Music, Mystery, and Urban Myths: The Haunted Stories of Nashville and Baltimore
While Nashville is world-famous as the birthplace of country music, another US city also played a significant role in the country’s musical development. Baltimore has long been a regional center for jazz, blues, and classical music. It was particularly renowned for its booming jazz scene in the first half of the 1900s.
Local jazz musicians played in an area called The Block on Baltimore Street. From the Maryland Theater to the Royal Theatre, Baltimore had many up-and-coming jazz musicians making names for themselves. A statue of jazz icon Billie Holiday was erected in Baltimore to honor the singer, who spent her formative years in the city.
However, Nashville and Baltimore share more in common than just music. Both cities feature several haunted spots. In Nashville, the haunted nature of the city is closely intertwined with its country music scene and the singers who made Nashville famous.
At the heart of Nashville’s haunted lore is the Ryman Auditorium. It was made famous by the Grand Ole Opry, a live country-music radio broadcast that has existed since 1925 and used it as a broadcast location. For many years, the Ryman Auditorium housed the Grand Ole Opry and hosted live performances that became woven into the fabric of Nashville’s (and America’s) country music scene.
Alas, the auditorium was haunted by the infamous Grand Ole Opry curse, which forced the radio broadcast to move out and find a new home.
The curse was no joke, either. Over 35 musicians, artists, and country singers are believed to have met their demises due to this curse.
Some of their stories are more well-known. In 1963, a plane crash took the lives of country singers I. All of these singers were associated with the Grand Ole Opry. Later that month, Grand Ole Opry star Jack Anglin died in a car accident. And if that weren’t enough, that same month, Texas Ruby, “radio’s original cowgirl,” died in a house fire that broke out while her husband, Curly Fox, was appearing on the Grand Ole Opry.
The deaths didn’t end there, either. Ira Louvin was killed in ANOTHER car crash, and Jim Reeves was killed in ANOTHER plane crash. The death of Hank Williams at the age of 29, the circumstances of which are still controversial, sealed the deal in many people’s minds, including skeptics.
But why was the Ryman Auditorium so cursed?
The auditorium was originally designed not as an entertainment venue but as a place of worship. It was built by Thomas Ryman, who was fervently religious and built the place in 1892 to house the Union Gospel Tabernacle. It was only after his death that, against his wishes and original design, it was turned into an entertainment venue.
Many believe his soul watched in horror as his lifelong dream turned into something else. Then, he cursed the building, and the Grand Ole Opry, which called the building home for decades, was also cursed as a result.
Today, an old, graying man, believed to be Thomas Ryan, can sometimes be seen on the upper balconies, stuck in perpetual grief over how things turned out.
As for Baltimore, it houses numerous haunted buildings. If you’re in for a spooky adventure, spend a night at the Admiral Fell Inn. Room 413 is subject to a more recent haunting. In 1999, Gary Mick, a big-time homophobe, killed Christopher Jones, a visiting pharmacist whom he suspected of being gay, in this room.
Ryman Auditorium, Nashville – Copyright US Ghost Adventures
Although his prints were found in the room, he was only caught later when he attempted to murder yet another person who was suspected of being homosexual. Strange things happen in room 413: Guests report hearing strange noises at night and say their belongings are sometimes moved from one place to another upon returning to the room.
The Horse You Came In On Saloon – Copyright US Ghost Adventures
If you’re looking for a more historic haunted place, Baltimore also has that. The Horse You Came In On Saloon is the oldest operating bar in Maryland. According to local legend, it is the very last place Edgar Allan Poe was seen alive. The famous poet died under mysterious circumstances. Some say he was poisoned. Others say he died from syphilis or heart complications. Regardless, he is said to visit The Horse from time to time to drink a cup of cognac the staff prepares for him.
If you ever get the chance to visit Baltimore, going on a Baltimore ghost tour is a must. From Max’s Taphouse to RYE, there are numerous more haunted joints in Baltimore to visit.