Stories surrounding the haunted Adkins Hardware Store in Berlin, Maryland, involve sightings of an "elemental" spirit and unexplained noises heard by employees. The historic building is a popular stop on local ghost tours, which describe the unsettling atmosphere and spooky phenomena reported by both guests and workers. The store was, however, destroyed by a fire in January 2025. According to Chesapeake Ghost Tours, an "elemental" spirit haunts the area around Adkins Hardware, particularly between the warehouses at night. A tour guide reported that a witness saw a shadow emerge from the road and "pulsate" toward their group. Some people who stand at this specific location experience an overwhelming sense of dread, and others report strange orbs of light appearing in their photographs. Employees who worked at the store for years reported hearing the sounds of a customer walking in the aisles when the building was empty.