Good morning, Towson!

On this day, October 29, 1849, a fierce storm swept through Towson, and a fire destroyed Auburn House, the historic mansion that now stands on Towson University's campus. The house was rebuilt the following year, but according to local legend, someone, or something, never left.

Meet Martha, Auburn House's resident ghost.

Legend has it that Martha was a young maid or nanny who perished in the fire. Over the years, university employees have reported unexplained footsteps, doors slamming, objects moving, and lights mysteriously turning on and off. One employee even described watching a third-floor light switch off after fleeing the supposedly empty building.

Here's the spooky twist: Historical accounts of the 1849 fire mention no fatalities, so Martha's origin story remains folklore rather than established fact.

Still, for a house with 235 years of history, a ghost or two seems almost reasonable.

And with Halloween just two days away, we couldn't resist sharing one of Towson's favorite ghost stories. - Read more about the legend of Martha

Happy Halloween, Towson! 🎃

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In this week’s Towson Torch:

University of Maryland Center for Outpatient Care will occupy a former surface parking lot. Plans include 340 parking spaces and two separate outpatient surgery centers, with room to expand as patient volumes and community needs grow. Scheduled to welcome patients in spring 2028, the facility is planned to accommodate approximately 250,000 visits annually, according to UMMS.
Read full release

On the night of October 26, 1958, at around 10:30 p.m., two young men, Philip Small (27) and Alvin Cohen (24), were driving near the quiet road crossing the Loch Raven Reservoir north of Baltimore, Maryland when what they later described as an egg-shaped craft appeared suddenly above the bridge ahead. The reservoir itself is an important municipal water supply for the city and a serene recreational setting, making the sudden intrusion of the strange object all the more striking.
🔥 Read the full article on the Torch (orginally published 10/27/25)

Mother Nature is handing out full-sized candy bars this Halloween weekend!
Friday brings sunshine and a downright balmy 75 degrees, perfect for getting a jump on the festivities.

Saturday's Halloween forecast looks spook-tacular, with partly sunny skies, a high of 62, and temperatures in the mid-50s during trick-or-treating hours.

Best of all, rain chances are practically nonexistent, so leave the umbrellas at home and make room for extra candy. Sunday keeps the fall fun going with another cool autumn day.

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