Many rumors of hauntings, satanic rituals, and drug operations have surrounded the old St. Mary’s College of Ilchester, Maryland, long abandoned by its students. As it turns out, these rumors are just that. The only things spooky are the dilapidated condition of the four-story building (virtually destroyed by a fire in 1997) and its caretaker, Allen Rufus Hudson.

Called “The Hermit” or “The Hillbilly” by local teenagers, Hudson is a prominent figure in most of their stories about St. Marys (also called Hell House). In real life, he defends the property with a shotgun full of rock salt and two large Rotweilers.

Mark Duck wrote a two-part article, entitled The Story Beneath the Ruins, which not only gives background information about Hell House, but the stories and rumors as well.

Another site I enjoyed was A Curse.com. You’ll find haunting pictures as well as very descriptive writing about the condition of the place and what it’s like to be there, taking in the sights and sounds. Both sites are well worth the look.