please join us on this quest and drop a line if you have a story to share.
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Christine Rai and Lennon Gross are writing a book and you can help with the research! They are collecting mysteries, legends, folklore, and ghost stories from in and around Poolesville. If you have a spooky tale, mysterious happening, or chilling encounter, they would love to hear from you. You can message the authors through the Mysteries & Legends of the Ag Reserve Facebook page. Or email them at MLARcontactus@gmail.com
Register for their virtual Paranormal Poolesville event 10/14 here.