Tag Archives: ghosts

A Haunting in Connecticut

Another ghost story based on a true event is currently in theaters. But, with information suggesting that another famous “true” ghost story, the Amityville Horror, was a hoax, you have to wonder what is really real. In case you haven’t seen The Haunting in Connecticut (and I haven’t either – not the type of film you take a four year old to), here’s the back story. Carmen Reed, her then husband, three children, and two nieces moved into a home on Meriden Avenue in Southington, Connecticut in the ‘80s. The night the family moved into the former funeral home, Reed’s … Continue reading →

Scary Places: The Stanley Hotel, Estes Park, Colorado

When I mention the name “The Stanley Hotel,” you may think “But Libby, I’ve never heard of this place.” Perhaps not, but if you have ever seen the classic Kubrick/King horror The Shining, you have gotten a sense of The Stanley. (This file is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 License) This hotel is a 138 room Georgian hotel located in Estes Park, Colorado. It was built in 1909 by Freelan O. Stanley (co-founder of Stanley Steamer), hence the name. Many famous people have stayed there – Theodore Roosevelt and John Philip Sousa just to name a few. But, perhaps … Continue reading →

Scary Places: The Orpheum Theater in Memphis, Tennessee

Since I am doing the “Scary Places” series, I figured I would toot my own hometown’s horn and talk about one of its scariest places, the Orpheum Theater in downtown Memphis, Tennessee. Most Memphians are aware of the story of Mary. It is even said that she has a favorite seat – C-5. The Orpheum was built in 1890. However, that original building burnt to the ground in 1923. It was rebuilt and the “new” Orpheum was completed in 1928. It was after the rebuild that reports of a ghost named Mary started to surface. Mary is a little girl … Continue reading →

Scary Places: Union Cemetery in Easton, Connecticut

Okay, so you might expect a cemetery, especially at night, to be a bit spooky. But, some say that Union Cemetery in Easton, Connecticut is especially full of unexplained phenomena. The cemetery dates all the way back to the 1600s, so there is a lot of history there. Of course, the cemetery is closed after dark and the Easton Police regularly patrol it, but that doesn’t stop curiosity seekers from breaking the law. Visitors have reported taking photos of orbs, light rods, and ectoplasmic mists. There is one apparition, the White Lady, who many people have reported seeing over the … Continue reading →

Scary Places: RMS Queen Mary

While thinking about scary places, I remembered the RMS Queen Mary. When I think of the word “ocean liner,” usually something along the lines of the Love Boat comes to mind. But apparently, there are some disturbing happenings going on in the Queen Mary. The RMS Queen Mary sailed the North Atlantic for 31 years (1936 until 1967). Like the RMS Queen Elizabeth, her running mate, the Queen Mary helped transport troops during World War II. She was the third largest ocean liner in the world and at times, could carry as many as 16,000 men to war. In 1942, … Continue reading →

Scary Places: Bobby Mackey’s Music World

I know what you are thinking – “What in the world?” How can a place called Bobby Mackey’s Music World be haunted? Well, I was thinking the same thing, but then the name kept appearing in research. The other night, I was scanning the channels and ran across a listing for it on one of the many ghost series that are being shown on television this week. Well, that was enough to convince me to further investigate this nightclub that is known as “Hell’s Gate.” The nightclub, which is located in Wilder, Kentucky, reportedly stands on land that used to … Continue reading →

Scary Places: Waverly Hills Sanatorium

What could be creepier than a sanatorium? In the case of the Waverly Hills Sanatorium in Louisville, Kentucky, not much! It opened in 1910 for tuberculosis patients. While tuberculosis can often be successfully treated today, back then, the patients were locked away. When streptomycin, an antibiotic, was finally introduced in 1943 to treat tuberculosis, the number of patients gradually fell and Waverly Hills was closed in 1961. (This work has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder.) However, it was reopened as a hospital in 1962, but then closed again in 1981, allegedly due to the mistreatment … Continue reading →

Scary Places: The White House – Part II

Yesterday, I was talking about the ghosts at the White House. Abraham Lincoln is a spirit that many have claimed to have seen. But, what other ethereal apparitions may be hanging out there? Mary Todd Lincoln claims to have heard President Andrew Jackson stomping around the Rose Room, which he used as a bedroom. If you remember, then General Andrew Jackson was supposed to have stayed at the Bell house in Tennessee after hearing of the Bell Witch haunting. Poor William Henry Harrison has the distinction of being the first president to die in office and having served only 30 … Continue reading →

Scary Places: The White House

Right now, most people are focused on the White House for one reason – who’s going to be the next president. But, you know me – I am focused on it to talk about the ghosts of the White House. That’s right, one of the most famous houses is America is reportedly haunted. Over the years, visitors as well as staff and residents have reported seeing ghosts and experiencing strange phenomena in the White House. The White House became livable for presidents in 1800, with John Adams being the first to move in. Since then, every president has lived in … Continue reading →

Scary Places: Alcatraz

Let’s face it – when Alcatraz was open as a prison, it was a scary place. But now, even though the maximum security prison is open for tourism, it is still scary. Maybe because it is so isolated, sitting out there in the middle of the San Francisco bay, Alcatraz, also known as The Rock, has been used as a military fort, a military prison, and a federal prison. (This image from PD Photo.org has been released into the public domain by its author and copyright holder, Jon Sullivan.) The federal government acquired the island back in 1846 and the … Continue reading →