Spirit of Edgar Allan Poe - Old Western Burial Ground and other places in Baltimore, Maryland

Edgar Allan Poe was a relatively unknown poet while he was living.  He had a somewhat tragic life which may have contributed to the morbid theme of his writings.  This also may be what has contributed to his spirit still walking the streets of Baltimore to this day.

The spirit of Edgar Allan Poe is said to haunt the streets and graveyard of Baltimore, Maryland where he spent a good portion of his life

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Waverly Hills Sanatorium - Louisville, Kentucky

In 1883 Major Thomas H. Hays purchased some land in north central Kentucky just south west of Louisville to serve as his new home.  Far away from schools, he decided to build a small school house on a hill in his property.  The school teacher he hired to run the school especially enjoyed the writings of Walter Scott through his Waverley novels.  So she named the new building, Waverley School.  Hays liked the name so he named the entire property Waverley Hills.  However, over a century later the grounds would have a more ominous reputation as host to what remains of the Waverly Hills Sanatorium.

The Waverly Hills Sanatorium circa 1926

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The Palatine Light, Curse of the Princess Augusta - Block Island, Rhode Island

A Dutch sailing ship named the Princess Augusta sometimes referred to as The Palantine, left Holland in 1752 with 150 souls on board, many of them German immigrants heading for the new found territories in America.  Their destination was Philadelphia.  However, a terrible turn of events would prevent most of the passengers from reaching their destination except for the devilish crew.

The Palantine Light off the coast of Block Island, Rhode Island is believed to the ghost of a burning ship from the 18th century

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The Myrtles Plantation - St. Francisville, Louisiana

In 1796 by General David Bradford built an antebellum style plantation in St. Francisville, Louisiana which is located near Baton Rouge.  He named his pride and joy Laurel Grove and moved in with his wife and three children.    However, later a tragedy would begin a long history of deaths and hauntings of this now famous plantation known as The Myrtles.

The Myrtles Plantation in the pre-Civil war era

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St. James Hotel - Cimarron, New Mexico

When Abraham Lincoln was President of the United States, Henry Lambert served as his personal chef.  When Lincoln was assassinated in 1865, Henry found himself out of a job.  He eventually decided he would travel out west and try his luck at finding some of the gold that there was so much talk about.  After not having much luck with striking it rich, Henry decided to try what he knew best and opened up a hotel featuring a restaurant and saloon in Cimarron, New Mexico.  Henry of course would never know that his place would become one of the most haunted places in New Mexico.

Haunted St. James Hotel in Cimarron, New Mexico

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Ghosts of the Ashtabula River Bridge Disaster - Ashtabula, Ohio

It was December 29, 1876 during a bustling holiday travel season that the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway Train No. 5, the Pacific Express left Erie, Pennsylvania bound for Cleveland, Ohio.  The express consisted of two locomotives pulling several passenger cars loaded with over 150 holiday travelers as it plowed it's way through a winter storm coming in off of Lake Erie.  The train and many of it's passengers would never make it to Cleveland. 

Artist's depiction of the Ashtabula River Bridge disaster in 1876

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Spirits of Summerwind Mansion - West Bay Lake at Land O' Lakes, Wisconsin

In 1916 Robert Lamont purchased a lodge on West Bay Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin.  The lodge was built in the 1800s to house those who went on fishing excursions onto the lake.  Lamont however, had other plans.  He embarked on a project to extensively remodel and expand the lodge and two years later the former fishing lodge became known as Lamont Mansion, a summer home for Robert Lamont and his family.  And over a century later it would be known by another name, Summerwind, the most haunted place in Wisconsin as it was plagued by a series of troubles over its lifetime.

Summerwind Mansion before it burned to the ground in 1988

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Clinton Road - One of the Most Haunted Roads in America in West Milford Township, New Jersey

In northeastern New Jersey there lies a ten mile road that many people consider the most haunted stretch of road in the United States.  Stretching from Highway 23 in Newfoundland, New Jersey up to Upper Greenwood Lake ten miles north with not much in between, the road is very remote and dark, passing through many miles of forest.  This desolate stretch of road has the infamous distinction of being one of the dumping grounds for victims of the Iceman.  Many claim that the ghosts of these murder victims haunt Clinton Road to this day as well as many other strange occurrences...

Clinton Road in West Milford Township, New Jersey,  is said to be one of the most haunted stretches of highway in America.

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Ghosts of Dromgoole's Rock (Gimghoul Castle) - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

According to popular legend in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, in 1832 at the University of North Carolina there was a student named Peter Dromgoole.  Peter was in love with a girl named Fannie who was a fellow student at the University.  They used to take long walks and spent many hours at a popular place nearby called Piney Point where they would meet off campus.  As the story goes, the two love birds can still be seen at Piney Point more than one hundred and ten years later!

Gimghoul Castle circa 1927

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Ghost Of Minnie Quay - Forester Park, Michigan

Minnie Quay was a young fifteen year old girl who lived with her mother and father in a community known as Forester along the shores of Lake Huron on the eastern Michigan coast during the mid 1850s.  Over 160 years later, Minnie still walks the shores and haunts the waters of the Michigan coast.

Ruins of one of the piers on Lake Huron at Forester Park, Michigan

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The Grey Lady of Willard Library - Evansville, Indiana

In 1877 in Evansville, Indiana, construction began on the Willard Library, named after Willard Carpenter, a local well to do businessman who donated the land and financed the construction of the building.  After a stall in construction, the building was completed in 1882.  It is a Gothic style building reminiscent of a castle.  What makes this library different than most that one of the patrons of the 1800s still likes to use the facility.

The Willard Library in Evansville, Indiana circa late 1800s

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Madame Sherri's Castle - West Chesterfield, New Hampshire

In the 1920s, Madame Antoinette Sherri was a French costume designer who catered to the actors and actresses in New York City.  She moved there from France with her husband in 1911.  Madame Sherri also did a little Vaudeville acting, dancing, and singing on the side.  During the summers she would visit with an actor friend who spent his summers in West Chesterfield, New Hampshire.  She liked the area so much that after her friend passed away, in 1927 she built a chateau style mansion in the area and would host very large extravagant parties of which most of the guests were the rich and elite from New York City.  The mansion had a grand stairway made of stone that led to a large red door which served as the entrance.  Local residents referred to her chateau as Madame Sherri's Castle.

Madame Sherri was a famous costume designer from New York who summered at her chateau near West Chesterfield, New Hampshire which today is known as Madame Sherri's Castle

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Legend of the Platte River Death Ship - Wyoming

Along the banks of the Platte River in Wyoming, a legend has been passed on since the mid 1800s.  A legend of an spectral nature.  Several witnesses have claimed to see a phantom ship on the Platte River.  They say that an eerie mist will begin to form on the river and slowly the mist will form a bank of fog that only covers a small area.  Out of the fog will then emerge a sailing ship from days gone by, appearing grey and unnatural, manned by phantom sailors.  This vessel has become known as, "The Ship of Death".

A old sailing ship is said to appear out of an eerie fog bringing an omen of death for the lone person that lays eyes on the vessel

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The Blue Lady of Half Moon Bay - San Francisco, California

During the 1920s, some of the Hollywood elite would find escape from prohibition along the coast of California at an elite speakeasy known as Frank's Place which was located along Moss Beach on Half Moon Bay near San Francisco.  The club was owned by Frank Torez and although prohibition was in effect, his club would readily serve alcohol. For some reason Frank's Place was never raided by police and some of California's upper class including stars of Hollywood were often seen there.  It seems that one of these regulars however, still call it home.

The Blue Lady haunts Moss Beach on Half Moon Bay near San Francisco, California

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Ghost of Hugh Hamblen and His Phantom Model-T - Kingsport , Tennessee

There is a notorious stretch of road in northeastern Tennessee called Netherland Inn Road.  It is known to become enveloped in fog very easily as it lies along the Holston River waterfront.  Back in 1922, five boys were in a serious accident caused by the fog.  Several of the boys died, but the others were in critical condition and hospitalized.  One of those boys was the son of Hugh Hamblen. The others had eventually passed away, but Hamblen seemed to be improving. However, the young Hamblen would not be the one who would lose his life to the fog of Netherland Inn Road.   Read the full story>>

One of the early model-T cars produced by Henry Ford

Spirits of Little Bighorn - Little Bighorn Valley in Southern Montana

In the plains of southern Montana in 1876, a long and bloody war between the U.S. Army and the Native Americans of the western plains known as the Black Hills War or The Great Sioux War culminated in a battle at a valley known as Little Bighorn.  The 7th Calvary Army forces which numbered over 700 were led by General George Armstrong Custer and were grossly outnumbered by over 1800 warriors of the combined forces of Lakota, Northern Cheyenne, and Arapaho tribes.  

Artist's depiction of Custer's Last Stand at Little Bighorn 1876

In the aftermath of the battle, 268 cavalrymen and over 100 native warriors and many horses lay dead on he field.  Many of the soldier's were mutilated beyond recognition while the warriors were gathered up by their tribesman and taken away for a proper burial.  The natives believed that these fallen soldiers would never rest.   Read the full story>>

Phantoms of Witch's Bridge - Grand Island, Nebraska

On the outskirts of Grand Island, Nebraska there is a bridge that has become legendary over the years.  This bridge is part of the "Nine Bridges Road" and has it's torrid beginnings long ago when a it is said that a woman dwelled in a house at one end of the bridge.  It was suspected that she along with some of her neighbors were involved in witchcraft or devil worship and at the discretion of the townspeople, she was tied to a stake and her house set to go up in flames along with her.  This bridge has since become known as "Witch's Bridge" and it seems that things on and around this bridge have not been right since.  Many believe it is cursed or haunted by the spirits who died there.

"Witch's Bridge" near Grand Island, Nebraska is said to be haunted by many spirits who met their end there

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Ghosts of Seguin Island Light - Boothbay Harbor, Maine

Originally commissioned in 1797 by George Washington, the Seguin Island Light lies just three miles off the coast of Maine in Boothbay Harbor on a small rocky island.   The light can only be reached by boat or helicopter.  The Seguin Island light has under gone reconstruction many times and has had many light keepers over the years.  However, the story of one particular keeper leaves a gruesome mark on Maine's history and there are still reminders of it to this day.

Seguin Island Light in Boothbay Harbor, Maine is haunted by more than one spirit

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USS Lexington (The Blue Ghost) - Corpus Christi, Texas

The USS Lexington CV-16 was the longest serving air craft carrier of World War II.  The ship was painted in a unique Navy blue un-camoflagued color.  During the war, the Japanese reported sinking the ship multiple times only to have the US Navy to debunk the ship saying that it is still afloat.  Wartime Japanese radio announcer Tokyo Rose proclaimed that the US had a ghost ship.  The US sailors on board the Lexington like it and the name stuck and the ship became known as the "The Blue Ghost".

The USS Lexington CV-16 the "Blue Ghost" anchored in Corpus Christie, Texas is said to be haunted by spirits of sailors from WWII

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Black Phantom of Anna Maria Island - Bradenton Beach, FL

On the shores of Anna Maria Island along Bradenton Beach, Florida one can find the spectacular views relaxing as many other beach goers have.  However, there is also something else that roams the beaches of Anna Maria.  Read the full story>>

Bradenton Beach on Anna Maria Island is host to more than just beach goers

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Ghosts of the Jerome Grand Hotel (formerly United Verde Hospital) - Jerome, Arizona

In 1926 the United Verde Copper Company began building a hospital for it's company workers on what is known as Cleopatra Hill in Jerome, Arizona. It open in 1927 as the United Verde Hospital and served many types of patients other than miners.  The hospital was built to withstand the blasts from the nearby copper mine and at the time was considered one of the most state of the art hospitals in the country. It had one of the original Otis elevators which were the first self service elevators not requiring an operator. The hospital served many, however, a good number of people died there including at least one supposed murder victim and their spirits remain to this day.

Jerome, Arizona as it appeared in 1927.  The United Verde Hospital on Cleopatra Hill can be seen in the upper left.

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Faceless Woman of Wai'alae - Island of Oahu - Honolulu, Hawaii

There is a legend in Hawaii of spirits of the dead or demons that are shape-shifters in that they can lure victims in close by taking on the form of a human.  This legend carries over mostly from Japan where fox or badger like demons transform themselves into humans that are faceless.  These demons are commonly known as noppera-bō or sometimes referred to as mujina due to their badger like alter form.  In the area of Kahala in Honoluhu one of these demons has shown it faceless form...    
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This painting by Edwin Ushiro depicts a noppera-bo or mujina

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Haunted Boyington Oak Tree in Mobile, Alabama

In the early 1800s in Mobile, Alabama, a man by the name of Charles Boyington and his good friend Nathaniel Frost for some reason, liked to spend some of their afternoons in the Church Street Graveyard on Bayou Street.  Whether they liked the serenity of the graveyard setting or liked to pass time reading the tombstones, it is unknown.  However, the two would forever be remembered by this location and would become permanent residents sooner than expected.  Read the full story>>

Church Street Graveyard in Mobile, Alabama home of the haunted Boyington Oak Tree

The Octagon - Lafayette Square - District of Columbia

In 1799, Colonel John Tayloe III who was owner of the luxurious Willard Hotel in Washington D.C., built a mansion at the corner of New York Avenue and 118th Street in Lafayette Square.  The house was an unusual shape, however contrary to it's name, it has six sides, not eight.  This is because then entryway to The Octagon is a round room.  During the time it was constructed, the method if building a round room was to use an eight sided wall to construct it.  They were known during the period as an octagon salon.  Tayloe lived in the home with his wife and family. The Tayloes had fifteen children in all. However, it would be the death of two of the Tayloe daughters that would give The Octagon it's haunted reputation. Read the full story>>

The Octagon - Lafayette Square - District of Columbia

Slater Mill - Pawtucket, Rhode Island

You may have read about this place in your history books in school.  In 1793 it became the first water powered cotton mill which through demonstration of it's efficiency, helped industrialize the nation. It is commonly referred to as "Birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution".  However, this mill has a dark past in that children were put to work in the mill under dangerous work conditions.   Some of them got caught in machines such as the mule spinner.  They were small so they were made to go into the machine to repair it.  Many of them never emerged alive.    Read the full story>>

Slater Mill in 1872

Ghost of Esther Hale - Beaver Creek State Park near East Liverpool, Ohio (Hambleton Mill Ghost)

In the late 1830s, in a former town called Sprucevale, Ohio located along the banks of Beaver Creek, lived a young woman name Esther Hale. She had a small cottage near the Hambleton mill by the creek. Esther fell in love with a local man and was engaged to be married to him one summer afternoon.  As the wedding date came, at the ceremony Esther waited patiently for her groom to arrive.  However, after hours passed, he never showed. This would spell the end for Esther...   Read the full story>>

Although this is not the ghost of Esther Hale, this is how she may appear if you encounter her along the banks of Beaver Creek

Spirit of the Ozark Madonna - The Ozark Mountains - South Eastern Missouri

In the 1930s deep in the Ozark Mountains, there lived a young woman named Laurie May Maumsey.  She and her husband lived in a mountain shack along with their new baby. One dark night, her husband who was in a drunken stupor, was angry at her for some reason.  Perhaps the baby was crying and would not stop.  Some speculate that it was over money.  Whatever the cause of his irritation, he threatened to kill her and the baby. A struggle broke out between the two of them.   Read the full story>>

Hazelhurst Manor (Lilburn Mansion) - Ellicott City, Maryland

Businessman Henry Richard Hazelhurst hit it big during the Civil War in the iron industry.  He became very wealthy and in 1857 built his 20 room Gothic mansion in Ellicott City, Maryland.  He named it Lilburn, however some referred to it as the Hazelhurst Manor.  However, from the very beginning the home has had a torrid  history. It was not so much as history as it was a curse.  Some argue that this mansion is one of the most haunted places in America.  Read the full story>>

Hazelhurst Manor or Lilburn Mansion in Ellicott Cit, Maryland as it looks today, has had a very untoward past.

Phantom Brakeman of Gurdon, Arkansas (Gurdon Spook Lights)

Deep in the hills of Clark County Arkansas just south west of Little Rock near the town of Gurdon, there is a phenomenon that has been witnessed by hundreds, yet there is no explanation for what people have described as "spook lights" which is a common term for strange unexplained lights that have been witnessed by many.  Strange lights are actually common around the world and some refer to them as "will-o-the-wisp" or "fairy lights" among others.  They seem to mostly occur in wet areas or bogs after the sun has gone down.

Photo of the Gurdon spook light or what some call the phantom brakeman of Gurdon

In the case of Gurdon, Arkansas this story has a certain twist.  Read the full story>>