Visiting Spirits & Kindred Souls (Pt. 2)

​This is the second part of a story which I began last week regarding ghosts frequenting Mount Olivet. While I have not personally seen any of the kind, that doesn’t rule out whether there have been visits, and/or if any said spirits still exist "in residence" along with their own mortal remains. I guess one could say when it comes to Mount Olivet, and the presence of apparitions of any of our cemetery residents, you have to look at "what can be, unburdened by what has been."
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Our cemetery opened its gates to burials over 170 years ago, so it’s quite possible that we've had some unique visitors from the community's past frequent our property in the present. This will likely continue into the future as well. In the meantime, there is plenty of space for the supernatural to roam over a hundred acres which boasts over 41,000 interments.

In folklore, a ghost is the soul, or spirit, of a dead person that can appear to the living. Wikipedia describes ghosts as “varying from an invisible presence to translucent or barely visible wispy shapes, to realistic, lifelike visions.”

According to Daniel Cohen’s Encyclopedia of Ghosts (1984):
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“The belief in the existence of an afterlife, as well as manifestations of the spirits of the dead is widespread, dating back to animism or ancestor worship in pre-literate cultures. Certain religious practices—funeral rites, exorcisms, and some practices of spiritualism and ritual magic—are specifically designed to rest the spirits of the dead. Ghosts are generally described as solitary, human-like essences, though stories of ghostly armies and the ghosts of animals rather than humans have also been recounted. They are believed to haunt particular locations, objects, or people they were associated with in life.”

Back in March, 2018, I wrote one of these “Story in Stones” about a gentleman buried here in Mount Olivet who has been said to have been haunting a mansion located in the northern part of the county. This house, built in 1808, is named Auburn, and a former resident of that home, Edward McPherson (1827-1848) is buried in our Area E. Auburn was built by Baker Johnson, brother of Gov. Thomas Johnson, Jr. It is located on the west side of US 15 near Catoctin Furnace, a few miles south of Thurmont in northern Frederick County.

​Many residents of Auburn have reported that they heard the mysterious sounds of someone slowly climbing the back servants’ stairway of the 19-room, colonial home. These were relatives and descendants of the greater McPherson family (of which Edward belonged). Our subject died in 1848 in Mexico during a duel fought between two military officers engaged in the Mexican War.

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Auburn Mansion (built 1808 by Baker Johnson, brother of Gov. Thomas Johnson, Jr.

Lt. Edward McPherson (1827-1848)

​Anyway, "Sir Edward,” as the ghost has been called, has been frequenting Auburn, but who knows if he has ever haunted Mount Olivet. The word “haunting,” is a strong term defined as having a deeply disquieting or disturbing effect. It also can be defined as poignant and evocative; difficult to ignore or forget.
I’ve recently learned about a few other folks whose mortal remains reside in Mount Olivet, but have reportedly been hanging around their homestead just north of Walkersville. Their names are Henry R. Harris and wife Clarissa Harris.

Henry R. Harris plot in Frederick's Mount Olivet in Area R/Lots 121 &122

​I first heard these Harris names, a popular one this year, when I had the good fortune to catch up with an old friend of mine named Ron Layman at the Great Frederick Fair a few months back. While there, Ron told me that he had been spending his retirement doing housework—literal house demolition and refurbishing in the process of rehabilitating a familiar historic home on the grounds of a popular Frederick County park. This happens to be the Heritage Manor House on the grounds of Walkersville Heritage Farm Park located at 9236 Devilbiss Bridge Road near the intersection with Glade Road and salubrious Glade Creek. The farmstead is seen as “a shining example of rural domestic agricultural architecture.”

​For the last five years, Ron Layman, a former Boy Scout leader, has been volunteering with others to bring back a magical farmhouse to its original glory. The location has been known by many names, and best known as the Harris Farm. The property dates back to the county’s beginning when it took its original name Hawthorne Bottom. The Cramer family of Germany are said to have constructed the first farm in the year 1746 (when we were still part of Prince Georges County). This led to the moniker of Hawthorne Farm.
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The main house and farmstead that exists today was built in 1855 by the forementioned Henry R. Harris. He owned the property, but the actual craftsman builder was one John W. Winebrenner, the founder of the Glade Church of God. The three-story, center plan house was constructed in predominantly late Greek Revival style, with some Italianate elements. The agricultural complex consists of a bank barn with an attached granary; a second frame barn that shares an animal yard with the bank barn; a row of frame outbuildings including a converted garage, a workshop, and a chicken house. There is also a drive-through double corn crib; and a frame pig pen from 1914.

​The 20th-century buildings consist of a frame poultry house, a dairy barn with milk house and two silos, and an octagonal chicken coop. An early lime kiln is located on the edge of the property with the entire complex preserved as part of the Walkersville Heritage Farm Park.

​The Harris Farm was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1994, decades after the last permanent occupants lived here. These were renters of the house and farmstead who vacated upon its sale in 1986. Apparently, Frederick County Government rented a room herein to a local Walkersville athletic association who used it for storage of athletic equipment and occasional meetings.
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Ron Layman has been associated with the building for five years now, coming almost weekly to provide his skills as a volunteer laborer. For many years, Ron served as head scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop #274 before retiring in 2017. He has continued to lead young men in scouting with this Harris Farm house project. Four years ago, Ron got the Boy Scouts of Troop 274, along with other Frederick County troops, involved in helping him with house repairs and renovation. As part of this agreement, two rejuvenated rooms have been used for Boy Scout district meetings, Eagle Badge boards, scout training programs, meetings of the Walkersville Boy Scout Troop, and a program called “Sunday’s for Santa”—an annual fundraiser.

Ron Layman (right) affixes a pin on the uniform of a Boy Scout

These photos (l-r) are from the "Home of the Brave" Commemorative event in Mount Olivet back in Sept, 2014

I’ve worked with Ron dating back to my Cable 10 television days as we featured topics on the Frederick Boy Scout program. The same holds true when I was at the Tourism Council of Frederick County. I fondly recall Mr. Layman and Troop 274’s helping with our luminary event held in 2014 at Mount Olivet to commemorate the writing of "the Star-Spangled Banner. This event was called "Home of the Brave."
Ron’s scouts served as tiki torch chaperones that evening, keeping vigil over 108 veteran gravesites of our Frederick County 1812 soldiers. I'm sure the scouts were joined that night of September 13th-14th by the spirits of those men who helped in defending Baltimore from the British during the 25-hour bombardment.
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As a matter of fact, Ron Layman, himself, has been with me in spirit through my trusty lantern. You see, he built it for me in his workshop. I've used this particular wooden lantern for years now while conducting candlelight tours here at the cemetery. I utilized this lantern six times in recent weeks as I presented the 2024 edition of the “Unsettling” Candlelight Tour of Mount Olivet.

​Made by the hands of Ron Layman, my lantern continues to serve as a true intermediary between both myself, and the potential ghosts of those buried here­ in our cemetery. Speaking of intermediaries, Ron told me that last year a local spiritualist/paranormalist was brought in to “feel the place out” after some evocative happenstances.
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The professional "ghostbuster" in question here was Rhonda Russo, who gave a riveting lecture to a large group of participants at the former Harris Farm home on October 26th, 2023. Ms. Russo next helped conduct an investigation, and found that the original housebuilders (Mr. and Mrs. Harris) were still “haunting” the house, in spirit of course. Ms. Russo shared that these first residents of the home were quite happy with the fine renovation work being done by Ron and the scouts. A better testimonial could not be given. However, I guess it can be a little intimidating and unnerving knowing that these humble remodelers are not alone, but instead are being supervised by Henry R. and wife Clarissa Harris who died in 1878 and 1901 respectively. By the way, both individuals died in the house.

​I was previously aware of this house by sight only, and up until recently had no idea that the original residents were buried within Mount Olivet. While I haven't been inside the farm house, I have spent many hours of my life sitting on the greater farmstead property while watching numerous baseball games played by my son Eddie. This period was when he played for Frederick Babe Ruth and Frederick American Legion’s baseball team in games versus some talented Glade Valley Babe Ruth teams, and Woodsboro Legion squads. Here, I sat and watched several "end of season" tournaments on the various ball diamonds positioned just a couple hundred yards away from the farmhouse which stands proudly at the entrance of the park.
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I have tried to find photos of Henry and Clarissa Harris to no avail, as I’d like to be able to recognize them if they happen to frequent their gravesite here in Mount Olivet’s historic section. According to Ron Layman, no one has had a clear look at them at the Harris farmhouse either, but at least we know they are “there in spirit,” and “alive and well,” at least, in the greater Walkersville area. I will also call out Heritage Frederick to be on the lookout as well, because I’ve learned they are the keepers of the Harris family bible. You never know when this couple may want to peruse it for old times sake!?

​So, let’s talk about Mr. and Mrs. Harris, whose impressive grave monument occupies two large family plots on an elevation in Mount Olivet’s Area R—not far from the grave of Gov. Thomas Johnson and Barbara Fritchie. 

​Henry and Clarissa Harris
Henry Ross Harris was born in Frederick County on September 6th, 1820. He was one of eight known children, and was the eldest son of Franklin Harris (1790-bef 1850) and wife Elizabeth Claybaugh (1796-1850). Henry appears to have received an education and studied law as I have seen him described as an esquire in newspaper mentions of the mid-19th century. He was also a state legislator and gentleman farmer exemplified by the fact that he owned this beautiful plantation now comprising Walkersville Heritage Park.

Henry married the former Clarissa Barrick on July 26th, 1843. Miss Barrick, born December 17th, 1821, was the daughter of Frederick Barrick and Catharina Cramer. It appears this property came down through Clarissa’s family as her father, Frederick Barrick, is identified as a son of Jacob Barrick and Rosanna Devilbiss, large property owners in the area. You may recognize the Barrick name in relation to nearby Woodsboro’s legacy of quarrying (Barrick Quarry), and of course, who can forget the water crossing that has made famous (or almost famous) the Devilbiss name—Devilbiss Bridge.

Henry Harris bought 120 acres of land (part of "Jacob's Lot Well Bounded") from John W. and Catharine Barrick and Margaret Barrick, widow of a man named George Barrick, in 1845. My assistant Marilyn Veek provided me with lineage charts and info, while explaining  that John W. Barrick was Clarissa’s first cousin, and that George and Margaret Barrick were her paternal uncle and aunt.
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I first found Henry and Clarissa Harris here at this property, and living within the manor house, in the 1850 US Census. They are joined by a daughter, Julia A. Harris, born October 26th, 1846.

1850 US Census showing the Harris family living at the former Hawthorne Farm near Walkersville. (Note the Barrick relatives that lived on an adjacent farm).

​Subsequent census records were found, but not much info can be gleaned outside of Henry’s written occupation as a farmer. The interpretive panel outside the farmhouse states that Henry began as a local teacher at the Old Glade School House, located basically across the road from his home. I would find several vintage news advertisements (in the 1860s and 1870s) pertaining to Henry’s political aspirations and service in state government. There is also proof of his strong Union leanings during the American Civil War, and he conducted many auctions of nearby farms and estates.

Frederick Citizen (Oct 9, 1861)

Maryland Union (Oct. 21, 1969)

1870 US Census

​A National Register of Historic Places report by the Maryland Heritage Trust can easily be found online and provides information gleaned through existing histories, tax assessments and census records from the second half of the 19th century.

​Henry would not be enumerated in the 1880 census because he died two years earlier on November 24th, 1878. I checked that particular year to see when Thanksgiving was celebrated. I found it was November 28th, so I think we are safe from Henry not dying on Thanksgiving Day, thus being particularly “unsettled” on the holiday. I learned a great deal more about the man (Henry R. Harris) courtesy of his obituary which appeared in the December 12th, 1878 edition of Frederick’s Maryland Union newspaper. I had no idea that he was a captain!

Maryland Union (Nov 27, 1878). Note that this article erroneously states that Henry was buried at the Glade Church.

Maryland Union (Nov 27, 1878)

​And to think, I could have titled this particular blog story "Death by newspaper." We pick back up by seeing Henry’s widow continuing to live at the property which appears in the 1873 Titus Atlas Map. The National Register of Historic Places report continues in talking about Clarissa cohabitating with an assortment of relatives and farmhands.

1900 US Census showing Clarissa Harris and family

​Clarissa Harris passed away on April 19th, 1901. Her obituary would appear in the Frederick News the very next day.

Frederick News (April 20, 1901)

​Mrs. Harris would join her husband in the gravesite in Mount Olivet. However, as we have seen, their spirits appear to have remained at the farmstead on Devilbiss Bridge Road. Daughter Julia Amanda Liggett took over ownership of the property, however her time as the “mistress of the manor” would be brief as she died on December 5th, 1905.

Frederick News (Dec 6, 1905)

Frederick News (Dec 13, 1905)

​The land remained in the greater Harris family until Julia’s son (Henry and Clarissa’s grandson), Henry Ross Harris Liggett, sold the property, by then 192 acres, to Charles Sager in 1932. Henry Liggett is buried in the Harris plot in Area R as well, and his name adorns the south side of the large monument.

Soon after the sale to CharlesSager, a couple from Calvert County purchased the farm in 1933. Their names were Jefferson and Mary Patterson. Some may be familiar with Mr. Patterson, a former US diplomat, as his name is synonymous with Maryland archaeology and preservation.

Jefferson Patterson (1891-1977)

Mary Marvin (Breckenridge) Patterson(1905-2002)

​Jefferson Patterson (May 14th, 1891 – November 12th, 1977) was an American diplomat who served as United States Ambassador to Uruguay under Dwight D. Eisenhower, from 1956 to 1958. He married Mary Marvin (Breckinridge) Patterson in 1940. He also had assignments in Berlin, Belgium, Egypt, Greece, and the UN Special Committee on the Balkans. In addition, Mr. Patterson wrote a book, Diplomatic Duty and Diversion. He worked at the U.S. Embassy in Paris during World War II, and was in charge of French prisoners of war before the transfer of protecting power from the United States to Vichy, France.

former Patterson Home at the state park

former bank barn

​Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum (JPPM) is a 560-acre state park and museum located along the Patuxent River in St. Leonard, Calvert County, Maryland. The property of JPPM was given to the State of Maryland by Mary Marvin Patterson in 1983 in honor of her husband Jefferson Patterson. Both Jefferson and Mary are buried in Washington, DC's Rock Creek Cemetery. 

Patterson gravestone in Washington DC's Rock Creek Cemetery

Jefferson-Patterson Park is in lower Calvert County in Southern Maryland on the Patuxent River

​Many of its buildings were designed by early female architect Gertrude Sawyer starting in the 1930s. The property has more than 70 identified archaeological sites, with current excavation and research being conducted. The land features 9,000 years of documented human occupation. The visitor center, located in a former cattle barn, features displays about the Pattersons, and about the science of archaeology and the work being done on the property.

The Exhibit Barn features a War of 1812 exhibit and displays of antique farm equipment. The 1812 Battle of St. Leonard's Creek occurred here, and a neighboring property, called the Brewhouse, is the ancestral home of the Johnson family and birthplace of our Gov. Thomas Johnson, Jr.

The Maryland Archaelogy Conservation (MAC) Lab at Jefferson-Patterson Park in Calvert County

MAC Lab instruction

JPPM is also the home of the Maryland Archaeological Conservation Laboratory (MAC Lab), which houses almost 10 million artifacts. The MAC Lab serves as a clearinghouse for archaeological collections recovered from land-based and underwater projects conducted by State and Federal agencies throughout Maryland. Many artifacts from Frederick County, such as Native-American spearpoints and ceramic vessels, reside in this state government repository. All of these collections are available for further research, education, and exhibit purposes to all students, scholars, museum curators, and educators. 

The old Harris Farm that occupies Walkersville Heritage Farm Park is a special place. It's safe to say that Henry and Clarissa Harris have a number of people to thank for preserving the legacy of their beautiful home over the 160 years since it was built. We, at Mount Olivet, are also proud to be in the position to preserve their "final home" and resting place here in Mount Olivet—whether they are at rest, or on the move!

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Special thanks to Ron Layman for his assistance with this story, along with Jody Brumage of Heritage Frederick.