The Brown Hotel's Resident Ghost

Brown Hotel Entrance
August 2024

Last summer, a small faction of SRI members embarked on a trip to Louisville, Kentucky for an investigation of the infamous Waverly Hills Sanitorium. We decided to make the most out of our time and cram in as much spooky fun as we could, including taking a ghost tour of downtown with Mr. Robert Parker of Louisville Ghost Walks. 

Our tour met in front of the opulent old Brown Hotel. After brief introductions and an overview of Louisville in general, our spooky stories kicked off with the hotel itself. The Brown Hotel opened for business on October 25, 1923. It's owner, businessman John Graham Brown, had sunk over $4 million into making the 16 story hotel a showplace of elegance and refinement. But, with many businesses, the good times would come and go over the years. 

After several years of prosperity, the Great Depression (along with Prohibition) hit the hotel hard, and it stayed afloat thanks to staff members willing to forego their wages. The 1940's and 1950's were a bit easier, as the hotel hosted quite a few servicemen during the war, and became THE place for traveling celebrities and dignitaries to stay during the Kentucky Derby. However, the city as a whole began to decline in the 1960's and 1970's. 

Brown Hotel
August 2024

Throughout this whole time, John Graham Brown continued to live on the 15th floor penthouse suite of his beloved hotel. He frequented the on-site restaurant, where the famous Hot Brown sandwich was invented in 1926, and enjoyed gazing down on the 2-story lobby from the mezzanine, sometimes with binoculars. Always by his side was his little dog, Woozem, who he saved from a traveling circus that wished to get rid of him. 

Brown passed away on March 20, 1969, and the hotel closed two years later. For several years, it was owned by the public school board, and housed offices. That wouldn't be the end of the Brown Hotel forever, though. In the early 1980's, a downtown restoration project was underway, and the old hotel was renovated and reopened as a Hilton Hotel. In 1993, the hotel was sold again and further renovations restored it to (almost) its former glory, and since at least 2006 has once again been known as the Brown Hotel. 

As those of us in the paranormal community are all too familiar, renovations tend to stir up paranormal activity, and it seems as if Mr. Brown was definitely stirred up at the idea of his beloved hotel coming back to life. Of all the ghost sightings and reports of paranormal activity from this location, all seem to be caused directly by Mr. Brown (sometimes accompanied by Woozem) himself. It started with his old penthouse suite...

"Mr. Ghost Walker" Robert Parker

Employees noticed that the elevators would mysteriously tend to open up on the unoccupied 15th floor where Mr. Brown lived for so many years. Further, even though the room was not open to the public, footsteps would be observed tracking through the dust, even appearing when it was confirmed no one had been in the area but the witness! In addition, people on the floor below would complain that someone above them was either moving furniture or walking noisily throughout the empty suite.

Phantom cigar smoke is often smelled, especially in the days leading up to the Kentucky Derby. But, most shockingly, Mr. Brown has been seen by multiple witnesses at multiple times throughout the hotel and grounds. He tends to favor the mezzanine, where he can still keep an eye out on his hotel, but he's also been seen in and around the hotel restaurant where he'd take his daily meals, as well as other locations. Mr. Brown has a rather distinct appearance, so to those seeing him, there's no mistaking him, especially when the ghost of his little dog accompanies him. 

Mr. Brown and Woozem

So, the next time you're in downtown Louisville, stop in at the haunted and historic Brown Hotel. Have a Hot Brown sandwich, lounge for a bit in the massive lobby, and most importantly, keep your eyes open for a short, stout man accompanied by a little dog. You might just be one of the lucky visitors to meet the hotel's owner for yourself!

Sources and Further Reading:

Haunted Louisville and Haunted Louisville 2 by Robert Parker

Wikipedia: Brown Hotel

Louisville Ghost Walks, Hosted by Robert Parker

*The Brown Hotel isn't the only haunted hotel in downtown Louisville! Check out Theresa's blog on the Seelbach Hotel, haunted by a beautiful lady in blue.*

The Pope Lick Monster

 WARNING! IT IS BOTH ILLEGAL AND VERY DANGEROUS TO TRESPASS ONTO RAILROAD TRACKS. THE POPE LICK TRESTLE IS PRIVATE PROPERTY. IT IS AN ACTIVE RAILROAD BRIDGE. THERE ARE NO PLATFORMS, WALKWAYS, OR EVEN A SECOND RAIL LINE. YOU CANNOT OUTRUN A TRAIN.

Pope Lick Trestle August 2024
Photo by Theresa

On a recent trip to Louisville to investigate Waverly Hills Sanatorium, I took a short side quest on the way home to visit another iconic area legend: The Pope Lick Monster. An unholy mix of human, goat, and perhaps even sheep, the Pope Lick Monster (also known as the Kentucky Goat Man) has been terrorizing local citizens since at least the 1950's. And although many are quick to point out that very few (if any) people actually SEE the Goat Man, the Pope Lick Trestle has a staggering death toll. 

The Pope Lick trestle was completed in 1888 (although I did find an article stating that the current trestle, replacing the older incarnation, was built in 1929) and today is still an active and busy line, owned by Norfolk Southern. From its completion up through the first half of the 20th century, the history of the trestle was largely unremarkable. In 1909, however, there was a minor derailment on the trestle, which luckily resulted in no deaths or major injuries, but did destroy a boxcar's worth of Christmas toys, valued at thousands of dollars. 

Nevertheless, somewhere along the line, a legend emerged. One story I heard was that the first sighting of the Goat Man was by a young man in the 1950's named Robert Hill. Hill and a friend were crossing the trestle when they saw what they initially thought was a man coming toward them. That 'man' would soon come close enough for Hill to see that he had the lower body of a goat, covered in dark hair. His upper half was that of a man, but the skin was scaly, like a reptile. Two large horns sat atop his head. Needless to say, they got the heck out of there in a hurry, and didn't share the tale for many years. But, by the 1960's, most of the local kids had heard of some version of a Goat Man legend that haunted the train trestle. 

Pope Lick Trestle
August 2024

In some versions of the story, the Goat Man was a deformed circus performer who had escaped confinement when the circus train carrying him crashed near or on the Pope Lick trestle. In another version, the Goat Man is a local farmer who made a deal with the Devil, and who was known to sacrifice goats in honor of his Dark Lord. In both versions, Goat Man is vengeful and bloodthirsty. 

According to legends, he has been known to jump down from the trestle onto or in front of cars, wielding a bloody axe. In more popular versions of the tale, Goat Man uses the train trestle itself to take the lives of his victims. He will use his powers of hypnotism and/or his ability to mimic the voices of a victim's friends, or even a baby/animal in distress, to lure victims onto the tracks. Once on the tracks, he can again use his hypnotism to cause the person to want to jump to their death below, or even just show himself, scaring the person into a similar fate. In reality, what has happened time and time again, is that the person finds himself on the narrow trestle as a train approaches. With nowhere to go, and no way to outrun the train, the person's only hope is to hang below the trestle until the train passes. Unfortunately, only a few people have survived that scenario. Many others have been hit by a train or fallen up to 90 feet trying to avoid getting hit. 

Some believe that successfully crossing the railroad trestle is the only way to summon the Pope Lick Monster, which is why few have actually seen the creature. Interestingly, this act of 'bravery' dates back before the legends of Goat Man. According to one elderly citizen in the area, as far back as the 1930's, it was seen as a rite of passage (especially with young men) to cross the long, narrow, towering train bridge. Those brave enough to face this daunting task, even without the added risk/reward of the Goat Man, were given much-craved respect from their peers, and in their minds, ascended into adulthood. 

In an ironic twist, however, it is believed that the legend of the Goat Man sprang up as a way to put a stop to this dangerous practice. Parents would warn their children to stay away from the Pope Lick Trestle or the Goat Man would get them. As an added layer to the legend, there is reason to believe that the Goat Man mythos does stem from an actual 'goat man.' Between the decades of the 1930's through the 1980's, a traveling preacher by the name of Charles 'Chez' McCartney traveled throughout the continental United States spreading his message. He was pulled in a cart by a team of goats, and often wore goatskin clothing. Further, he was known as the 'Goat Man.'

Charles McCartney

McCartney would camp in open fields and on farm land, and it is believed that during a stop near Louisville, he stayed in the area of the Pope Lick trestle. The smell was...not great...and it is reported that wherever McCartney wandered, he was met with an odd combination of fear and interest from local citizens. Of further interest to the Goat Man legend is the fact that McCartney did have a badly mangled arm from an industrial accident. As a young man, he did marry a Spanish knife-thrower and became a living target in her act, traveling with her in her performance group. He also tried his hand at farming. So, its a stretch, but not a big one, that McCartney became a scapegoat (see what I did there?) and basis for the Pope Lick Monster. He was something like a circus performer, a farmer, and had a thing for goats. He was met with suspicion and caution wherever he roamed, and I'm sure plenty of mamas in the area told their curious kiddos to stay away from where he was camping. 

Interest in the Goat Man legend, while always present among the area youth, was significantly revived in 1988 when a short film by Ron Schildknecht called The Legend of the Pope Lick Monster premiered in December. Shot largely on-site, production on the 16 minute film would take two years. During that span, the Pope Lick Trestle would gain two additional victims. The railroad was not happy with the release of the film and made a statement encouraging people to stay off the bridge, which was not only private property, but extremely dangerous. However, it is safe to say that film or no film, the lure of the Pope Lick Monster legend would have prevailed. 

As of this writing, the latest victim of the Pope Lick Trestle was a 15 year old girl in 2019. But, many would come before her, including an incident in 2016 where a young woman was killed when specifically seeking out the Goat Man. Over the years, a battle would ensue with Norfolk Southern, who despite the fences, plenty of warning signs, and even prosecutions, continually comes under pressure for not doing enough to keep curiosity seekers safe. Many believe it was a bad idea to remove the former platform and walkways that once were a part of the trestle, as they would offer protection to anyone caught on the tracks. However, the counter-argument is that such a feature would make trespassing on the tracks, dangerous in any situation, seem more attractive to those wanting to experience the legend. 

If you choose to pay a visit to the Pope Lick Trestle in search of the Goat Man, please stay off the tracks. Luckily, there is a wonderful little park nearby, with a biking/walking path that leads directly under the trestle with some nice photo spots. There is also a road that runs beside the path, so you can drive your car under and see if the legends of the monster jumping down in front of you with an axe are true. It's a beautiful area and one that should be seen...just safely, from below. Experience the legend, but don't become a part of it. 

*This is most likely not a complete list of deaths/injuries/accidents associated with Pope Lick Trestle, but here are a few of the victims associated with this legend. If visiting the area, please remain respectful, and keep these people in mind.*

Savannah Bright: 15 year old Savannah Bright was killed on May 26, 2019 when she and a friend were on the trestle and were hit by a train. The friend, later identified as Kaylee Keeling (16), survived. Today, a memorial for Savannah exists on the walking trail below the trestle. 

Roquel Bain: Roquel Bain (26) was visiting Louisville with her boyfriend, David Knee (41) from Dayton, OH. The two had tickets for a tour of Waverly Hills on April  23, 2016. To pass some time before the tour, they visited the Pope Lick Train Trestle in search of the Pope Lick Monster. As a train approached, David was able to drop down and hang underneath. Roquel was hit and fell 80 feet to the ground, dying instantly. David was later charged with trespassing. 

Nicholas Jewell: Jewell, a 19 year old University of Louisville student, died on November 6, 2000 after falling off the train trestle around 12:30 am. When the train approached, he had tried to support himself by hanging from the supports underneath, but the vibrations caused him to lose his grip. He was with four friends, all of who were uninjured.

October 22, 1994: Fourteen year old Michael Wells miraculously survived, along with his cousin Nathan Wells, also 14, when they were caught by an approaching train. The two were walking home with Michael's 22 year old brother in law, Stephen Britton. The younger boys begged Britton to take them to the trestle, which he reluctantly agreed to. They were both out on the trestle when the train approached. Nathan was able to run to safety, but Michael tripped. Luckily, he was able to drop down and hang below, and the train was able to stop, but not before several cars had already passed over him. All three were arrested for trespassing.

James Ratterman: Ratterman (34) was riding his ATV across the trestle around 11pm on April 18, 1994, when it overturned, trapping him. He was struck and killed by a train about 30 feet out onto the bridge.

December 1993: David Paul Smith (21), Christina Butts (19), Robert Travis Grey (20), and an unnamed juvenile were caught on the tracks when a train approached. All of them miraculously survived by hanging below the tracks. They were rescued by the local firefighters, whose ladder almost wasn't long enough to safely reach them. The train conductor, Kevin Hines, later sued the group for mental distress caused by the incident. 

Kevin Grady: Grady was a 19 year old Miami University student from Oxford, OH. On October 29, 1992 he fell 100 feet off the train trestle at Pope Lick, but miraculously survived with only relatively minor injuries. The accident happened around 1:45am, when a train caught Grady on the tracks. He initially managed to hang on the supports underneath, but lost his grip. 

Charles Jack Bahm II: The 17 year old student was killed on February 18, 1988 when he and two friends, Kevin Schnickel and Christopher Keisker, got bored while driving around and decided to attempt the train trestle. Keisker was unhurt, and Schnickel received a laceration to the chin when he fell, but Bahm unfortunately passed away after being struck by a train. 

David Wayne Bryant: Bryant was walking on the Pope Lick trestle on April 25, 1986 when an on-coming train forced him to jump from the bridge. He fell 110 feet, initially surviving his fall. Unfortunately, he would pass away from his injuries on May 15, 1986. His mother would file a lawsuit against the railroad. 

John Kenneth List: List was killed on June 1, 1985. He and a friend, Randall Graves, were on the trestle shooting crows. Graves was able to hang below the tracks, but List was hit by the train less than 30 feet from the end of the trestle. 

Samuel Fleischman: Fleischman was walking home from a Redbirds game with four other friends, including Scott Cole, on the night of May 13, 1984. 20 year old Fleischman was home from college for the summer, when the group got bored and decided to cross the old trestle. Fleischman fell 70 feet, but luckily, he survived his injuries. 

 

Theresa Travels: To Louisville, Kentucky!

Waverly Hills
August 10, 2024

This past weekend, I traveled from Charleston, WV to Louisville, KY for a bucket-list level visit to Waverly Hills Sanatorium. I was joined by SRI founder/president, Brian Clary, and my spooky buddy Angie for an intense, six hour investigation of the old tuberculosis hospital. That was the main focus for our trip, and it certainly was the highlight.  Waverly Hills is one of those top haunted locations in the world, but even though its less than four hours away, I had never had the opportunity to tour it. But, even though we came for Waverly, we couldn't come to town without cramming in as much spooky fun as we could. We were only there for a short amount of time, but we filled nearly every minute with what Louisville's paranormal scene had to offer. Join me on my trip to haunted, historic Louisville!

Angie and I drove down together from Charleston, while Brian left from Huntington. We left around 10am and had a nice, easy drive down I-64, stopping briefly for lunch at CookOut. The trip was uneventful, but we spent the 3.5 hours chatting about the ghosts of Waverly Hills...and laughing more than necessary at topics that bear no repeating here! It was fun, and we were in great spirits as we pulled into town and met Brian in Old Louisville. Since we still had about an hour before we could check into our AirBnB, we decided to officially start our trip with a little side trip.

The Witches' Tree, located on the corner of S. 6th St. and Park Avenue, is like something out of a fairy tale. The large, knotted, gnarled tree dominates the landscape, covered in offerings of beads, coins, crafts, toys, and much more. It stands as a stark reminder not to mess with the local witches! As the tale goes, during the late 19th century, a coven of witches gathered at this particular tree, which was located just outside of town. Despite being an integral part of the witches' ceremonies, the town decided the large maple would make an excellent Maypole for their annual celebration. Amid warnings from the witches, the town went ahead and cut the tree down, an act that would result in a curse. 

The curse would finally take hold 11 months later on March 27, 1890. Around 8:30pm, a massive tornado ripped through the area. It lasted only five minutes, but resulted in the death of 100 people, dozens more injured, and extensive property damage. Amid the rubble, a new tree began growing from the stump of the Witches' Tree. It grew into the twisted, writhing, knotted giant that is there today. Of course, we had to get plenty of pictures, and leave a few offerings of our own. 

Next, it was time to head to our AirBnB! Brian had suggested a Halloween/Horror themed house about 15 minutes from Waverly Hills known as The Haunted Hideaway at The Black House. Decked out in spooky decor, including a 12 foot skeleton in the backyard, the house was the perfect place to crash for a few hours before and after our investigation. It was clean and comfortable, with a twin bed, a Queen, a futon, and a GIANT couch. It's also pet-friendly if you need to take your furbabies with you. I highly recommend it to anyone staying in the area, even though we didn't really get to spend that much time there, as we were so busy. My only complaint would be that there is only ONE BATHROOM. That made things a little difficult with three people trying to rush to shower and get ready before check-out. 

The Haunted Hideaway AirBnB

Anyway, we got in a quick power nap before we had to leave to start the first part of our evening. Now, I had my heart set on finding a haunted restaurant for dinner, but Brian, who visits Louisville fairly regularly, suggested an awesome little Irish pub, called the Irish Rover. I am so glad we took his suggestion, because it was fantastic. It was a cozy little diner located in a historic building with a menu filled with authentic Irish cuisine and even quite a few vegetarian options. The prices were extremely fair, the service was great, and the food was served really quickly.  I REALLY wanted to be adventurous and try the Cottage Pie, but a heavy bread bowl with mashed potatoes and smothered with cheese probably would have killed me after walking around so much later on. Instead, I had a safe grilled chicken sandwich and fries, which was delicious. We shared some Cordon Bleu Fritters, which were to die for---a mix of cheese, chicken and ham in a deep-fried fritter.

Dinner was followed by a trip to downtown Louisville where we met up in front of the Brown Hotel with Robert 'Ghost Walker' Parker of Louisville Ghost Walks! I was a little nervous about taking a walking tour right before an all-nighter at the gigantic Waverly Hills...but it wasn't bad at all. Our tour lasted a little under two hours, and it was just our little group, so it was like a private tour. The walk was completely flat, nice and easy, and there were plenty of long stops, several with places to comfortably sit while we listened to the haunted history of Louisville. Robert is an awesome story teller, and was extremely knowledgeable about the city and its spooky past. We got some great information about the Brown Hotel, the Brennan House, the Palace Theater, and many other spots. Robert even gave us some information about Waverly Hills. 

Tickets for Louisville Ghost Walks run $25 and tours are held on both Friday and Saturday evenings starting in August. There are several different tour companies throughout Louisville, but I definitely recommend a tour with Robert if you're in the downtown area. Parking is available close by, but a word of caution---Louisville had a much larger and much more visible population of unhoused individuals than I realized. For the most part, we were in well-populated areas and still had plenty of sunlight throughout the tour. Only once did an individual approach our group, but quickly left when asked. I felt completely safe the entire time. Still, there were a couple of places where you just needed to uh, watch your step. 

With our Louisville Ghost Walk 
tour guide, Robert

Being downtown, we stopped in for a quick drink/snack break at Sicilian's Pizza before heading back to the AirBnB to rest up for the big event!

We only had about an hour and a half before we had to leave for Waverly, so I got in another quick power nap and changed into my SRI t-shirt. We loaded up all the equipment that we had left charging at the house, and made the 15 minute drive to Waverly Hills. 

There are two addresses listed for Waverly Hills, but only one will take you to the gate you need to go to. The problem was, my GPS kept trying to re-reroute us to the wrong gate, no matter what we did. So, it was a little harrowing as we finally just had to trust that we could find the correct road without electronic help, which we successfully did. Eventually. Security is everything that people tell you it is. We had to go through two different checkpoints before arriving at the parking area. We pulled up about 20 minutes before our midnight start time, and there were already about a dozen people outside, milling around, taking pictures, and gasping about how spooky and massive the structure was. 

We were quickly allowed inside to the gift shop where we had to officially sign in and were allowed to make any purchases while we waited. I was a little disappointed in the selection; I had my heart set on some new books, but they didn't have any. T-shirt and hoodie designs/sizes were extremely limited, but the prices weren't too bad. I bought a t-shirt. Drinks, snacks, batteries, OTC meds, and small equipment pieces were also available. We had a few minutes to use the restroom while we waited for the 8pm paranormal tour finished up, and that's when Angie had HER first paranormal experience of the evening! She actually got locked into a stall and ended up having to crawl under the door to get out!

Base Camp

Shortly after, we were taken upstairs to the second floor base camp area. There were about 50 guests that night, and we were divided into two groups for a quick tour and safety briefing. The tour lasted around a half hour and took us to all five floors of the old hospital. It was suggested to leave flashlights turned off and let our eyes adjust to the dark. Unfortunately, that meant that we really didn't get a good look at much of the hospital. Our guide would be telling us stories and locations, and we just couldn't see anything. People were also stumbling around and bumping into things, which didn't seem like that good of an idea. Overall, my one disappointment for the evening was that you couldn't really see a lot. There were no daytime history tours of the hospital being held that day, and the 8pm-12am paranormal tour was completely sold out. With security so strict, we couldn't get anywhere near the building within daylight hours to really take some decent pictures or just appreciate the building in the light.

I'll be sharing more about our investigation in an upcoming blog post, but we had a blast. After the tour, we were allowed to free-roam pretty much the entire the building, including the roof. Although there were a lot of people walking around without lights and sound traveled pretty easily, we actually had a few experiences that we couldn't necessarily blame on the uncontrolled environment. We absolutely sat and played peek-a-boo with multiple humanoid shadows on the fifth floor after we knew for a fact that we were alone up there. Later, we heard and felt some crazy stuff in the Death Tunnel, including what sounded like the clatter of a plastic bowl or cup being thrown at us. For it to have been another person, they would have had to silently and swiftly got the hell out of there without responding to us asking who was there. 

Death Tunnel

The investigation lasted until 6am, but those wanting to bow out early had the option at 2am or 4am. We stuck it out to the last minute. I was really proud of myself for doing as well as I did. I had to take some pain medication, which helped a lot with my back issues, but caused me to have some brief bouts of heavy nausea. Still, I powered through with the help and understanding of Brian and Angie. We got to see and investigate every area of the hospital, which after awhile, I found was a little less intimidating in regards to its size. I thought for sure I'd get lost, but once you knew the basic layout, it was easy to navigate. The second, third, and fourth floors are nearly identical, and the staircases/EXIT signs are the one thing that ARE well-lit. 

We were sad to leave, but worn out and ready to head back to the house to get as much sleep as we could. We all walked away with a desire to return to Waverly Hills, potentially for a private investigation in the future. But first, sleep. I crawled into my bed as soon as we got in and must have fallen asleep almost immediately. I woke up just in time to get a quick shower before having to lock up and say goodbye to spooky AirBnB. Brian left a little early, but Angie and I rolled out right before 11, still tired but ready for one last adventure.

You can't go to Louisville without making a stop at the nearby Pope Lick Train Trestle for a visit with the Pope Lick Monster! The Pope Lick Monster is a man-goat-sheep monstrosity that haunts a train trestle outside Louisville. Depending on who's telling the legend, he was a circus freak that escaped, or a farmer that sold his soul. Sometimes he's said to jump down at cars driving under the bridge, sometimes he's seen with an axe, and sometimes it is said he is summoned by crossing the trestle. Unfortunately, several people have been killed while hunting for the Pope Lick Monster, as the train trestle is still an active rail line. There are plenty of fences and No Trespassing signs in the area, but that still isn't a huge deterrent for some. However, there is a walking/bike path that runs directly under the trestle, so it's easy to visit the area SAFELY. We stopped and got a few pictures, but didn't have high hopes of running into the monster at noon on a sunny, summer afternoon with so many people out. 

I'm planning on dedicating a blog post to the Pope Lick Monster legend, but I will say that I'm really glad we took the few extra minutes to stop. I don't know when I'll be back in Louisville, and I would have regretted not stopping by to pay my respects. It was a nice little end to a fun-filled paranormal adventure in Louisville, Kentucky.  Louisville is a town full of history and hauntings, and there was no shortage of spooky adventures to be had. There were so many more places we could have visited, but I'm happy. It was a great weekend with great friends, and I think we really made the most out of the short amount of time we had there. I can't wait to go back!

Pope Lick Trestle

For more pictures of our adventures, please see Theresa's Haunted History of the Tri-State on Facebook! 

The Ghostly Nun of St. Frances of Rome

Source

Being that this blog is called Theresa's Haunted History of the TRI-STATE, it has always been my intention to fully integrate Ohio and Kentucky into my work...but I just can't help always coming back to my home state of West Virginia! Here in the Mountain State, we're wild, we're weird, we're just plain spooky! However, there are plenty of wonderful stories out there from other locations as well, and today, I'm finally gonna dive into one of those places I came across while reading an article on hauntings in Louisville.  There's actually a West Virginia connection...but the actual haunted location IS in Kentucky!

That place is the St. Frances of Rome Catholic Church, located at 2119 Payne Street in Louisville, KY. More specifically, the haunting itself seems to take place in the part of the church used as a school, as the ghostly apparition seen is none other than a former teacher. 

When Steve Wiser was doing some research for an upcoming book on the history of the church, he interviewed quite a few parishioners of St. Frances, many of them having a similar story to tell. It seems as if the apparition of a ghostly nun, pushing a broom around the inside of the school area had been frequently seen. It was believed that she could possible be none other than St. Frances herself. 

Steve, though, had another theory. He believed that the ghost was actually that of former nun/school teacher, Sister Frances Eccles. 

Unfortunately, I couldn't find out much about Sister Frances, but I believe she was the daughter of George and Christina Eccles. She had a sister, Mary, and three brothers: George, Gerald, and John. According to the Find-a-Grave listing for her burial, she was born on January 20, 1935 in England. At some point, she joined the Sisters of Charity in Nazareth, KY.

Sadly, her life ended too soon when she boarded a Piedmont Airlines flight on August 10, 1968. The Fairchild-Hiller 227 had left Louisville that morning, en route to Roanoke, Virginia. It had already stopped in Cincinnati, with another scheduled stop in Charleston, WV at the Kanawha Airport (now Yeager). But, at 8:56am, the plane, hindered by fog, came up short of the mountainous runway, clipped some trees, and burst into flames. 35 of the 37 people on board perished, including Sister Frances, or Sister Francesca as she was listed on the passenger manifest.  She was brought home and buried in the Sisters of Charity Nazareth Cemetery.

After that, the mysterious ghostly image of the sweeping nun was reported at the school and throughout the church. It seems as if even if death, the Sister was not ready to leave her work here on Earth. According to the historical marker database, the school closed in 1975. Hopefully with the students now gone, she has since found peace and has moved on to her greatest reward. 

Sources and Further Reading:

8 Louisville-Area Ghost Stories and Urban Legends That Keep Us Up At Night, by Carolyn Brown

My WV Home: Info and Photos on the Piedmont Crash

George Eccles Obituary

Sister Frances/Francesca Find-a-Grave

1952 Louisville Poltergeist

1952 started out as a heck of a spooky year for the Thackers, a rural family living near Fern Creek, Kentucky (about 16 miles from Louisville).  Henry, his wife, a 16 year old boarder named Walter Brown, and three sisters (Joyce, 11; Frances, 8; and Betty, 7) all made headlines when poltergeist activity broke out at their farmhouse, located at the corner of Thixton Lane and Oak Grove Road.

The activity actually started on Sunday, December 30th when the family noticed a variety of objects being thrown about the air, seemingly all on their own.  A 2 lb photo album, a knife, a conch shell doorstop, various bottles and caps, and assorted pieces of jewelry were just a small sampling of items targeted by the alleged poltergeist.

A neighbor, Mrs. Robert Covington, was hit quite hard in the back by a fingernail file located on a dresser about 15 feet away.  Walter Brown, the 16 year old boarder, claimed to actually SEE with his own eyes Mr. Thacker's spectacles lift off a radio and land in a chair three feet away.  

Despite dozens of neighbors and schoolmates witnessing the activity, there were several skeptics who came to inspect the ghostly goings-on at the Thacker home.  Two such skeptics were local patrolmen, Russell McDaniel and Jack Fisher.  Despite almost being hit in the head with a cardboard box himself, McDaniel still couldn't accept the idea of an otherworldly source for the activity.  He noticed that whenever objects began to move, one person was always nearby:  Joyce Sanders.

On Thursday, he and Fisher asked to speak privately with the girl.  After an hour, the trio emerged with a confession.  Joyce admitted that she was throwing the objects when no one was looking.  She did it for attention.  "It made a lot of people come see me," she is quoted as saying.  Joyce and her sisters had been wards of the Louisville and Jefferson County Children's Home.  They had been staying with the Thackers for about 13 months because their mother was terminally ill with cancer, and their father was not in the picture.  It was deemed that Joyce, a depressed and lonely young girl, made up the whole thing, and therefore, this is where the story ends for many.

But...does it really end there?  Was the whole poltergeist act simply a hoax, perpetrated by an 11 year old to gain attention?  I'm not so sure that's the case.  Here's why:

Mrs. Thacker answering calls about the poltergeist

In newspaper articles from the time period, McDaniel admits that he never actually SAW Joyce pick up an object and throw it.  He just noticed that she was the one who constantly seemed to be nearby when activity occurred.  So, he said to her that all the people who came to witness the poltergeist would be disappointed if they didn't see anything move. "They just won't come back anymore," McDaniel is quoted as saying to the girl, to which she replied, "You mean they'll all go home?"  It was shortly thereafter, a brooch was seen moving. Thinking that his suspicions were confirmed, McDaniel and Fisher took the girl aside privately and assured her that she would not be in any trouble if she confessed to the poltergeist activity.So, we have no witnesses, not even the policemen, coming forward to say they actually saw Joyce faking the activity.  We do, however, have a witness (Walter Brown) saying that he saw an object actually being moving, unaided by any human hands.

We also have some elements of a classic poltergeist case.  Poltergeist activity is characterized by activity seemingly centered on a human agent. This human agent can be anyone, but historically tends to be a child on the cusp of, or going through puberty OR someone who has a lot of bottled up emotions that aren't able to be expressed in their ordinary lives.  Joyce fits both scenarios---she was a young girl, about the age of puberty's onset, and she was most likely very troubled by the situation of her mother being critically ill.

Many modern researchers agree that poltergeist activity is NOT caused by an outside ghost or entity, but is in fact recurrent spontaneous psychokinesis (RSPK) manifested unconsciously by a human agent. That's why she was nearby when these events occurred.

But why would she confess to a hoax she didn't take part in?  In the book, The Poltergeist Experience, by D. Scott Rogo, the author mentions that there are a number of reasons why poltergeist agents tend to confess to a hoax that they had no part in. Some will confess because they realize, either consciously or subconsciously that they ARE responsible for the turmoil and are compelled to take responsibility for it, which will often cause the activity to cease. Others may confess simply because they were pressured into it and are just trying to appease their accusers.

But, I think what REALLY happened is another scenario that is often seen in poltergeist cases.  I think the original activity was not a hoax.  Objects were moving around on their own, and nobody knew why.  Joyce discovered that her schoolmates were fascinated and would come to witness the activity.  Joyce and her sisters were heaped with attention, as reporters from radio, newspapers, and even television all wanted to hear and share their story.  To a lonely, troubled girl, being in the spotlight, surrounded by people, probably did offer respite from her sad circumstances.  

Either the activity had already started to wind down on its own, or Joyce was scared that it was going to, thanks to McDaniel's statement, prompting her to stage at least one object being thrown, as a way to keep people happy and coming to see her. Poltergeist activity seems to stop as abruptly as it starts and Joyce wasn't ready to let go of the benefits just yet.  To further support this theory, Joyce actually does state in one newspaper interview that she WASN'T responsible for all the objects moving, although she believes that people just imagined those things.

Obviously, it is possible that Joyce DID knowingly trick her friends and neighbors, possibly assisted by her sisters and even Brown.  Perhaps peoples' imaginations ran wild, causing a childhood prank to escalate into a nationally recognized poltergeist case that within a week would come crashing down as a not-so-elaborate childhood hoax. However, the case was long ago written off as trickery and to my knowledge, neither Joyce nor the case has ever been formally studied. I can only hope that the lonely little girl was able to live a happy life, post-poltergeist. 

Sources and Further Reading:

The Poltergeist Experience: Investigations Into Ghostly Phenomena, by D. Scott Rogo

Lonely Girl, 11, Was a "Spook" Just for Fun. The Courier-Journal. 04 January 1952

Objects Floating About Residence. Charleston Daily Mail. 03 January 1952

Haunter of House Fails C-J Reporter, by Phil Harsham. The Courier-Journal 03 January 1952

Book Review for Ghosts of Old Louisville

Title: Ghosts of Old Louisville: True Stories of Hauntings in America's Largest Victorian Neighborhood
Author: David Domine
Published: 2005 by McClanahan Publishing House, Inc.
Amazon Purchase Info

If I had to choose one word to sum up this book, it would have to be...sophisticated.

Seriously, this was a pretty awesome book.  David Domine is a resident of Old Louisville, a huge Victorian neighborhood in central Kentucky.  Through beautiful writing, David tells the history of his unique neighborhood and the tales of ghostly residents that still reside therein.  Included on that list is David's own home and the steps he had to take to ensure a peaceful existence of cohabiting with the other side.

While the stories are primarily from private residences, there are a handful of locations that are open to the public, such as the Speed Art Museum and Central Park.   There's even a brief write-up of Waverly Hills, because no book about the ghosts of Louisville could be complete without at least a mention of the famous tuberculosis hospital.

I personally really enjoyed this book.  It was the perfect blend of historical fact and story-telling.  As an added bonus, there were plenty of photographs to really illustrate the beauty of this historic district.  While Old Louisville is now a protected historical district, in the 1940s, the neighborhood saw a lot of neglect and decline.  David and so many of the other current residents that he interviews and shares stories from have really taken great pride in returning the neighborhood to a sophisticated, upscale example of Victorian style---that passion and dedication certainly comes through in the writing.  I'd definitely recommend this book as a welcome addition to any library of Kentucky ghost stories, but I think anyone who has an interest in the Victorian age, history in general, or simply just a good ghost story can get a lot out of this book as well.  I know I'll be keeping an eye out for this author's other books!

Louisville's Rose Bowl Lanes and the Ghost of Amy

All of the information regarding the hauntings of this establishment are from Robert Parker's awesome book, Haunted Louisville 2: Beyond Downtown. 

The Rose Bowl bowling alley in Louisville is an older, yet quaint little spot to spend some family time on the lanes, or some grown-up time in the on-site bar.  While many of the online reviews mention its a little shabby, perhaps a tad outdated...many counterbalance those claims that its a great value for what it is and it surely evokes a sense of nostalgia for many.  For me, the fact that its known to be haunted is enough for me!

Staff call the resident ghost 'Amy,' and believe that she was an equestrienne who was killed by falling off her horse way back in the first half of the 20th century when the area was all farmland...way before even Father Mahoney purchased the property for use with his Boys' Haven, a home for orphaned boys.

Amy is said to make herself known through a number of different ghostly phenomena, such as giving one waitress a hard time by undoing all her hard work getting the tables ready for the next day.  Amy is also blamed for equipment malfunctions, lights turning themselves on and off, and the sounds of machines running well after all power has been shut off for the night.  A few times, Amy has made her presence known visually.  A young employee working the snack bar witnessed a dark shadow walk by a doorway, followed by the sounds of someone opening the walk-in cooler.  A female employee stated that she's also seen Amy a few times, always in the bar area, and always out of the corner of her eye.  Unfortunately, she disappears before a good description of her can be assessed.

If you'd like to learn more about Amy, definitely check out Parker's book, but if you're in the area, take an evening trip down to the lanes.  Come for the ghost stories, but stay for a quick, affordable game in a cozy, haunted bowling alley!

Book Review: Haunted Louisville 2

Title--Haunted Louisville: Beyond Downtown.  More History and Hauntings from the Derby City
Author--Robert W. Parker
Published--by Whitechapel Press, 2010
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I've just finished reading Robert Parker's Haunted Louisville 2, and was delighted with the history and the hauntings packed within this slender volume.  Parker, otherwise known as "Mr. Ghost Walker," is the creator and tour guide of a popular ghost tour in downtown Louisville.  Through this line of work, he's been able to collect a massive collection of stories and experiences about the Derby City's many, many ghosts!

Eighteen chapters cover eighteen different haunted locations throughout Louisville and beyond, including John E's Restaurant, the Brown Hotel, Dillon's Steakhouse, and Louisville Gardens, just to name a few.  Each chapter offers a brief, yet concise history of the location in question and an overview of its hauntings, supported by interviews with eyewitnesses and often, with a hands-on approach.  Parker, assisted by several friends in the paranormal field, doesn't just write about the ghosts---he actually goes out and searches for them through on-site investigations.  This format of not just relaying old information found elsewhere, but actually getting out in the field and conducting interviews and doing hands-on investigations, sets this book apart from so many other collections of regional hauntings. 

It really was a fun and quick read, and for the most part, very well written.  There were a few very minor editing errors, but nothing that would detract from the actual content of the book, which was quite interesting! I'm trying to familiarize myself more with the haunted history of the Bluegrass State, and books like this one make it much easier to find well documented stories and the added bonus of up-to-date recent sightings.  My only issue was the fact that there were a handful of locations featured in this book that were outside of Louisville and the immediate area.  Still, I am very impressed and have definitely added the first book in this series, Haunted Louisville, to my wishlist!

*Are you going to be in the Louisville area?  Consider taking a tour with Mr. Ghost Walker's Louisville Ghost Walks!*

The Blue Lady of KY's Seelbach Hilton

Seelbach, 1907

The story of the Seelbach Hotel dates back to 1869 when Bavarian brothers, Otto and Louis Seelbach came to America to learn the hotel business.  It wasn't until 1903 that they would begin construction on their hotel.  At a cost of $990,000, the Seelbach opened in May of 1905 as the city's only fireproof hotel.  It was so well received that almost immediately, a 154-room addition would begin, being completed in 1907.

Over the years, the hotel changed hands several times, but remained a center of opulence in Louisville, Kentucky.  It was a favorite hangout for organized crime leaders, and was even frequented by author F. Scott Fitzgerald while he was stationed at Camp Taylor.  So impressed with the hotel, Fitzgerald used the Grand Ballroom as a backdrop for the wedding in The Great Gatsby.

Unfortunately, life at the Seelbach wasn't so happy for everyone.  While there are numerous ghost stories attached with the hotel, ranging from an older woman wearing ragged clothing in Otto Cafe to a man seen looking out the window of an 8th floor room, the most famous of the spectral guests is hands down The Blue Lady.

Thanks to some detective work done in 1992 by Alex Hunt, it is widely accepted that The Blue Lady is the ghost of Patricia Wilson.  Born in 1911, Patricia Wilson had just moved to Louisville from Oklahoma in 1936.  She and her husband of four years had recently separated, but decided to try and work things out.  They agreed to meet at the Seelbach to talk, but unfortunately, Mr. Wilson never made it.  He died in a car crash on the way to the hotel.  Patricia was devastated and several days later, on July 15, she was found dead at the bottom of a service elevator shaft.  She had a fractured skull, broken left knee cap, broken right tibia, and broken fibula.  It is unknown whether it was a suicide or accident.  Some even say it may have been murder. She was buried in Louisville's Evergreen Cemetery.

Patricia and the rest of the ghostly gang make their presence known by disembodied footsteps, phantom perfume smells, and cold spots throughout the hotel, especially on the 8th floor.  However, Patricia seemed especially active throughout the 1980s when she was spotted numerous times.

She was seen on the 8th floor and the mezzanine area of the hotel, near the elevator, as well as several other places around the hotel.  Her apparition was always described as wearing a blue dress and having long, black hair.

Sources:
The Seelbach Hilton: A Centennial Salute to Louisville's Grand Hotel by Larry Johnson
Haunted Rooms
Find-a-Grave
The Secret Life of the Seelbach Hotel

Joe's Older than Dirt Cafe

From, Louisville Halloween

Located on LaGrange Road in the Louisville area of Kentucky, Joe's Older than Dirt Cafe has been serving decades of thirsty patrons in the mood for a cool drink, a hot meal, and a lively conversation.  And, as we know in this field...those things make a perfect setting for a ghost!

Back in 1936, Joe Keal, Jr. had a dream of opening a tavern.  The following year he did just that...in his parents' backyard!  (From census records, it looks like Joe and several siblings remained at home with their parents in Lyndon well into their adult years).  The tavern became an immediate hub of local social activity, and Joe was even known to hitch up the horse and buggy and go fetch visitors straight from the railroad depot nearby and bring them to his establishment.

Joe died in 1966, and although the bar was purchased and put in the very capable hands of Gary and Janet Gish who made the necessary renovations while keeping the bar's awesome ambiance (there's a TREE growing in the middle of it!), it seems like Joe is sticking around, keeping an eye on things.

Over the years, patrons and staff alike have witnessed a myriad of paranormal activity, such as disembodied voices, items being moved around, and the standard electrical disturbances.  But the most compelling reports are of the Man in the Red Plaid Shirt.  This man, described as being an older, taller man, is seen throughout the establishment, including behind the bar where he was seen from the waist up, his bright red plaid shirt leaving a lasting impression on Janet's mind.

This apparition has been seen in other areas as well, including the kitchen, the service alley, and in what is called the "old bar" section.  This area, before renovations, was actually Joe's bedroom while he was alive, and he has been observed walking through walls where doorways once stood.

Today, Joe's Place, as its called by the locals, is still a great place to enjoy a drink while watching the game (ANY game, as the place boasts 20 televisions) or to take the kids for a family-friendly lunch.  Prices are good, service is fair, and the decor cannot be beat.  Throw in a ghost or two and you've got a fun evening out!

Sources:
Ancestry.com
Consuming Louisville
Kentucky Spirits, Undistilled, by Lisa Westmoreland-Doherty