CUMBERLAND — No matter how believable the paranormal may be, alleged incidents of this nature date back as long as humans have existed, throughout thousands of years of history.
In Cumberland, that fact is no different. Washington Street, in the heart of the city’s historic district, contains homes that are several hundred years old and have seen countless people within their aging hallways.
Each of these humble abodes holds its own slice of rich history and handful of intriguing stories, and many have seen their fair share of paranormal experiences.
On Saturday, the final chance to hear about the ghostly past of this area took place under a cool October night sky as Halloween quickly approaches.
Keith and Anne Potts are a husband and wife duo who have taken a keen interest in the spooky history and darker side of the Washington Street history.
“We started about 20 years ago,” said Anne Potts. “We wanted to add to the list of attractions here in Cumberland.”
Throughout the year, the Potts lead a series of walking ghost tours of historic Cumberland, which begin at the Washington Street Library and saunter through the historic district of the city.
One notable location along the tour is the Gordon-Roberts House, which is famed for its rich history.
“People share things about things that have happened to them at some of the locations,” said Anne Potts, referencing the haunting experiences that some people have encountered in their days living or walking through the city streets.
Not only do these nighttime walking tours speak of the strange, scary and haunted, but they also give an account of the rich history that can be uncovered with just a little bit of digging.
“All the money that we raise, we donate to local charities,” Anne Potts said.
“It’s kind of a two-part mission.”
While the walking tours are supposed to be for entertainment, the research that goes into the tales actually helps increase awareness and attention toward historical preservation and continued research within the city limits.
“We try to get historians in to see if something happened at one of the houses (on Washington Street),” said Keith Potts. “The researchers really help us out.”
If someone were to tell the Potts pair about a mysterious occurrence that they may have witnessed in the area, they could contact local historians to see if a long lost death, murder or accident had occurred on one of the historic properties in the district.
The couple have introduced paranormal investigators to a few homes on Washington Street — which found the area to be “highly active” from spirits beyond this realm.
Keith Potts said his ghost tour is one that is both affordable and extremely interesting, too. “Ours is really reasonable,” he said.
The pair have attended several other walking ghost tours across the country, and Potts cited increased prices compared to their own. Adults can snag a ticket for $8 while students can get in for just $4.
Although walking ghost tours have ended for the season, they will start up again in the spring when milder weather returns.
To learn more about the Walking Ghost Tour of Historic Cumberland, contact Anne Potts at akpotts78@gmail.com or 301-777-9140.