Gertrude's Ghost (EJ Carpenter Mansion of Minneapolis)

E.J. Carpenter House ca 1915
Photo from the Minneapolis Historical Society

Today's post is dedicated to the people of Minneapolis who are fighting the good fight. The ice is melting. 

At 300 Clifton Avenue, in the Loring Park district of Minneapolis, MN, sits a palatial residence known as the E.J. Carpenter Mansion. The home was originally built in 1887 in the Queen Ann style by C.M. Douglas, owner of a coal delivery business. Several years later, it became home to banker Harvey Brown, who passed away there in late 1901. 

Mrs. Brown passed away several years later and the property was transferred in November 1905 to Eugene (E.J.) Carpenter, and his wife, Merrette. The two had a daughter, Olivia, born around 1898. Mr. Carpenter was a lumberman, and a rather wealthy one at that. Yet, he had an eye for the arts. In 1906, he hired architect, Edwin Hewitt, to do some massive renovations on the house. When all was said and done, the former Queen Anne was now a Georgian Revival. 

The Carpenters were instrumental in the arts in other ways, most notably with the creation of the Minneapolis Institute of Art and their own private collection of pieces, which decorated the home. This art collection plays a vital role in one of the home's most prolific ghost stories. 

According to sources, in 1911 fire broke out in the Carpenter home. Merrette's personal maid, a young lady named Gertrude, was trying to save a valuable painting and somehow ended up drowning in a cistern in the basement. Surprisingly, at the time of writing, I cannot find any documentation that this event took place. I cannot even find confirmation that a lady named Gertrude was employed by the Carpenters. In the 1910 census, the family employed multiple servants, most of whom were Swedish or Norwegian-born (see list below) but no Gertrude. However, Gertrude is believed to be the primary spirit haunting the property. 

Source: Wikipedia

Gertrude has been heard humming in the maids' quarters. She has been heard walking up the stairs at times. An original rocking chair belonging to the family mysteriously rocks, presumably by Gertrude.  On the rare occasion that she is seen, she is described as having long blond hair. 

Gertrude is also said to be a protective spirit, guiding the fate of the home. After Mr. Carpenter passed in 1922, the home went to his wife and daughter, who owned it until 1948. But after that, it went through a string of owners, including the Mack's, who broke the home up into several residences. At one point, the home was slated for demolition but was saved. Those close to the source believe it was Gertrude who saved the home. 

The E.J. Carpenter Mansion was added to National Register of Historic Places and today operates as a B&B called 300 Clifton.  In 2025, manager Norman Kulba admitted to not having SEEN the spirits, but definitely feeling and hearing them, including an incident where he was alone in the house and heard shuffling and the tinkling of glasses in an empty dining area. He also notes that guests to the B&B have seen an entire phantom family in the carriage house. 

Current owners have embraced this spooky history. Gertrude's Cistern (aka Gertrude's Haunted Lounge) is an area in the basement that guests can rent or otherwise utilize to enjoy snacks, watch horror flicks, and hopefully catch a glimpse of Gertrude herself. Those seeking a little more adventure can book a haunted trolley tour of Minneapolis, which leaves and returns from 300 Clifton. And, there are plenty of beautifully and historically decorated rooms to rent and hopefully have a spooky experience of your own. 

Sources and Further Reading:

Eugene J. Carpenter House (Wikipedia Article)

300 Clifton (Website) (FaceBook)

How to Explore Minneapolis' Haunted History This Halloween, by Shay Scanlan. 22 October 2025. The Minnesota Daily

The Most Haunted Places in Minneapolis--and Other Fun Scary Things to Do, by Meet Minneapolis Blog

List of Servants in the Carpenter Home (According to 1910 Census Records):

Hans Nichelson M/40

Emma Nichelson F/36

Kate Sullivan F/54

Carrie Kutteron F/26

Palma Frederickson F/23

Ella Carlson F/21

Milly Thompson F/25

The Minneapolis Journal
01 January 1902

Star Tribune (Minneapolis)
23 March 1922

The Curse of the Bronze Lady

 

Photo from Find-a-Grave
Submitted by Jan Franco

Deep in the heart of Headless Horseman territory and located within the same cemetery where author Washington Irving lies, is an often-overlooked legend. It is the Curse of the Bronze Lady of Sleepy Hollow Cemetery.

When General Samuel R. Thomas, a wealthy coal and railroad baron and Civil War veteran, passed away from heart disease suddenly on January 11, 1903, he left behind three children and a widow. Samuel married Ann Porter in 1872 and was obviously deeply grieved over losing her beloved husband. She initially had him buried in a private mausoleum/crypt but felt that a man of such wealth and stature deserved a more fitting memorial. 

She hired sculptor Andrew O'Connor who created the bronze statue of a woman, seated in mourning. He named the statue appropriately 'Grief.' Unfortunately, Ann was appalled by the work. She believed the face was too melancholy and dismal; she wanted a happy countenance overlooking her husband's final resting place. (Theresa's side note: No one really knows why Ann was so persistent about having a 'happy faced' statue, but I'm kind of wondering if the mourning widow wasn't as unhappy as she wanted people to believe. After all, she had actually been left out of Samuel's newspaper obituary altogether! Or perhaps this was just a way to get out of paying the princely sum of money it would have cost her to commission such a piece.) Either way, Ann was displeased, and demanded O'Connor try again.

O'Connor obliged and created a second head for the statue, one with a more cheerful look. Ann approved of the new design, but it never made its way onto the statue. Instead, O'Connor hurled the head to the ground, where it smashed to pieces at Ann's feet (very Headless Horseman coded). He basically told her that his first design was perfect, and how dare she question his art. 

Photo from Find-a-Grave
Submitted by David M. Habben

And so, the Bronze Lady retained her original face. Ann would pass in 1944. Her body was cremated, and her ashes were interred in the mausoleum alongside her husband's body. Shortly after, the legends of the Bronze Lady curse would arise. 

Gaining popularity throughout the 1960's, 1970's, and 1980's, especially with local teenagers, the legends of the curse are quite varied, depending on who is telling the story. There are those who state that anyone foolish enough to insult the statue or slap its face is instantly cursed. A simple touch of the cheek is enough to warrant a long run of bad luck. But it's when one chooses to sit in the statue's lap that things get REALLY weird. 

Some say that simply sitting in the lap at all is curse-worthy. Others say if you sit on her lap, jump down, and spin around three times, you'll be cursed. In another variant, those same actions are believed to BREAK the curse, should it be acquired through some other means. I especially like the variant where if you sit on the statue's lap and then go look into the keyhole of the mausoleum, you'll see a ghost!

Yeah, sometimes the Bronze Lady doesn't want to 'curse' you.... she just wants to be spooky. She may give you the ability to see ghosts through the keyhole, or she might simply be seen walking around the cemetery on dark, moonless nights. If she isn't seen, she may be heard; the mournful cries of the Bronze lady will get louder the closer you get to the burial site. In yet another variant on the lap-sitting, legend says that if someone sits in her lap, she'll cry tears of blood. And, back to the mausoleum itself, if you're not brave enough to look through the keyhole for ghosts, perhaps you'll be brave enough to knock on the door. You won't see ghosts, necessarily, but you'll be plagued with bad dreams. 

If you ever find yourself in the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, visiting the grave of Washington Irving, or one of the many, many other famous authors and others to be buried within this hallowed ground, don't forget to stop by and pay your respects to the Bronze Lady. At the very least, DON'T INSULT HER!

Sources and Further Reading:

Find-a-Grave Entry for Samuel R. Thomas

The Bronze Lady of Sleepy Hollow: NY Ghosts Blog. 13 May 2025

The Bronze Lady: The Other Spooky Legend of Sleepy Hollow that You've Never Heard Of. The Lineup. Article by Jessica Ferri. Published 24 October 2017

Times Union (Brooklyn, NY)
12 January 1903

Phantoms at the Pfister Hotel

Early Postcard View
Pfister Hotel

Today's blog takes us all the way to Milwaukee, Wisconsin for an overnight stay at one of the most interesting haunted hotels in the midwest. What makes the phantoms of the Pfister Hotel, located just blocks away from Lake Michigan at 424 E. Wisconsin Avenue, stand out is their apparent love of the local Major League Baseball team. Yes, the ghosts at the Pfister seem to do everything in their power to give the Brewers as much of a home team advantage as possible. But, more on that in a minute...

The Pfister Hotel is a stunning, 307 room luxury hotel built in 1893 by Charles Pfister. Charles Pfister, known affectionately as "Charlie" was born in Milwaukee on June 17, 1859. At the age of 11, he was adopted by Guido Pfister, a German immigrant. Guido, who originally operated a shoe shop, teamed up with his cousin Frederick Vogel who operated a tannery, to establish a hugely successful leather business. A successful business meant money---lots and lots of money---and therefore, Guido diversified his business interests. One dream of Guido's was to build an opulent hotel that would become a showplace of wealth and prestige in the Milwaukee area. 

Unfortunately, Guido passed away on February 2, 1889. With work on the hotel just beginning, Charles, who inherited an estimated $1 million and held stock in the Milwaukee Hotel Company, decided to finish the hotel in remembrance of his father. The Hotel Pfister was completed and opened for business in May of 1893, at an estimated cost of $1 million. Charles Koch was hired as the architect, and the hotel featured many state-of-the-art and luxury amenities.

Guido Pfister
Source: Find-a-Grave user, Anthony S.

Every US president since William McKinley stayed at the hotel at one point or another, as well as a host of celebrities, many who have had their own paranormal experiences staying there. Even Elvis Presley was a guest in 1977, a few months before his untimely death. For many years, Charles, who never married and never had children of his own, lived in the hotel to oversee its daily operations. For the first year it was opened, the hotel actually LOST money, sometimes hundreds of dollars a day. But, when the 1894 state Republican Convention was held there, all rooms were filled to capacity, and the hotel became a base of political operations for Milwaukee and Wisconsin as a whole. 

In 1927, Charles suffered a paralytic stroke and sold the hotel to long-time employee, Ray Smith. Charles had acted as a mentor to Smith, so he was the perfect candidate to take over the hotel. But, as times changed and the country went through the turmoil of a Great Depression and a second World War, the hotel suffered a period of decline, lasting through the 1950s and 1960s. Ben Mercer stepped in to purchase the hotel and completed extensive renovations to return the Hotel Pfister to its former splendor. He even added on the 23-guest room tower at this time. 

Charles Pfister
Source: Wisconsin Historical Society Collections

It is said that renovations are often the catalyst for paranormal activity, but it wouldn't be until the 2010's that the hotel would really hit the paranormal mainstream as a haunted location. That's because numerous stories of ghostly encounters began circulating from players of visiting baseball teams! When an out-of-town team came to play the Milwaukee Brewers, they were generally put up at the Pfister. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has a running tab of players' experiences (READ ARTICLE HERE), but just a few examples are:

2018: Carlos Martinez, pitcher for the Cardinals hopped on Instagram in the middle of the night to alert his fans that he had been touched by the Pfister ghost. He played really bad the next day and blamed the performance on the ghost. 

2001: Adrian Belte of the LA Dodgers told Sports Illustrated in an interview that he had heard knocking on his door in the middle of the night, but no one was there. He watched as both the AC and the TV switched themselves on. But it was the knocking coming from his headboard that led him to sleep with his bat, in fear. He said out of a total of three nights stay at the hotel, he probably only slept for about 2 hours. 

Carlos Gomez of the Minnesota Twins heard disembodied voices and experienced his iPod turning itself on. Michael Young of the Rangers heard stomping inside his room. To this day, Mookie Betts of the Dodgers won't stay at the Pfister---he books his own lodging while in town. And it's not just baseball players experiencing things, although they certainly seem to be the number one targets. When actor Joey Lawrence stayed in 2006, he was awakened by his daughter's toys going off on their own. Megan Thee Stallion and her entourage even did a little ghost hunting while staying there for Summerfest one year. 

There's no question that there's some spooky stuff going on here, but who actually haunts the Hotel Pfister? Multiple theories abound. Some believe it's Guido, sticking around to experience the hotel that he dreamed of, but never got to experience in life. Others believe that Charles is the obvious culprit. He built the hotel, lived in the hotel, and used the hotel as the center of his business and social life. Both men may have a vested interested in seeing their local baseball team dominate...or at least, may have a little fun messing with visiting teams the night before the big game. 

Another theory is that the land itself was haunted, way before the hotel was built. In a Milwaukee Daily Sentinel newspaper article from May 5, 1893, a man named Charles "Milwaukee" Sivyer was interviewed. Sivyer is recognized as being the first white male born in Milwaukee and was often sought out to give a history of the area in its early days. He remembered living in a log cabin where the Hotel Pfister now stands and says the area around it was once a burial ground. And, as anyone who has seen the movie Poltergeist knows, the one thing you don't want to do is build atop a burial ground! 

Sources and Further Reading:

Pfister Hotel Website

Charles Pfister Wikipedia

The Legend of the Pfister Hotel Ghost, by Becky Mortensen for WUWM Radio. 31 October 2022

Dodgers' Mookie Betts, Other MLB Players Say They've Been Haunted by Milwaukee's Pfister Hotel, by JR Radcliffe. 13 August 2024 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Forest Dale Cemetery's Not-So-Ghostly Ghost

Entrance to Forest Dale Cemetery
Malden, Mass
Photo by Find-a-Grave user (LMJ)

The Forest Dale or Forestdale Cemetery in Malden, Massachusetts is picturesque tribute to the city's former residents. Laid out in 1884 by Boston surveyor, F.R. Page, the cemetery was formally dedicated on Memorial Day of 1885. For many years, the cemetery was also adjacent to property operated by the county alms house and 'Contagious Hospital'. It was one of the patients at this hospital that gave one passerby quite a fright back in 1915!

It was early in the morning when milk dealer, Isaac Cohen, passed by the cemetery on his route. What he saw, however, shocked him awake. Rushing through the cemetery at break-neck speed was a white figure. After rubbing his eyes and assuring himself that he wasn't just seeing things, Cohen made a hasty decision to follow the fleeing figure. 

As he caught up to the figure, he was probably pretty relieved to see that he hadn't been chasing a ghost at all. Rather, he had caught up with 14 year old Ivan Clark. Clark was a patient at the nearby Contagious Hospital and had escaped out a second-story window around 3 am when a nurse woke him up to give him some medicine. Cohen turned the kid over to authorities, and he was returned to the hospital to continue treatment for his diphtheria. 

Clark has to be commended for his extreme elusive action as he definitely didn't want to be confined any longer to the hospital, which is completely understandable. However, I think if I was Cohen, I'd have much rather had a run-in with a ghost than a living person with a presumed highly contagious and potentially fatal disease! 

The Sunday Telegram (Clarksburg, WV)
4 July 1915

Ghosts of King's Tavern (Natchez, MS)

King's Tavern
Circa 1920
Source: Mississippi State University Libraries

On a recent trip down south, I stayed just outside of Natchez, Mississippi while working on a film project with the Uncovering History Crew. Sitting in my hotel doing some research one night, I decided to be nosy and see what haunted locations were in my area. Natchez, being such an old and historic town on the Mississippi River, had quite a few places with a ghostly reputation, but one in particular kept popping up: King's Tavern.

Located on Jefferson Street in Natchez's On-Top-Of-The-Hill Historic District, The King's Tavern is the oldest building in the state's oldest city. The tavern dates back to 1769 when it was built by the British as a blockhouse for nearby Fort Panmure. The construction of the building is pretty interesting in and of itself. Aside from the sun-dried bricks used, the wood for the three-story tavern came from two main sources. First, wood was recycled from scrapped sailing ships in New Orleans, which were brought in via mules. But, the majority of construction materials came from the flat riverboats that sailed down the Mississippi, loaded with supplies. Since these types of boats couldn't go back UP river, they were dismantled and sold, and their captains and crew returned north via the Natchez Trace.

After the Revolutionary War, the British left the area, and the old blockhouse was sold to Richard King in 1789. King, originally from New York, moved his family down south and opened the place up as a tavern and inn catering to the riverboat men and those taking the stagecoach. Comfortable accommodations could be found on the third floor, while good drink and food could be found in the tavern. During this time, King's Tavern also served as a social center for locals, as King acted as the town's postman, receiving and sending out the residents' mail. The family was held in high regard throughout the community...but that may have just been their outward impression. More on that later...

King's Tavern, December 2023
Photo by Theresa
Natchez Ghost Tour

Riverboat men and other travelers weren't the only ones who stayed at the inn. During this time, the Natchez Trace was the main route back up north, and thus, was the route that many of the riverboat owners, now with their pockets stuffed with the cash from the goods unloaded and boats scrapped, traveled to go back home. Outlaws and highwaymen were known to frequent this route, robbing and often brutally murdering travelers. Some of the worst of these criminals were the Harpe Brothers, who were regulars at the tavern. In one story, it is said that Micaja 'Big' Harpe even killed his own daughter when she wouldn't stop crying! He was hunted down by a posse and killed in Kentucky in 1799. His head was displayed on a pike--a warning to other criminals that the good citizens were through with this type of behavior.

It wasn't long until steamboats replaced the old riverboats, and these vessels COULD travel UP the Mississippi, lessening the need for an inn at this location. In 1817, the property was sold to the Postalwaith family, and from 1823 to 1973, the old inn was converted into a private residence passed down through the family for several generations. That year, it was sold to an investor and became a restaurant. After a brief closure, it reopened as a farm-to-table style restaurant, but is currently closed and up for sale. Perhaps like many local restaurants and similar establishments, King's Tavern couldn't recover from the Covid-19 closures. Or maybe, people weren't too sure about having a meal in the state's most haunted restaurant!

There's been quite a bit of reported activity at King's Tavern over the years. Objects moving, shadow figures, and mysterious sounds have all been documented. On the third floor, people have even heard the sounds of a baby crying, accompanied by a wailing mother. One story to explain this was that Big Harpe (remember him?) was staying at the inn one night and a mother and infant were staying in another room. The baby wouldn't stop crying, which kept the infamous outlaw awake. He calmly barged into the woman's room, grabbed the crying child from her arms, dashed it against the wall, then calmly handed the now silenced (and deceased) child back to its mother. Without an ounce of regret, he went back to his room and finally fell asleep. As seen earlier, there was a story that Harpe had killed his own daughter for crying....could this unnamed child actually have been his own?

King's Tavern in Daylight
Source: Haunted Houses

Arguably, the tale of the crying baby ghost is the most horrific from King's Tavern...but the story of Madeline is a close second. Madeline was a beautiful young girl who worked for the King family. An affair began between Mr. King and Madeline, and eventually Mrs. King found out about it. The perfect family wasn't so perfect after all. One day, Madeline went missing. She wasn't seen alive ever again. But, it is believed that she WAS found.  In the 1930's, work on the brick chimney revealed a hidden wall. Behind the wall were three skeletons; two men and one woman. Along with the remains was found a bejeweled dagger. It's not known who exactly the men were, but the woman is thought to obviously be Madeline. It is theorized that Mrs. King either killed her herself, or had her killed and bricked up her remains and murder weapon behind the wall. The two men who joined her in death may have been the hitmen, killed to cover up the crime, or two additional witnesses/accomplices who knew the truth behind Mrs. King's evil smirk.

Madeline is the main ghost of the King's Tavern, and is blamed for the majority of activity. Although no longer in service, the fireplace where her remains were found always seems much warmer than the rest of the room, as if there's a fire burning. Things around the bar are moved around, and a woman wearing old-fashioned clothes has been spotted throughout the building. But, Madeline's favorite 'calling card' is her footprints. Many employees have been vexed by a line of bare footprints traipsing through the wet floor that they JUST mopped, even though they know for sure no LIVING person could have passed through. 

Unfortunately, this place was closed during my stay, but we did get to see it AND hear about its haunted history from Scott McCoy of the Natchez Ghost Tour! This was a really awesome tour, full of anecdotes and scary stories from the town's most haunted hot spots. I'll be doing a blog post dedicated to that tour soon, so keep an eye out. And as always....stay spooky everyone!

*Haunted Houses has a wonderful summary and plenty of pictures of this location. Please check the link provided for more information!*

Happy Fourth of July from Theresa's Haunted History!

 

Happy Independence Day from Theresa's Haunted History of the Tri-State! Celebrate America's birthday, with a haunted jaunt around all 50 states...twice!...with my Haunted America Page.  And stay safe out there while celebrating; I don't want to have to come investigate YOU some day! 

NJ's Most Haunted Restaurant: The Dublin House

The Dublin House
Red Bank, NJ

When Food Network released its list of the most haunted restaurants in each state, the top honor for New Jersey was given to the Dublin House, located at 30 Monmouth Street in Red Bank. The Dublin House, which serves as both a popular bar AND restaurant, offering up authentic Irish fare, is a gorgeous old building with a lot of history. But what makes it so haunted? Let's take a look back into it's history.

The building started off as a one story private residence, located across the river in Middletown, NJ. It was built prior to 1840, and shortly after it was built, was moved to Red Bank. Around 1868, a local lawyer by the name of Robert Allen, Jr. purchased the home and moved it again, keeping it in Red Bank but moving it from its previously unrecorded located to 60 Broad Street. Allen extensively remodeled the home, adding a second and third story to the home. He lived there with his wife and and children until his death in 1903. 

After his death, his oldest daughter, Roberta Dunn Allen Patterson, inherited the house. Around 1905, she and her husband, George Hance Patterson, moved the home to the location where it sits today and again, undertook extensive remodeling. George passed away in the home on September 7, 1939, and Roberta would follow him on January 20, 1953. Both are buried in Middletown's Fair View Cemetery. (Theresa's Spooky Note: I'm actually writing this blog on January 20, 2022, although it won't be posted until the 27th. While looking for a haunted location in New Jersey to help complete my Haunted America page, I felt drawn to the Dublin House for whatever reason. It wasn't until the writing process began that I realized that I didn't have the date of Mrs. Patterson's death, so I looked it up really quickly. I had to do a double-take when I saw that today was the anniversary. I love this little synchronicities!)

Patterson Tombstone
Source: Find-a-Grave user Kat

Anyway...

It is believed that Mrs. Patterson is the one who haunts the Dublin House today. Both staff and patrons alike have reported quite an array of paranormal activity over the years, which started as earlier as 2004 when the current owners purchased and began renovating the structure once again. Even though the home was renovated numerous times during her lifetime, at first it seemed as if Mrs. Patterson wasn't a fan of not being in charge of the decision making process concerning her house. Workers would find their tools missing or moved, and its reported that several newly constructed walls mysteriously got knocked down by phantom forces. 

The current owners and staff aren't the least bit shy about sharing their experiences, and quite a few of them have had experiences! Co-owner Eugene Devlin once reported that a door slammed shut behind him when he was the only person in the building. He further recounted a story about a bartender who was inside cashing out after his shift. He turned away for a brief second to grab a bottle of water and turned back around to notice the money was blowing all over the bar, despite their being no draft or anything else that could cause it.  Locked doors become unlocked, lights are turned on and off, and liquor bottles are scooted off shelves. 

It is said that Mrs. Patterson can get a tad rowdy when things don't go her way. She loves things tidy, and will often move items in an effort to straighten a cluttered desk or area. In 2012, a patron was in the women's restroom and heard the voice of another woman going off on a tirade about 'damned kids' making a mess. She quickly hightailed it out of there when she realized that she was the only living occupant in the room. 

Mrs. Patterson has also given patrons quite a fright by following them and whispering into their ears. But, for the most part, she is a benevolent ghost. She loves music and the staff will often arrive to work in the morning to find that the radio that had been turned off the night before is back on. They've grown accustomed to her and remember to greet her each morning upon arrival. As long as the restaurant stays tidy and Mrs. Patterson is informed of any renovations, the floating trays and coffee being brewed by itself are kept to a minimum. 

However, Mrs. Patterson may not be the only ghost at the Dublin House. In 2005 the resident bartender and local historian, T.J. McMahon, passed away. In his honor, a big glass case was put up on the first floor, holding some of the documents and memorabilia he had collected. After it crashed to the ground for no apparent reason, it was secured VERY sturdily, making it impossible for staff to even open the glass doors. So, much to the surprise of waitress, Meghan Matoni, she arrived at work one morning to find a picture frame within the case turned around. No one had access to the case, and it was turned so far that it would be hard to blame on natural causes. Does T.J. then haunt the bar, or is Mrs. Patterson trying to let her feelings about him be known? Either way, Mrs. Patterson is definitely the dominating force at the Dublin House. Over the years, ghost hunting teams have investigated the property and agree that she is most active on the third floor. 

The Dublin House is where the Jersey Shore Ghost Tours meet, and has been a popular spot on that tour since its inception in 2009. It has been written about in countless articles, and also featured in Patricia Heyer's book, Ghosts Along the Navesink and Shrewsbury Rivers. I suggest if you ever find yourself in Red Bank, New Jersey, stop in at the Dublin House for some bangers and mash or a pint of Guiness. Just make sure you clean up after yourself and remember to say hello to Mrs. Patterson! 

Links:

The Most Haunted Restaurant in New Jersey: 94.5 PST

Haunted Restaurants in New Jersey from Asbury Park Press

5 Haunted Restaurants on the Jersey Shore: Fun New Jersey Magazine

Red Bank Ghost Tour Exposes Spooky History

Red Bank: Ghostly and Partly True Tales

Haunting of The Windham Restaurant

Windham Restaurant-From Facebook

I think I may have found the most haunted restaurant in the entire world. Seriously, you could write a book (and I hope someone does!) about all the paranormal activity that has been reported at this historic New Hampshire restaurant. 

In September of 2001, Vess Liakas and his aunt, Lula, opened up the Windham Restaurant on Range Road in Windham, NH. The building is a converted family home that was built around 1812 on the site of a farm dating back even further, to about 1729. The house was occupied as a family residence until the 1980's, when it became home to several different restaurants over the years, including The Riviera. While the restaurant experiences some of the usual 'haunting' activity, such as objects (mostly dishes) falling, moving on their own, and even breaking, disembodied voices (including a gruff male voice saying 'Get Out!') and cold spots, Riviera employees have reported one of the strangest things I've heard.  During the holidays, employees claimed that they'd come in to work and and see wrapped Christmas boxes actually floating in mid-air, above the third floor staircase!

The ghosts of Windham seem to enjoy physical interaction as well. Many females have felt someone touch them, especially their hair. Often, female guests and employees will feel the touch, and then one of their earrings or necklace will mysteriously come unclasped and fall off.

There are also several apparitions seen. An old man in a blue suit is believed to be the spirit of a man named Jacob. It is believed that Jacob died when he had a heart attack and fell down the stairs. A young boy named William is believed to have been killed outside the restaurant when he was hit by a horse and carriage. He was brought into what was then a private home, where he died of his injuries. He is sometimes accompanied by an unknown little girl apparition. Another regular is a teenage girl. She is believed to have lived in the home in the early 1980's and passed away from a car accident nearby. 

Other apparitions seen included a group of three men sitting at a dining room table that disappeared into thin air, and various shadowy, human forms seen throughout the building. The majority of activity seems to take place in the basement and on the second floor, where two main dining rooms are located. Fortunately, Liakas believes that even though quite a few people have been startled, or even frightened, by the ghosts, for the most part, they aren't malevolent. Rather, they're mischievous. 

Because of all the activity, over a dozen paranormal investigation teams have investigated the Windham, and apparently, much of their data is similar to each others' and supports the claims. There have also been a TON of articles written about the restaurant. I've linked a few below! 

Food & Spirits; Windham Restaurant Believed to be Haunted, by Doug Ireland. The Eagle-Tribune, 31 October 2016

Dining with Ghosts at the Windham Restaurant, by Lynne Snierson. New Hampshire Magazine, 5 October 2014

Ghostly Goings-On at the Dude Rancher Lodge

From the Dude Rancher Lodge webpage

The Dude Rancher Lodge in Billings, Montana is a unique addition to this month's Haunted America collection---it's unique because it's a relatively 'new' haunted location!

A mix of a traditional dude ranch and modern hotel, the Dude Rancher Lodge was built between 1949 and 1950 by Annabel and Percival Goan. The couple ran the lodge together until 1962 when Percival was killed in a car crash. Annabel then took over operations, and ran the hotel alone for nearly two decades. She lived in an on-site apartment, being cared for by her staff, until her health declined to the point where she needed to be moved into a nursing home. Unfortunately, she passed on February 2, 1983.

And, according to the lodge's website, that was when the paranormal activity started!

It's not uncommon for an employee to be cleaning an empty guest room and the television come on all by itself. Lights are also known to turn themselves on and off without the help of any living person. Both guests and staff have reported knocks on guest room doors. When they go to answer the door, no one is there. Guests have even complained of children running up and down the halls, laughing, even when no children are booked for that evening. 

Montana Paranormal Research Society once caught an EVP of a woman's voice in the basement area, lending to the idea that Annabel is the resident ghost. However, it's possible that her passing was just a catalyst for latent paranormal activity.  When the lodge was built, it used bricks from the old St. Vincent's Hospital, the Russell Refinery, and the Washington School. Is it possible that those bricks, especially those from the old hospital, could have been holding onto energy that was later released after Annabel's passing?

If you'd like to experience the hauntings for yourself, staff recommends booking rooms 223, 224, or 226 (which was the room Annabel's grandson stayed in when he took over hotel operations after her death). But, if you want to visit during the Halloween season, make sure you book early, as these rooms fill up fast! 

Michigan's Haunted Bridge

Photo by Nathan Holth, via A Bewitching Guide to Halloween

I'm really on a haunted bridge kick this month! Today's blog post in my Haunted America series joins other bridges across the United States in Indiana and Minnesota. It is the short, and somewhat confusing tale of a haunted Crawford Road Bridge near Cass City, Michigan. 

Cass City, Michigan isn't really a city. It's actually a rather small (1.79 square miles) village in Elkland Township, Michigan. Found in the 'thumb' area of Michigan's mitten, the village was incorporated in 1883, with its first permanent settlers having been in the area since the 1850's. 

A local legend states that some time during the 1800's before a proper bridge was built, a woman was crossing the creek area alone by horse and buggy. At the time, the 'bridge' had no safety railing and when one of the wheels of the buggy left the roadway, the buggy tipped off the bridge, landing upside down. The lady was pinned underneath it, trapped in less than two feet of water. She frantically flailed her body, but she remained pinned and tragically, she drowned before help could arrive. 

Since that time, on foggy nights, legend seekers and ghost enthusiasts flock to the area to experience the ghost of the poor woman who drowned at Crawford Road Bridge. Faint cries for help have been reported, and some have even seen what appears to be a ghostly hand emerge from the side of the bridge, desperately trying to motion for help. Even more frightening, some people say that a woman wearing 1800's clothing will crawl up and over the side of the bridge, stand up, and walk towards them, soaking wet. 

As captivating as this story is, there really isn't much written about it online. The information above came from an article published on 21 January 2021 by John Robinson on the 99.1 WFMK website. Make sure to check it out for photos of and directions to get to the area! 

A Bewitching Guide to Halloween also features the Crawford Road Bridge story from an August 2020 blog post which states that the bridge in question was built in 1917 over Big Drain Creek, and that the decorative railing is all the remains today. 

Minneapolis' Haunted Washington Avenue Bridge

Source: Twin Cities Pioneer Press

Of all the haunted locations throughout Minneapolis, the one I find most interesting is the Washington Avenue Bridge. Built in 1965 to replace an older bridge from 1884, the Washington Avenue Bridge crosses the Mississippi River, connecting the east and the west sides of the University of Minnesota campus. The bridge is unique in that its a double-decker; the top deck is a pedestrian and cyclist pathway, while the bottom deck is reserved for cars and the METRO Green Line light rail system. 

Unfortunately, over the its years of operation, the Washington Avenue Bridge has become what locals call a suicide hot spot. On January 7, 1972, John Berryman, a poet and university professor, possibly became the first to take his own life on the bridge when he jumped to his death, landing on the west bank of the river. Berryman had suffered from years of depression and alcoholism. A recent religious conversion wasn't enough to stop him from taking the plunge off the bridge that winter morning.

Following Berryman were at least half a dozen more, including a young male university student who allegedly wrapped himself up in his comic book collection before taking the fatal jump. It seems that any place so entwined with emotional and tragic tales of death must naturally gain a haunted reputation, and that's true of the Washington Avenue Bridge.

Pedestrian Level Source: 123RF

Pedestrians traversing the top deck of the bridge have reported hearing phantom footsteps coming up behind them. A feeling of being watched by an unseen presence lurking in the shadows is also often reported. In one alleged encounter, a pedestrian claimed that the figure of a man was seen coming towards him, but the figure vanished before the startled witness' eyes. Cold spots are another ghostly phenomenon linked to the bridge, despite the fact that heaters (while often not working or not working properly) have been installed in the pedestrian walkway areas. 

The Washington Avenue Bridge is a unique pathway connecting the University of Minnesota campus, but it has seen more than it's fair share of tragedy over the nearly 50 years since it was built. If you find yourself walking, biking, or just simply driving across it one day, remember to keep those who lost their lives below you in your thoughts.  And keep your eyes and ears open---you might just meet a ghost! 

Sources:

Sparber, Max. "Haunted Twin Cities: The Washington Avenue Bridge." MinnPost 24 October 2011

Washington Avenue Bridge Wikipedia

John Berryman Wikipedia

Concord's Colonial Inn

If you're looking for an elegant place to stay in the Concord, Massachusetts area, filled with history and GHOSTS, look no further than the Colonial Inn! Originally built in 1716, Concord's Colonial Inn has been a private residence, a boarding house, and even acted as a variety store before becoming Concord's Colonial Inn in 1900. Over the years it has gone through multiple expansions and renovations and has picked up quite the haunted reputation throughout New England. 

One of the first recorded experiences of ghosts at the hotel comes from 1966. Newlyweds M.P. and Judith Fellenz were visiting from New York and were given Room 24 on the second floor. The next morning, Loring Grimes, the innkeeper, noticed that the bride looked pale, but didn't think much of it.  However, two weeks later, a letter arrived from Mrs. Fellenz. In the letter, she states that during her stay on June 14, 1966 she had encountered what she believed was a ghost and wanted to know if anyone else had reported similar experiences.

She claims to have awakened sometime during the night, feeling like there was an unknown presence in the room. She saw what she described as a grayish, shadowy mass standing to the left of the bed, about 4 feet away. The vaguely human-shaped mass floated to the foot of the bed where it stayed a moment before melting away. 

Since that fateful encounter, the Colonial Inn has embraced its haunted history, and proudly shares information about the hotel's ghosts on its website. Room 24 is still considered the most haunted room in the hotel...and for good reason. It seems that during the Revolutionary War, the inn was actually a private residence owned by a local doctor. Room 24 became an operating room for wounded soldiers, and many passed away, in great pain, within its walls. Interestingly, it is noted that the ghosts that roam the Colonial Inn rarely include Revolutionary War era soldiers.  Rather, it is the CARETAKERS of these soldiers and the inn that are more likely to be seen, including a nurse named Rosemary.

Rosemary is seen as an older woman who roams throughout the halls. Disembodied voices have been heard, floating orbs have been seen on camera and with the naked eye, and it's not uncommon to experience flickering lights or lights/televisions that come on by themselves in the middle of the night. Room 27 on the first floor was used as a morgue during the Revolutionary War and is also a favorite haunted hot spot for those wanting to experience something paranormal during their stay.

The Colonial Inn's haunted reputation has attracted both curiosity seekers looking for a spooky night's stay, and also seasoned paranormal investigators. Over the years, several teams have come to the hotel looking to collect evidence of the afterlife, including the team from TAPS.  Ghost Hunters filmed an hour long episode (Season 6 Episode 14) at the hotel in 2010. 

*Information and Photos for this blog came directly from Concord's Colonial Inn's website.*

The Ghostly Clarinetist of Centennial Hall

 

Source: Cherry County Tourism Board

I'm fascinated with the hauntings of Centennial Hall, located in Valentine, Nebraska. Unfortunately, the internet hasn't provided the casual reader with too much information on this spooky location. So, today's blog will just be a little short Fright Bite! Here's what we do know:

Today, Centennial Hall houses a 12 room museum, each with a different theme. You can see military antiques, the Hallock Bell collection of over 1700 bells, and if you listen closely, you might even experience a ghost.

The building dates back to 1897 when it was built as a high school for the area. Tragedy stuck, however in 1947 when a young female student was murdered. It is believed that the girl's friend poisoned the girl's clarinet reed. When she went into the music room to practice, she came in contact with the poison reed, and passed away.

The hauntings began shortly after, while the building was still used as a school. Teachers would see the apparition of a small girl, which came with an accompanying feeling of dread. After the building converted into a museum, all the instruments were removed from the former music room, but visitors and staff alike still have reported hearing eerie clarinet music being played. A rocking chair has also been spotted rocking on its own. 

Centennial Hall seems like a fascinating museum to visit, with lots to see, an on-site thrift shop to browse, and the ghost of a murdered student to provide some background music for your stay. 

More Info:

This Former School is Haunted by the Ghost of a Clarinetist, by Jenny Maclay. 20 October 20202

The Unquiet Grave of Mary Nasson

Close up of Mary Nasson's tombstone

In trying to complete my challenge of finishing out Volume 2 of Haunted America here on the blog, I stumbled across an interesting cemetery legend from York, Maine. It seems that in the historic Old York Burying Ground, there lies a unique tombstone, said to mark the final resting spot of a witch!

When Mary Nasson passed away on August 18th, 1774 at the age of 29, her husband Samuel had her grave marked with tombstone bearing a carving of Mary herself. From my experience, its rare to see portraits carved on tombstones of this time period, especially portraits that do somewhat evoke an image of fictional witch, Winifred Sanderson. But, even more damning in terms of legends and lore, Samuel covered the top of her grave with a granite slab. 

No one knows for sure just when the rumors of Mary being a witch began, but they date back to at least the late 1800's. George Alexander Emery's 1894 book, Ancient City of Georgeana and Modern Town of York (Maine) from it's Earliest Settlement: Also its Beaches and Summer Resorts, mentions Mary's grave in the Old York Burial Ground, noting that the granite slab was added as a means of keeping the witch in her grave. Since then, the legends of Mary Nasson being a witch have only grown and evolved with each telling. 

Protective Granite Slab

Some believe that Mary was actually hanged, or otherwise executed, for being a witch. However, there is no proof of that.  Others believe she was simply a woman who knew a lot about the medicinal properties of herbs...too much, in fact...and that's how she gained a reputation as a witch. Crows that hang out in the cemetery during the summer are often attributed to being her familiars.  And, others just believe that the best explanation for a granite slab (sometimes said to emit its own heat) is that it must be there to keep something sinister at bay. 

More than likely, the granite slab was put over the grave to keep cattle, pigs, and other roaming animals away from the body. In fact, it was a pretty common practice, and there's a good chance that even though Mary's grave is the only one that STILL has its slab in place, at one time, quite a few burials implemented the system. 

But, granite slab or not---witch or not---if you believe local legend, the slab hasn't succeeded in keeping Mary's spirit still. According to Joseph Cito's book, Weird New England, Mary's ghost enjoys interacting with children. Her apparition has been seen giving them wildflowers and pushing them on swing sets. 

Sources:

Atlas Obscura

Find-a-Grave

New England Folklore

New Mexico's Haunted Herzstein Memorial Museum

Herzstein Memorial Museum. Source: Clayton-Union County Chamber of Commerce

In October 2018, the New Mexico Department of Tourism proclaimed the town of Clayton to be the most haunted city in the entire state. Along with Union County Courthouse and the Hotel Eklund, the Herzstein Memorial Museum is listed as a spooky example of why Clayton is New Mexico's Most Haunted City.

The Herzstein Memorial Museum is housed in a beautiful old building, dating back to 1919. It began its life as a Methodist Church, but also served as skating rink, a bowling alley and a library. The Museum gets its name from Albert Herzstein, whose foundation paid for extensive renovations and restoration of the building in 1987. Albert was the son of pioneers; his parents built the first cinema in Clayton, New Mexico in addition to operating a successful mercantile business. 

To honor the Herzstein family, one whole exhibit in the museum is dedicated to all the interesting treasures and artifacts they collected from their travels around the world. Other exhibits deal with the Santa Fe Trail, Native Americans, the Dust Bowl, and other aspects of New Mexico history.

With so many different artifacts and with a building used for so many different purposes, it's difficult to pinpoint exactly who or what is causing the hauntings. However, museum staff feel that the main ghost to call the Herzstein home is 'a sassy older lady.' 

In 2015, a ghost hunting group claims to have caught the apparition of a woman in white on video. Executive Director of the museum, Victoria Baker, has also noted that the sound of disembodied high-heeled footsteps have heard in the kitchen area. 

Subsequent paranormal investigations have produced an EVP of a little boy's voice in a back bedroom area, poltergeist activity, and strange noises throughout the museum, including a rattling noise on or near the staircase. Quite a few videos exist on YouTube from various ghost hunting groups sharing their Hertzstein evidence, but you can view the 2015 apparition photo right from the local Chamber of Commerce's website! 

Clayton, New Mexico is embracing its haunted history and living up to its reputation as New Mexico's most haunted city.  If you're in the area, make sure to include a stop at the Herzstein Memorial Museum. You'll learn about the early history of New Mexico, and you might even catch a glimpse of a sassy older lady from the early 20th century!

MORE HAUNTED AMERICA

The Librarian Who Never Left

Hutchinson Public Library

There was absolutely no doubt that Ida Day (later, Ida Day Holzapfel) was a hard worker. When she was hired by the Hutchinson Public Library in Hutchinson, Kansas, she spent the next ten years dedicated to making some MAJOR changes. Among her accomplishments, she developed a new cataloging/classification system, introduced Sunday hours for the library, and was instrumental in making sure that everyone had access to books, especially World War 1 soldiers and shut-ins. 

But, life goes on and in 1926 Ida left the library to attend the University of Kansas. She also got married and became Ida Day Holzapfel. However, the Hutchinson Public Library would eventually call her back. She started back in 1946 and helped oversee the library move out of the old Carnegie building and into it's current location on Main Street. During this second tenure, she developed quite a reputation as being a very prim and proper librarian, having daily tea with staff at 3pm. She also developed the reputation of being so highly dedicated to the library that she could be difficult to work with at times.  She definitely had her own ideas about how things at HER library should be ran, and would do what she needed to do to make sure things went the way she wanted. 

Again, life would move on and Ida would step away from the Hutchinson Public Library.  In 1953, she took a job as a reference librarian in Tulare County, California. A newspaper notice about her resignation included the following: "She plans to retain ownership of her home, and will eventually return to Hutchinson."

Ida Day Holzapfel

Unfortunately, the new job in Tulare County was never meant to be.  Ida was involved in a car accident on her way to her first day on the job and passed away from her injuries.  That quick line in the newspaper before she left, however, would be eerily prophetic.

It seems that Ida Day Holzapfel made good on her promise to return to Hutchinson, and to the Hutchinson Public Library system to which she dedicated so much of her life. 

Paranormal activity at the Hutchinson Public Library was so common, that the local paper covered the story in 1975, and its been featured many times since in other articles, news stories, and websites on haunted locations.  Even the official website for the Hutchinson Public Library has a page dedicated to Ida and the hauntings!

Ida prefers to haunt the area around the basement. Staff and visitors have reported hearing disembodied footsteps in that area, as well as items that will occasionally go missing or seemingly move to different positions when no one is looking. In once incident, librarians Angeline Welch and Rose Hale were working in the basement. Hale had to run upstairs a moment, but when she returned, she heard Welch speaking to someone, and then heard footsteps walking away. When asked who she was talking to, Welch claimed that she hadn't been talking to anyone---no one else was even down in the basement.

The next day, Hale had an even weirder experience when she saw a lady standing by the stairs, who then vanished into thin air. She didn't recognize the woman, but when she described her to a colleague, it was apparent that Hale had seen Ida Day Holzapfel. 

*Theresa's Note: When I was researching the information for this blog, I perused the Hutchinson Public Library's website and noticed that they were CLOSED ON SUNDAYS. I wonder what Mrs. Holzapfel would have to say about that!*

HAUNTED AMERICA

Avon, Indiana's Haunted Bridge

Avon Haunted Bridge--Source: Visit Hendricks County

Avon, Indiana is a small town located in Hendricks County, almost in the center of the state. And, like most small, mid-western towns, Avon is home to a local urban legend: The Legend of Avon Bridge. 

In typical urban legend fashion, stories as to why exactly the bridge is haunted not only differ depending on who is telling the tale, but also can't really be proven or disproved by historical documentation. Further, the stories as to what the 'haunting' entails also seem to differ from telling to telling, making the location a quintessential urban legend hot spot!  Here's what we do know:

The Avon Bridge can be found in Washington Township Park, its distinct arches spanning across County Road 625 East. Built in 1906, the bridge was designed by engineer, W.M. Dunne for the Big Four Railroad.  Today, it is still owned and operated as an active train bridge by CSX.

It's also one of the most popular places to go at Halloween for a little spooky fun!

Stories tell that one of the workers who built the bridge, sometimes noted as an Irish worker, and sometimes an African-American one, drunkenly slipped and fell into the wet cement used in the construction of the massive arches. His body was never recovered, and his ghastly moans for help can still be heard, over 100 years later, each time a train crosses.

Another story involves a young mother who was taking a shortcut home across the train bridge while carrying her baby. While on the bridge, a train quickly approached, and the young mother was caught off-guard as to what to do. She went to set the infant down, but it fell to the ground below the tracks, causing the mother to subsequently fall after it.  Both were killed, but again, when the train rumbles by overhead, people below the bridge can hear either a woman's mournful scream, a baby's wail, or both. 

It's customary to honk your car's horn as you drive under the bridge, presumably to drown out the eerie sounds that you might hear, especially if you're passing under the bridge on Halloween.  But, a word to legend trippers---by some accounts, the area is closed after dark, so if you want to experience the spooky sounds of the Avon Bridge, you'll have to go before dusk. Feel free to blow your horn as you drive underneath, but take a second to stop and listen; if there's a train overhead, ghost or not, you're sure to hear some strange sounds! 

Sources and Further Reading:

Visit Hendricks County: The Legend of the Avon Haunted Bridge, by Ericka Bethel. 22 October 2020

WishTV: Avon's Haunted Bridge: The Truth Behind the Tales, by Nina Criscuolo 27 October 2017

Welcome to a Spooky 2021!

Happy New Year from Theresa's Haunted History of the Tri-State!

It's January, which means it's time for me to once again attempt the Ultimate Blog Challenge---that means that once again I'll be attempting to write a brand new blog EVERY DAY throughout the month. I haven't been doing too well with these UBC's, but I think January 2021 will be different.  This year, not only do I feel super motivated, but, I've 'cheated' just a little bit.  I've already started! I was able to use some of my down time over Christmas break to schedule-post quite a few blogs for January, and I think you'll really enjoy some of the strange and spooky topics coming up. (Unfortunately, I found out AFTER this was written that the UBC has changed it plans. Instead of a January challenge, they're doing a February challenge---which means you'll get TWO months crammed with new content here at Theresa's Haunted History!)

In addition to the Ultimate Blog Challenge, I've tacked on an added challenge for myself. Round 2 of my Haunted America page has been incomplete for quite a few years now. With only 12 states left to cover until completion, I thought the UBC would be a great motivator to finish that up. Over the course of the month, I'll be sharing the legend of a haunted bridge in Indiana, a library in Kansas where the head librarian refuses to leave, and a ghostly museum in New Mexico.

There will also be Friday Funnies, book reviews, vintage newspaper articles, personal ghost experiences, cryptids, haunted places in West Virginia, and a healthy dose of all things strange and fascinating. I hope you'll join me on this wild and weird paranormal ride, this month and throughout the year. Instead of my usual listing of resolutions and goals for the whole year, I think I'll be taking things one month at a time. Check back often to see if I can actually complete January's 31 Days of Blogs/12 Haunted America series, and whether or not I continue another challenge for myself in February!  

Let me know what spooky things 2021 has in store for you!  Are you planning any awesome investigations, or going on any ghost tours? Do you have a new book, YouTube channel or Podcast you'd like to plug? Lemme know in the comments below, or join me over at Theresa's Haunted History Facebook and share your paranormal plans for the year!  Stay spooky, everyone. 

Happy Independence Day 2020

Happy Independence Day from Theresa's Haunted History of the Tri-State!  If you're staying in this year, celebrate with a virtual tour of the United States...the HAUNTED United States...with my Haunted America page, featuring ghost stories from all around the country. You can also join me on Facebook and Twitter for more patriotic-themed paranormal goodies all day long.

Have a safe and happy Fourth of July weekend, everyone.