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The Haunted Mark Twain House: A Gothic Tale of Spirits and Stories

by Jennifer Jones
written by Jennifer Jones

Nestled in Hartford, Connecticut, the Mark Twain House stands as both a monument to literary genius and an enigmatic symbol of the supernatural. Built in 1874, this 25-room Gothic-style mansion brims with character, with each room seeming to echo tales from the past. Decorated by Louis C. Tiffany & Co., its walls and ceilings are adorned with intricate, haunting beauty, perhaps as mysterious as the stories that have emerged over the years. Twain himself was known for his fascination with ghost stories, a passion he shared freely. He once wrote a heart-wrenching letter to a minister, saying:

“Our house… is become a cemetery. But not in a repellent sense. Our dead are welcome there… we shall have them with us always and there will be no parting.”

This poignant sentiment captures the deep connection Twain felt to those who passed within the house’s walls. Clemens was so fascinated with the paranormal that he joined the Society for Psychical Research in England. While he said he didn’t believe a word of it, he was known to have read their journals “cover to cover.”

Spirits of the Twain Family

By The Writings of Mark Twain, Volume 37 By Mark Twain | Public Domain

The spirit of Twain’s eldest daughter, Olivia Susan Clemens—affectionately known as Susy—seems to linger here. Known for her brilliance, wit, and sensitivity, Susy met a tragic end in 1896 when she succumbed to spinal meningitis in the very home she cherished. As she was cared for in her parents’ mahogany bed by the family maid, she gradually lost her sight before finally lapsing into a coma. Today, visitors and staff believe they occasionally encounter Susy’s spirit. A spectral woman in a white Victorian dress has been seen gliding through the rooms, a silent echo of the once-vibrant young woman.

Susy is buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in Elmira, New. York, surrounded by her family.

George Griffin: Guardian Spirit of the Twain House

Another key figure in the house’s history, George Griffin, was more than a servant—he was family. A former enslaved person, George became a fixture in the Clemens household, overseeing the massive 11,500-square-foot home and even sharing lighthearted bets with Twain over late-night billiard games. Known for his loyalty and good-natured personality, George’s spirit is said to have remained in the house after his death in 1897. Sightings of a Black man standing silently behind tour guides on the third floor have led many to believe George has chosen to stay near the family he served so devotedly.

Mark Twain scholar unveils only known photograph of Twain butler George Griffin

He is thought to have been the inspiration for the character Jim in Huckleberry Finn. Clemens once described George as: “…handsome, well built, shrewd, wise, polite, always good-natured, cheerful to gaiety, honest, religious, a cautious truth-speaker, devoted friend to the family, champion of its interests…. He was the peace-maker in the kitchen—in fact the peace-keeper, for by his good sense & right spirit & mollifying tongue he adjusted disputes in that quarter before they reached the quarrel-point.”

Paranormal Hot Spots and Ghostly Tales

The Mark Twain House has been the subject of numerous paranormal investigations, including by the famed Ed and Lorraine Warren and TAPS, who have made multiple visits. The documented activity spans from the mundane to the downright chilling. Key areas that witness regular activity include:

  • Susy’s Room: A soft childlike giggle or the feeling of a gentle tug on clothing can make even the bravest feel a chill.
  • The Library: Women report feeling playful tugs on their jewelry and bracelets slipping off unexpectedly, a phenomenon documented after TAPS’ investigation.
  • The Master Bedroom and Nursery: Here, people hear mysterious noises—loud bangs that echo without any clear source.
  • The Billiard Room: Twain’s beloved cigar smoke sometimes drifts through the air, a smell vividly present despite no obvious origin. Footsteps, laughter, and whispered conversations emerge, as if Twain’s social circle of the past has returned for a quiet evening together.

In 1967, a security guard in the basement reported seeing a silver tray launch across the room, an incident still discussed today. Shadows and strange sounds fill the basement, as if George Griffin or a former maid were still tending to their duties. The unexplained knocking, sudden fire alarms without smoke, and the spectral sight of a woman in period dress make each visit an unforgettable experience.

The Twain House Over the Years

After the Clemens family sold the home in 1903, it passed through various owners and transformations, even becoming apartments and a branch of the Hartford Public Library. But as much as the house adapted to the changing world, the spirits of its past seem to remain anchored.

Each room, from the grand library where Twain’s books line the shelves to the silent bedrooms, holds a piece of history—a history that refuses to be forgotten. The Mark Twain House is a place where stories are etched into every corner, and visitors might just find themselves becoming part of the tale.

For those who dare to explore, remember that you’re not alone in the halls of the Mark Twain House. The past lives on, and if you listen closely, you might hear Twain himself spinning another ghostly tale.

Sources:

The Mark Twain House & Museum – Overview of the house’s history, architecture, and connections to the Twain family.

    Journal Inquirer – An article detailing paranormal reports and historical significance of the Mark Twain House.

      Love to Know Paranormal – Interviews and accounts of paranormal experiences from staff and visitors.

      Connecticut Magazine – Coverage of ghost tours and reported hauntings, including sightings of Susy Clemens and George Griffin.

      The Hartford Courant – Historical clippings documenting the home’s transition over the years, from private residence to apartment and museum.

      • Notable Clippings: Hartford Courant, Dec 23, 1919, Pg 6; May 24, 1923, Pg 14; Mar 12, 1967, Pg 116

      Star-Gazette (Elmira, NY) – Articles and obituaries concerning the Clemens family, notably Susy Clemens’ passing.

      • Notable Clipping: Star-Gazette, Aug 24, 1896

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      Haunted America

      The Haunted History of The Buxton Inn

      by Jennifer Jones
      written by Jennifer Jones

      I love stories about ghost cats, and even keep a running list of places where you can find them in the U.S.. While going down various strange rabbit holes a few months ago I stumbled across the historic Buxton Inn, located in the quaint village of Granville, Ohio. The Buxton Inn is a very old (built in 1812) inn that has a documented history of being haunted at least back to the 1930s. Not only is the inn haunted by at least three human spirits, it is also home to a ghost cat; in fact, the cat is such an integral part of the hotel’s history that he’s been featured on their sign since at least the 1970s.

      A picture of the sign of the Buxton Inn in Granville, Ohio.

      Orrin Granger

      Built as a stagecoach tavern in 1812, this 210-year-old building has been serving food and giving guests a place to stay for its entire history. The original builder, Orrin Granger is said to be one of the ghosts present. However, it seems as if his ghost isn’t spotted as frequently as some of the others. One of the earliest public mentions of a ghost at the inn came from a man named Fred Sweet. Fred’s mother managed the inn through the late 1920s and possibly the early 1930s while Fred was attending college at nearby Denison University. Fred wrote for the college paper and in the May 10th, 1932 edition of the college paper he writes an ad for the Inn about encountering their ghost. While the ad was a funny joke it is interesting that his mother, Mary Stevens Sweet was known to have told friends and family that shortly after they took over managing the tavern “there became known a Presence.” It was also said that Fred actually did encounter the ghost of Orrin Granger in his knee britches.

      In the 1970s when the Inn was purchased by Audrey and Orville Orr, Mrs. Orr would have a couple of encounters with the spirit of who she believes was Orrin Granger. While painting the inside of a pantry one afternoon, Audrey saw what appeared to be a man watching her out of the corner of her eye. As soon as she looked up, the man had vanished.

      Major Buxton

      The inn had many owners throughout its history but the name that stuck the longest is from a man who purchased the inn in October 1865, named Major Horton Buxton. Major Buxton ran the inn until his death on June 15th, 1902.

      Major Buxton’s ghost has been both seen and “smelled” throughout the Inn. Major was a fan of cigars and the scent of cigar smoke has been smelled at various points throughout the inn. His apparition is seen most frequently in the kitchen and main dining room. He is said to be an older man (he was 80 when he died) wearing an old fashioned dark suit.

      One morning as the staff were preparing the dining room for a business one of the waitresses was setting up tables and folding napkins. She looked up to see a man in a dark suit sitting by the fireplace. Caught off guard she hurried into the kitchen to ask another waitress if she should serve the man even though technically they weren’t open yet. Her coworker was puzzled and went with the waitress to the dining room to see what she was talking about only to find the room was completely empty.

      Ethel “Bonnie” Houston Bounell

      From the research I’ve done it seems that the “main” ghost at the Inn is one of its former owners, Ethel “Bonnie” Bounell. She purchased the Inn following her husband’s death in January, 1933. In April 1934, Ethel bought the Inn where she would live and manage the property until her death on May 4th, 1960. Ethel brought her friend Nell Schoeller with her and Ethel ran the business of the Inn while Nell appears to have been in charge of the kitchen.

      From everything available it’s very clear that Ethel absolutely loved the Inn. In a January 1946 article in the Columbus Dispatch it was said that she “has brought this place back to its pristine glory.” Ethel’s living quarters were comprised of what is now rooms 9 and 10.

      Following Ethel’s death, Nell Schoeller inherited the inn and continued to run it until she could no longer manage the property. She sold the inn to the Orr’s in 1972 because she agreed with their plans of renovating the inn while keeping all the historical charm. It seems that it was during the renovations from 1972-1974 that the notion of The Lady In Blue became overly apparent.

      At one point during the renovation process workmen refused to work in the building after dark. One worker later told a reporter:

      “Funny things were going on. We saw a lady in blue walk across the balcony and disappear down the inside back stairs. We were scared; that’s why we didn’t work in the evenings anymore.”

      It’s interesting that one of the most often reported occurrence is the sound of footsteps going up and down the inside back stairs all throughout the night.

      Not only is Ethel’s ghost typically seen in a light blue dress, staff believe her spirit is often smelled with the scent of old-fashioned gardenia perfume. This scent happens more often than her spirit is seen, including during the winter months.

      There have been at least two very interesting experiences attributed to Ethel in rooms 7 and 9.

      In the mid-1980s a nurse manager was staying in Room 7 during a work retreat. A few of her colleagues were also staying at the inn. After returning to her room for the evening she set some of her things on an antique desk in the room, including her day planner. She climbed into bed and could not fall asleep, she tossed and turned for at least an hour. Finally, she fell asleep and was woken by the sound of someone flipping through the pages of her planner.

      She thought she was dreaming when she saw the door open and a lady walk in. When she realized she wasn’t dreaming she thought it must be one of her coworkers in a white uniform, but quickly realized it was the middle of the night and her coworkers wouldn’t be wearing their work uniform during a work retreat.

      The woman sat on the chair near her bed, looked at her, and said: “You can’t sleep, can you?” The nurse said “No, I can’t.” The next thing she knew it was morning. After she got ready and went downstairs she told her coworkers and the lady at the front desk what had happened. She thought it was just a really crazy dream. She told them that the lady who she spoke with had a round face, dark curly hair, and was wearing an old fashioned dress with puff sleeves. The staff member showed her a picture of Bonnie from an old newspaper clipping and the nurse screamed. That was the woman who had visited her in the middle of the night.

      A similar experience happened in Room 9 to a couple who were relocating to the area and were staying at the inn for a week. One morning midway through their stay the woman came downstairs and asked the lady at the front desk if they had mistakenly given their key to someone last night. The lady said no, while they do have a master key it is only used for emergencies. The guest went on to explain: “In the middle of the night a woman came into our room, looked at us, turned around and walked out. When she left we tried the door, but it was still locked.” When the employee asked her to describe the woman she saw, she described what she looked like and added that she was wearing an old fashioned blue dress.

      Who was Bonnie?

      Ethel Dorothy Houston was born in Newark, Ohio on February 1st, 1888. In her youth she was an opera singer with the Manhattan Light Opera Company and traveled all over performing. She would later marry prominent attorney Carl M. Bounell.

      On May 3rd, 1960 Ethel was returning to Granville from Columbus when she began to complain of feeling ill. She was admitted to Newark Hospital at 7:55 am on May 4th, and died later that evening at 8:20 pm. The cause of death was acute meningitis caused by a severe brain abscess in her left frontal lobe.

      Ethel was buried next to her husband at Maple Grove Cemetery, just down the street from her beloved inn. When Nell Schoeller died in April, 1976 she was buried next to Ethel.

      Major Buxton the Cat

      And now we get to my favorite ghost at the inn. At some point Ethel became the owner of a cat she named Major Buxton. Major Buxton wasn’t just any old cat, he was a cat known throughout Granville and surrounding cities as an article was written about him in the Columbus Dispatch on January 10th, 1946.

      The reporter described him as a “Great big fellow by the name of Major Buxton.” It was said that you could usually find Major Buxton in his favorite spot in the inn; on top of a pillow on an antique chair just inside the front door. Major Buxton the cat weighed 15lbs and was said to have had a personality that could win you over even if you weren’t a fan of cats. Apparently, he liked to nibble on people’s ears and was so popular that guests would often request that he join their table for dinner.

      While it’s unknown when Major Buxton died, like Ethel, he’s never really left the Inn. His ghost has been seen numerous times throughout the Inn by guests and staff alike.

      The ghostly cat is typically felt in Room 9. In 1989, two older ladies who had stayed in Room 9 asked the manager the following morning if he was aware that they have a ghost cat at the inn. She said she was lying in bed and something jumped up on the bed beside her. The manager thought maybe it was their gray cat who lived at the hotel but the women both said they searched the rooms and no cat was found.

      The cat’s ghost is also frequently seen in on the first floor of the inn by staff. They said that they’ll often see the shape of a cat run by out of the corner of their eye, or they’ll feel what they describe as a feather duster brushing past their legs. There is currently no living cats staying at the inn.

      They do however, have a cat sculpture at the bottom of the front stairs that startled Matt quite a bit when we stayed there because he wasn’t expecting it.

      Recent Experiences

      Matt and I stayed in Room 9 recently which is made up of two connected rooms and a bathroom. We debated on which room to actually sleep in, and decided to go with the room that faces the front of the building as that is where Nell Schoeller’s mother, Elizabeth Schoeller died on February 3rd, 1965. It’s also the room where the employee who checked us in said the ghost cat is most frequently seen and felt, as well as a man that has been reported sitting / standing in the corner of the room. They believe that man to be Major Buxton, but she told me they’re not sure as he is usually only seen in and around the dining room. When we checked out the following morning the lady at the front desk shared experiences she has had while working at the inn. She said on her first night working at the inn, the owner called her and let her know the lights in Room 9 were on. She knew that they had not been on earlier and she went up to turn them off. She said after turning off the lights she just had a feeling that she was not alone and could not get out of there quick enough.

      Before our visit to the hotel I asked the manager, Jennifer Valenzuela, if the ghosts were still fairly active. She said that during the Covid shutdown while the inn and tavern were closed, the staff said the activity seemed to be more pronounced than usual. Maybe it was because there were no guests inside and the building was a lot quieter and emptier than normal. According to the manager, she would often hear the sounds of clanking mugs and chairs being slid across the floor coming from the tavern.

      She told me that the tavern is one of the paranormal “hot spots” at the inn. And, it appears it has been that way for quite some time. After the Inn was renovated in the 1970s, a 6’5” bartender was working in the wine cellar putting wine away. He was described as a “bit of a clown and a complete skeptic.” He came running up the stairs and said that someone had clutched him from behind and knocked the wind out of him.

      It is also common for staff to hear disembodied footsteps coming up and down the stairs, as well as having doors open and close right before their eyes. Unfortunately, Matt and I didn’t experience anything spooky, although I had a heck of a time falling asleep. I was sleeping closest to the door and kept thinking that someone was going to walk through it at any minute.

      The Buxton Inn is definitely worth a visit, not just for the ghosts but for the cute village, great food, and the history within. If only walls could talk, in this case it seems they sometimes do.

      Sources:

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      Haunted America

      Ghost in the Attic – Davis-Horton House Museum

      by Jennifer Jones
      written by Jennifer Jones

      And not just any type of ghost, specifically the Davis-Horton House Museum, is said to be home to the ghost of a German spy. There are other ghosts here at the oldest remaining building in downtown San Diego, including a ghost cat! But before we get to the ghosts, let me give you just a tiny bit of the home’s history and tell you how you can help ensure this museum survives.

      Located in the San Diego historic Gaslamp District, the Davis-Horton house got its beginnings in Portland, Maine, and was shipped all the way around Cape Horn to be pieced back together in San Diego in 1850. Since its first location near Pantjoa Park at State and Market St, the house was moved two more times in its 171-year history, landing in its current location in 1984.

      After the house was donated to the city in 1977, a massive restoration took place which included adding electricity to the house for the first time in its history. The rooms have been restored to show how the house appeared during various times including when it served as pre-civil war military barracks, the county hospital from 1873-1881, and a private family home. With all of the history contained in this small house, it’s not very surprising that it also has a haunted reputation.

      Matt and I recently had a chance to visit this museum, and other than the docent, we were lucky enough to be the only people in the house. While small, the museum is well done, and certain areas definitely had a slightly creepy vibe.

      But as we all know, an old house doesn’t automatically = haunted, even one that is filled with antique pieces. However, numerous people through the years have reported having strange experiences in the Davis-Horton House, including before the house was used as a museum and before it had electricity.

      One of the most common occurrences is flickering lights and lights that turn off and on by themselves. You know, fairly typical haunted house activity. What makes this house even more interesting is that one of the house owners, prior to it being gifted to the city, said that even when gas lamps lit the house, they often had a mind of their own. Current staff at the museum report turning the lights off at night only to find one or more is on the following morning.

      One of the docents told me that recently she had an interesting experience with the light in the upstairs office. She said that shortly after her husband dropped her off to open the museum for the morning, she heard a noise from upstairs as if someone else was inside. Worried that someone had broken in, she ran out to get her husband before he left and asked him to come and make sure no one else was there.

      Her husband checked the upstairs and the attic and left after assuring the docent that there was no other living person in the house. As she went from room to room, turning the lights on for the day, she found that the desk lamp in the upstairs office was turned on. This is just an example of some of the odd occurrences experienced by those who work here.

      Visitors have often told the museum staff that they saw a cat in one of the rooms and it ran out and simply disappeared. Others have reported hearing a cat meowing and being unable to find where the sound is coming from, a cat’s meow has also been captured on EVP. Staff will often come in to find small objects that were sitting on tables, now lying on the floor as if knocked off by a cat.

      For a period of its life, beginning in 1873, the house was used as a “county hospital”, run by a woman named Anna Scheper. She was paid $1 per day per patient. This is reflected with one of the rooms being set up as it would have looked during that time. By the end of 1873 alone, three patients had died in the house. A small chest containing old medicine bottles is kept on top of a dresser and the chest is always left open so visitors can see the contents. Museum staff often report coming in to find the chest closed and the bottles and various items are not in the same place as they are usually kept.

      While most of the activity involves things being moved and the lights being turned on or off there have also been a few sightings of full bodied apparitions. This ghost is said to be a woman dressed in Victorian era clothing, and has been seen at the top of the stairs near where the children’s room is today. Interestingly enough, the ghost is almost always seen only from the waist down.

      Unfortunately, while the ghost in the attic seems to be the most mentioned, the activity attributed to him is difficult to pin down. One site referred to the apparition of a man wearing a WWII uniform that has been seen in the house, but that doesn’t match the history of the alleged spy in question. The reported spy was a German man named Karl Offer. Karl arrived in the United States in 1915 and listed his occupation as a fine jewelry importer. On July 12th, 1917, he was arrested as an alien enemy upon orders of Attorney General Gregory in Washington, D.C. It is said that the owners of the home at the time, German immigrants Herman and Lena Lohman allowed Offer to use their attic as a lookout to track the American Pacific Fleet in San Diego Bay. By August, Offer was transferred to Fort Douglas in Salt Lake City and it appears held until the end of the war. It’s unclear what information was used against him, but by 1928 he was granted citizenship in the United States.

      If you won’t be in San Diego anytime soon, you can book a Virtual Ghost Tour here, they also have a non-paranormal option available. And, if like me you appreciate old buildings with haunted history considering donating a few bucks to help this museum stay open.

      Sources:

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      Haunted America

      Mystery of the Weeping Woman: Fish Creek Ghost

      by Jennifer Jones
      written by Jennifer Jones

      From 1913 to 1915 hunters and railroad men in the area of Fish Creek about 40 miles west of Missoula, Montana were plagued by encounters with the weeping spirit of a woman. She would soon garner the name the Fish Creek Ghost and could possibly be one of the earliest ghosts said to have been captured on camera in the United States.

      The first reported sighting was from a railroad crew. They stated in August of 1913 while on a train passing by the Fish Creek area they saw “a radiant maiden strolling majestically over the foothills in tearful meditation.” Quite the description, eh? As they watched she simply “melted away” right before their eyes. They said they all just stood there wondering if they had been seeing things. A month later these same men decided to go hunting in the same area. As they sat around the campfire reminiscing of bygone days they said they suddenly saw the “melancholy maiden” walking slowly through the trees about 100 yds from their camp. They called out to her but said she completely ignored them and just kept walking on her path.

      The 1st Investigation

      It took a couple of years but by 1915 word of the weeping woman and haunted cabin near Rivulet, Montana started making its way around Missoula. Three men named Ed Rendleman, W.E. Fuge (or Fudge), and F.J. Alberts went to the deserted cabin on the old Gossage homestead at Fish Creek to try and solve the mysterious sightings. And then things got weird. As the three men made their way to the cabin they noted there were no tracks in the snow. F.J. Alberts stopped at a stream near the cabin to refill his canteen and was surprised to see “12 or 15 clots of fresh blood” on the snowbank. He thought that his nose had started bleeding, but wiping his face he found no blood. Now properly freaked out he called to his friends but they couldn’t hear him. He ran to the cabin to tell his friends what he experienced and when the three men returned to the snowbank the blood was gone.

      The men settled themselves in the cabin, starting a fire in the old fireplace and cooked a meal. They sat so they could see the front door of the cabin as well as the doorway into another room and most of the windows. And then, they waited. Eventually the men fell asleep and everything was fairly non-eventful until Alberts was woken up by Rendleman pinching his knee. Rendlemen didn’t say a word but slowly pointed across the dark room. When Alberts looked over he saw:

      “a human face, with tearful, staring eyes. If the face had a body, I did not get it. The face was in the doorway leading from the bedroom. I saw it distinctly. It was a woman’s face, and about where the head of a short woman would have been. The face was weeping, very sorrowful.”

      Rendleman said:

      “I plainly saw a woman. She was dressed in a bridal gown, new, of light silk. She was crying. She came out of the bedroom and stood in the door. I pinched Alberts, to make sure he was awake. The woman stood there about 30 seconds, then crossed the room to the window at our left and disappeared. She was not more than eight or nine feet from us. No, we made no effort to seize the apparition.”

      Ghostbusters Bill Murray GIFfrom Ghostbusters GIFs

      The two men waited hoping the woman would reappear but to no avail. Around 3 am they woke up Fuge who slept through the entire event and made their way back down to Rivulet to catch the train home. I should point out that when the three men were interviewed, Fuge would say he believed that Alberts and Rendleman both dreamt the whole event.

      The men knew they were being ridiculed for what they were saying publicly about their paranormal encounter. Two of the men wrote the following to The Missoulian on January 26th, 1915:

      A great many of our citizens and others who have merely declared their intention of becoming citizens have a tendency to treat the matter of the Fish Creek specter or lady ghost with shrug of doubting shoulders and loud salvos of mirth. Perhaps, however, if they were suddenly confronted at midnight by a lovely young lady, dressed in milk-white bridal splendor, weeping bitterly but silently, wringing her little hands in abject despair, walking over the foothills in the silvery moonlight – then the matter would not be viewed in so gleeful a light.

      The 2nd Investigation

      Following the article of the three men’s experience in the haunted cabin, a man named Burt Duckworth decided that he was up for a challenge and would settle once and for all the question of if the cabin was truly haunted. Duckworth was described as a “good photographer” and set off for the cabin along with four others: Ray Hall, Harry Byrd, Ellis Rathburn, and Ralph Cuplin. Ralph Cuplin was said to have been an “excellent photographer” and brought with him an “electronically-equipped” camera.

      The ghostly domain of this woman was said to stretch from Cyr to the Fish Creek bridge and the surrounding areas. To get to the area the men would take the westbound Coeur d’Alene train and get off at the Rivulet Station. The cabin itself was accessible only by horseback or walking. It was described as a story-and-a-half built on a flat in Weeping Woman gulch. The inside had a large room with a stairway leading up to the half story which was used for sleeping. The property also had a hay-barn, and a small chicken pen which were both on the verge of collapse.

      The men arrived at the cabin around 3:30pm and were tired and hungry from the miles long trek through the hills. Ray Hall cooked their dinner and they then proceeded to thoroughly investigate the entire cabin, taking pictures as they went. By the time they got finished taking pictures of the outside of the cabin, the sun was going down and the men decided it was time to figure out where they would sleep. They set up their fancy camera near the door so it would cover as much of the room as possible. A rubber cord with a button stretched across the room to where the men set up their sleeping bags.

      The men were all sleeping peacefully when suddenly Ellis Rathburn jumped up from his bed and ran out the front door jumping over two other men in the process. At the same time, one of the men, Ralph Cuplin had the presence of mind to press the button on their “electric camera” and capture a picture they said proved that there was something spooky happening in the old deserted cabin. The men said they saw standing before them the ghost of a weeping woman who promptly vanished as soon as the camera button was pressed. Burt went on to describe their feelings:

      Our feelings are best described in the language of Edgar Allen Poe: We were filled with a fantastic feeling ne’er dreamed of before”

      As a paranormal researcher I find this story fascinating, mainly because of how well it was documented. Typically, when researching old ghost stories, and ghost stories in general, the details are very vague. Names aren’t mentioned, dates aren’t solid, etc. Not only were the names of numerous people who experienced this ghost in the woods posted in the local papers, but they were all verifiable.

      All of the men mentioned in this post were verified as living in the Missoula area during the time the events occurred. Additionally, the lore behind the cabin, although much more vague, was also somewhat verified. The papers said that the cabin was haunted by a woman who was murdered in the area years prior. The name of the owner of the cabin was said to have been Gossage. There was a man named Robert C. Gossage who owned the land that the cabin was located on. However, I could find no mention of anyone connected to the Gossage family having died in the period of time before the ghost began to be seen. Interestingly, it doesn’t appear that the Gossage family stayed at the location for very long.

      Was the Weeping Woman of Fish Creek a carefully planned hoax or were there actual strange events happening in this remote area of Montana? Personally, I’d like to believe the stories of the spirit haunting the cabin, but hoax or not, it’s a fascinating tale.

      Sources:

      • The Missoulian (Missoula, Montana) 25 Jan 1915, Mon • Page 2
      • The Missoulian (Missoula, Montana) 26 Jan 1915, Tue • Page 10
      • The Missoulian (Missoula, Montana) 06 Feb 1915, Sat • Page 8
      • U.S., General Land Office Records, 1776-2015
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      Haunted America

      The Haunting of Express Car No. 5: A Historical Account

      by Jennifer Jones
      written by Jennifer Jones

      On January 26, 1882, a small article hit the third page of the Reno Gazette-Journal entitled “A Haunted Car.” The article stated that the Wells, Fargo & Co’s messengers have detailed encounters they’ve had with the haunted express car. The car in question was Express Car No. 5 and during this time its typical route was between San Francisco and Ogden. An express car was a guarded car that was used to transport gold, silver, and other valuable items. Well-armed express messengers traveled in the car, something similar to the armored trucks of today.

      According to the article, this particular car had been causing problems of the paranormal nature for a number of years. It had become so well known amongst the Wells, Fargo & Co’s messengers and other staff that the company sent it to Sacramento for a complete renovation in December of 1881. The messengers believed that this would “kill the ghost and return the car to the rail free from all demoralizing influence.” Unfortunately for them, that was not the case.

      On January 24th, 1882, the car in question left San Francisco and the poor messenger assigned to the car had the experience of his life. He told the paper that the “ghost came in and tumbled the boxes of freight about, tolled bells, and made sweet music, and called the messenger by name.” Wait, what? What was happening in this car?! According to the unnamed messenger, the car’s previous trip before being sent to Sacramento was even worse. The messenger during that run reported hearing strange noises on the roof of the car. Thinking that he was in the process of being robbed he waited for the robbers to try and enter the car. When that didn’t happen and the noises on the roof ceased, he opened the door and looked around but saw nothing and everything was quiet. Here’s where things get extra weird. He closed the door and while walking back to the mail table “down came a box of cooked shrimps and a band-box.” Just imagine the smell of a box of cooked shrimps in an unrefrigerated car back in 1881. Yuck. The freight was tossed around and then everything went quiet.

      Whoever wrote the article goes on to claim that on another occasion prior to the renovation the express car had a corpse in transit. The messenger stated that he saw the head and trunk of the man’s body rise up from the casket, take a look around, call the messenger by name, and then vanish. If I had to guess I would say that this was some exaggeration from the reporter or the person who relayed that experience had eaten a few too many of those cooked shrimps. So, what is the cause of the haunting, you ask? The article stated that the car was part of a train that was in an accident several years prior near Truckee, California in which Conductor Marshall and an express messenger were killed. It was this event that started the frequent paranormal experiences of all of those unlucky enough to be assigned to car No. 5. I wanted to see if I could track down any information about this train wreck that led to the haunting of the car and sure enough, I was able to verify that the wreck mentioned did happen, and the people involved were real.

      Around October 20th, 1872 on the Central Pacific Railroad an east-bound train was heading for Reno when trouble struck about 3 to 4 miles east of Truckee. The cars somehow became detached from the engine and despite efforts to avoid a crash eventually caught up to and collided with the engine. The post office, express, and baggage cars were thrown from the track killing Conductor Marshall who was caught between the two sleeping cars while trying to put on the brakes. He was nearly cut in two. The Express Agent, John Hawks, Express Messenger, Van Wormer, and Postal Agent, Joseph Taylor were all killed in the accident.

      The Haunted Car article of 1882 would not be the last we would hear about the infamous car No. 5, however. On March 7th, 1882, noted Wells, Fargo & Co’s Express Messenger Aaron Y. Ross reportedly took a shot at what he thought was a person standing inside of car No. 5. Ross, who would go on to become famous for single-handedly warding off a robbery of the car in January of 1883 was said to be a level-headed, non-drinker. He was 6’3”, weighed over 200 lbs, and had a “commanding presence.” (Ross would eventually retire from Wells Fargo at the age of 87 and died in Ogden in 1922 at the age of 93.)

      Back to the story, because we’re not done with this express car yet. In January 1885 it was reported that Ross demanded a new car. He said that one evening he was working alone in the car and went to sleep around 10 pm. At midnight he was awoken by a noise that sounded like a box falling and being crushed. He got up and looked around, nothing seemed to be out of place, and figuring he must have dreamt it, he went back to sleep. The next time he was on the same route he again was woken up by the sound of a box falling and being crushed. This time, however, when he laid back down he heard the noise again. He said it would happen every night he was working this route and he eventually got used to it and would simply ignore the strange noises.

      One night, however, the noise was unusually loud, and he sat straight up in his bed. As he looked around he saw the “shadowy figure of a man standing at his desk, pen in hand.” He couldn’t figure out how the man got in and when he grabbed his rifle the figure disappeared.

      There weren’t any further mentions of car No. 5 until 1893. The car was now being used on the mail route between Los Angeles and El Paso. According to the article, there was a macabre death of a “tramp” who was riding underneath Central Pacific Car No. 5062 when it stopped at a water tank. The man was thrown from his seat, horribly mangled and killed. On the next trip when the train neared the spot where the accident occurred a “peculiar moaning was heard” and would continue until the site was some distance behind the train. Messengers would claim this would happen on every trip. It seems the unusual life of car No. 5 would come to an end near Lordsburg, New Mexico on December 10th, 1893 in a wreck.

      Sources:

      • The Daily Bee, 14 Oct 1872
      • The Mail, 7 Mar 1882
      • The Mail, 19 Jan 1885
      • Los Angeles Herald, 19 Dec 1893
      • Arizona Daily Star, 10 Dec 1893

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      Haunted America

      Ghost Cats and Where to Find Them

      by Jennifer Jones
      written by Jennifer Jones

      One of my favorite types of hauntings doesn’t involve the ghosts of people, but cats. I keep a running list of locations said to have ghost cat hauntings.

      Do you know of a location haunted by a ghost cat? If so, send me a message and I’ll add it to the list!

      Last Updated: 10/11/24

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      Haunted AmericaUrban Legends

      Discovering Whiskey Pete: Ghosts and History in Primm

      by Jennifer Jones
      written by Jennifer Jones

      There’s a legend surrounding Whiskey Pete’s Hotel & Casino in Primm, Nevada that says the place is haunted by old Whiskey Pete himself. Patrons and staff alike have reported the unnerving feeling of being watched. As they look around they spot an elderly man wearing old fashioned western wear who then promptly vanishes before their eyes. The legend says that Pete still haunts his former property because his grave was disturbed during the construction of the resort, and he wants everyone to know that he’s still around keeping an eye on things.

      I had heard of this legend before, and honestly, I chalked it all up to be a legend because there are never any details to the reports such as who saw the ghost and when. On top of that, I didn’t realize that Whiskey Pete was even a real person and it all just sounded too much like an urban legend to me. But, as it turns out, Whiskey Pete was a real person and his grave was actually disturbed.

      The Beginnings of Whiskey Pete

      Long before the hotels that straddle the freeway in Primm, Nevada sat a small service station called the State Line Station, which was run by a cantankerous moonshiner named Pete McIntyre. Most people in the area knew him as Whiskey Pete, and it seems like Pete was the type of guy who took no crap from anyone! Pete was very well known in Las Vegas and there were a few who did not care for him much and felt that he could get away with anything.

      Pete is a difficult guy to trace through historical records. He does not show up in the 1900, 1910, or 1920 U.S. Census that I can find. He does show up in the Tulare County jail, however, in January 1918. He was arrested for running a “blind pig” otherwise known as a speakeasy. While he was eventually sentenced to 30 days in jail, he actually served a little over two months because he could not make bail initially. His place of birth listed is Arizona, which differs from where he would list his place of birth in the 1930 Census. The jail records state his occupation was a miner. In 1922 he was again arrested for bootlegging, this time in Nevada, and spent 6 months in jail.

      He’s first listed on the 1930 U.S. Census living in Crescent, Nevada, a small mining town near the Nevada California line. He lists his occupation as the proprietor of a service station. He’s first mentioned in the Las Vegas newspapers in 1928 when the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce read a letter from a woman who stopped at Whiskey Pete’s gas station. According to the woman it was about 11 p.m. and she stopped to have her oil and water checked and to get gas. Whiskey Pete came out to serve them and when he realized that the car only needed water he became “abusive and threatening and refused to let them have water.” He forced the woman to drive to the next service station with an empty radiator and an overheated engine. The Chamber of Commerce said that for months they had received similar complaints from tourists driving to and from Las Vegas to California. One of the complaints said that Whiskey Pete shot at them and another said he threatened to shoot them. They referred the information to the Las Vegas sheriff so that he could have a chat with Pete.

      Pete’s attitude might have chilled out for a bit but by March 1931 Pete was facing a charge of assault with a deadly weapon for shooting the Elgin postmaster, Rube Bradshaw in the shoulder. Unsurprisingly the two men had different versions of what happened. According to Rube, he stopped at the gas station with his two sons and when he walked inside Pete was already “surly”. When he asked Pete for a cup of coffee he said Pete became enraged so he simply said he’d get his coffee elsewhere and started to leave. When he reached the door he said that Pete called him a “vile name” and when he turned around to face him, Pete shot him in the shoulder with a pistol.

      A preliminary hearing was set for Pete at which he pleaded not guilty and was released on bail. Pete told the reporters that he resented the bad reputation he had and that his remote location makes it necessary for him to be armed at all times. He also made sure to let the reporters know that he was paying for all of Rube Bradshaw’s hospital and medical expenses. Eventually, the charges against Pete were dropped when Bradshaw failed to show at court three separate times.

      At some point in early 1932, Pete married a woman named Lauretta Frances Enders. By October she had apparently had enough and took him to court on charges of insanity. According to physicians Pete was just fine mentally, but physically he was likely to die in a matter of days due to “miner’s consumption.” Mrs. McIntyre was the only witness against her husband and claimed that he would “fly into a rage every time he sees me and accuses me of all sorts of things.” Pete quickly admitted to flying into rages but added: “who wouldn’t when they find their wife running around naked in the hills with other men.”

      He said that a few weeks prior, Lauretta took him to the Stillwell Sanitarium in Banning, Calfornia and remained there with him, helping to care for him. As soon as he showed signs of recovering she left him. Lauretta was supposed to be looking after the service station, but when he was well enough to go home he found she hadn’t paid attention to it at all and was “running around with other men.” The judge denied Laurett’s motion to have him committed and there is really no mention of her after this.

      By December of 1932, Pete declared that he was too busy to die and that he was now four months past his funeral date. By September of 1933, Pete was living back at Stillwell where he told reporters he was doing okay. Whiskey Pete McIntyre died on the 11th of November, 1933. It was soon announced that his funeral was to be held in Las Vegas, and this is where things get weird.

      Buried Standing Up

      At some point prior to his death, Pete told his friends that he wanted to be buried standing up near his service station. His exact words were “Bury me up on the hill, standing up facing the valley so I can see all those sons of bitches goin’ by.” His friends did as he asked and used dynamite to blast a 6′ hole in the limestone cliff overlooking Highway 91 from behind his service station. Over the years Pete’s grave became lost to time. People repeatedly stole his grave marker until it simply wasn’t replaced. His service station was sold a few times until the location was eventually developed into Whiskey Pete’s Casino in 1977.

      The only known image of Whiskey Pete’s original grave. Used with Permission.

      On February 2, 1994, construction workers were grading land for a railroad track that would connect Whiskey Pete’s to Buffalo Bill’s on the other side of the freeway. While working near the original site of State Line Station, they struck a crumbling wooden coffin. Inside they found the skeletal remains of Whiskey Pete himself. Even though some of the legends said he was buried with a 10-gallon hat on his head, his six-shooters strapped to his side and a jug of whiskey, all they found was his bones. He had a little bit of hair left on his skull, dentures in his mouth, and a couple of buttons left on his shirt.1Remains of Whiskey Pete found -Las Vegas Review-Journal – February 5, 1994

      Source: Las Vegas Review-Journal February 5, 1994

      Pete’s coffin was said to be about 80% intact and buried at an angle to the highway. The project manager said they knew that Whiskey Pete was buried somewhere in the area, but they had no way of knowing exactly where. “The tractor caught the edge of the box and the skull popped out. There was Whiskey Pete staring at us.”

      Although the resort said that Whiskey Pete would be reburied somewhere on the property with a memorial, it doesn’t appear that any memorial has been set up, and it’s unknown exactly where Pete has been buried. It’s rumored that his remains were reinterred in one of the caves he used to make his moonshine.

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      Haunted AmericaStrange & Unusual

      The Gurdon Light

      by Jennifer Jones
      written by Jennifer Jones

      A Horrific Murder

      On December 3rd, 1931, a freight train with 14 cars attached derailed just southwest of the small town of Gurdon, Arkansas. Railroad officials discovered that the rails had been tampered with and believed that whoever had done it meant for the Sunshine Special, a passenger train that usually traveled at speeds of 60 to 70 mph to derail.

      The following day, December 4th, 1931, Will McClain’s wife alerted the city marshal that her husband had not returned from work the night before. Will was a section foreman for the Missouri Pacific railroad. She had asked around the small community that morning and no one had seen him since he was at work the evening before. She was concerned because it was not like him to not come home. The marshal began going around town talking to people and looking for any sign of Will. The marshal spotted a laborer named Louie McBride who was known to work under Will McClain. He thought that McBride was acting suspiciously and brought him to the jail for questioning.

      Gurdon Jail

      Louie (Louis) McBride was a member of the section crew and a longtime resident of Gurdon. When he was brought in for questioning he quickly admitted to murdering Will McClain and brought the city marshal to the site of McClain’s body.

      When the marshal got close to the area McBride indicated, it became abundantly clear that something terrible had taken place. A trail of blood almost a quarter of a mile long stretched from the railroad tracks to the nearby swampy woods. McClain’s body was found and it was determined he had died from four severe blows to the head. A bloody spike maul and shovel were also found nearby. The marshal determined that McClain did not die right away, and had actually tried to crawl out of the woods.1Ghostly Lights Still Haunt Tiny Gurdon Legend has it that McClain’s lantern was still clutched tightly in his hand when his body was found.

      An example of a spike maul

      McBride told police he beat McClain to death because he was angry over being denied seniority rights during recent layoffs. Initially, police thought that McBride might have been involved with the tampering of the railroad track the previous day. Louie McBride was found guilty of murder and sentenced to death by electrocution. Despite appeals, McBride was executed in the electric chair at the Little Rock penitentiary on July 8th, 1932.

      Arkansas Gazette Saturday, Jul 09, 1932
      Little Rock, AR Page:9

      The Light

      Almost instantly reports of a strange yellowish-white and even sometimes bluish light seen along a 4-mile stretch of railroad track near Gurdon began pouring in.2 Eerie ‘Gurdon Light’ is 50-year mystery – The Daily Journal (Franklin, Indiana) 30 Oct 1981, Fri Pg 5 The mysterious light hovers a few feet above the railroad track and is shaped like a medicine ball. It often disappears only to reappear behind people who are walking the tracks hoping to see the light. To make things even creepier, the area is surrounded by dense, swampy woods and a small, old cemetery.

      Over the years residents began making trips to the area with the hope of seeing the mysterious light for themselves. By the 1950s the phenomena had made the local newspapers, and since that time scores of people have reported seeing the mysterious light.

      Theories

      For years people tried to debunk the light. Some said that the light was caused by headlights from the nearby highway, others said it was “swamp gas” rising up from the ground. The headlight theory has been largely debunked for a couple of reasons. The first reason is that sightings have been reported as far back as 1931 – 1932, long before the highway was nearby. The second reason is that there is a large hill between the railroad tracks and the closest highway.

      Mike Clingan, a man who probably spent more time than anybody else investigating the mysterious light felt that the best scientific explanation for the light is what is called ‘the piezoelectric effect.’ An easy explanation of this is that there are quartz crystals in the ground underneath the tracks which in response to constant stress an electric reaction is created which shows as a glowing light. Gurdon also sits at the tip of the New Madrid seismic zone.

      According to Mike, sightings of the light pre-date the murder of Will McClain. Some of the “old-timers” in the area claim the light was dated to the Native Americans and first white settlers in the area. Unlike other ghost lights, the Gurdon Light has all the makings of a great ghost story. A well documented violent murder, swampy surroundings, a cemetery and even Bigfoot sightings near the Stickey Road crossing of the tracks.

      Mike shared some of his personal experiences with me, and he says as a physicist he’s experienced things he can’t find an explanation for. He watched a group of people through binoculars as they walked down the tracks towards him for 10-15 minutes only to see them vanish when they got to him. He’s seen a strange blueish mist hovering over the rails, voices and shuffling sounds with no visible source. On one occasion he was overwhelmed with a strong sense of dread while walking back to the group he was with. As he approached them, they all started to report the same feeling without him having said a word.

      So perhaps the Gurdon Light has a strange yet scientific explanation, or maybe, the light serves as a spooky reminder of a terrible murder that took place here over 80 years ago.

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      Haunted AmericaTrue Crime

      The Graceful Ghost of Phoebe Paullin

      by Jennifer Jones
      written by Jennifer Jones

      By the Fall of 1896, enough reports of a strange, glowing figure seen by the roadside in West Orange, New Jersey, were making the rounds that the story made national news, not coincidentally, just in time for Halloween! People reported seeing a spirit in the shape of a woman just off the side of the road.

      One evening a family was making their way back to Orange in their buggy; John Beach, his wife, and his daughter. As the carriage got to the area near Eagle Rock he saw a what he described as a “luminous body.” His horse at first refused to move any further, and John was hoping that his wife and daughter wouldn’t notice the apparition by the side of the road. He coaxed the horse forward slowly, and just as they got within 20 feet of the glowing shape his wife and daughter let out screams, and according to the article, promptly fainted. John’s horse was terrified and jolted past the spirit, not stopping or slowing its pace until they reached their house.

      Brave souls who encountered the floating apparition reported that they tried to approach and follow the glowing form but once they got within a few feet it simply vanished before their eyes. Unlike other legends and tales of ghosts and ghouls that linger by the side of a dark road, the people in this community knew immediately who this ghost belonged to.

      A 136-Year Unsolved Murder

      Her name was Phoebe Paullin and 13 years earlier her lifeless body which at first was mistaken for a bundle of clothes was spotted by a father and son walking down Eagle Rock Ave on November 24, 1883.

      Around 2 pm on November 23, 1883, 17-year-old Phoebe Jane Paullin left her house on Centerville Road to go into Orange on some errands for her mother. She told her mother that if it got late she might stay at her friend’s house for the night. When Phoebe didn’t come home that evening her family wasn’t concerned and figured she had just decided to stay at the Anderson’s home. However, when she hadn’t returned by late morning the following day her mother started to become worried.

      The following day a local saloon owner named John Wachtar and his 14-year-old son were walking down Eagle Rock Avenue. They left the road and soon spotted what they saw was a bundle of clothing. Upon closer inspection, they discovered that what they found was actually the body of a young woman whose throat had been brutally cut.

      Phoebe’s body was found approximately 200 yds from Eagle Nest Cottage, which was also known as The Eyrie, and 100 yards from the road. Mr. Wachtman and his son immediately ran to notify authorities. Police arrived on the scene, noted that it looked like her body had been dragged from the road. They put her body in a wagon and took it back to her parents house, where an autopsy would be performed.

      Phoebe had three neck wounds, two which were non-fatal and one that cut her trachea and carotid artery. Police believed that the wounds had been made by a pen knife. Detectives found horse and wagon tracks coming from Orange. The wagon had been turned off the road and stopped behind some cedar trees. They were fairly certain that these tracks belonged to whoever killed Phoebe as rain the night before her murder would have erased all previous wagon tracks.

      Numerous people came forward and reported to police that they saw a tall man wearing a long, thin overcoat walking near Phoebe in the same direction on the night of her murder. 1The Murder of Phoebe Paullin New-York Tribune · 4 Dec 1883, Tue · Page 5

      The Mysterious Young Man

      The police immediately began working the case and talking to people in the area. A few days after her murder a bloody shirt was found not far from the scene, having been partially buried under some sand. Shortly after that a family living in Llewelyn Park reported that a stranger knocked on their door asking for a shirt and pair of pants. They said he was about 24, florid complexion, spoke well and was unbearded.2Orange Mountain Murder of Pretty Phoebe Paulin Still Unsolved Mystery – The Daily Record (Long Branch, New Jersey) · 25 Nov 1932, Fri · Page 15

      Reports started coming in that Phoebe had been seen in the days and weeks prior to her murder talking with a young man. He was said to be well dressed but no one seemed to know who he was. Some people said that she was engaged to this mysterious man, however Phoebe’s sister denied this.

      Within days two brothers who lived near Phoebe were arrested and brought in for questioning. They gave similar but slightly differing accounts of where they had been at the time of her murder. Phoebe’s family however said that they had known this family for years and did not believe they were involved in her murder. The brothers were subsequently released for lack of evidence.

      Shortly after that a man who I believe to have been Phoebe’s murderer was arrested. His name was George Franck, and he was a local beer bottler. He told police that on the night Phoebe was murdered he had been at Frank Wachtar’s saloon (you might remember him as being the person who found her body). He said that he left the saloon and went to the Mitchell’s place arriving around 6pm. He told the detectives that he had walked down Eagle Rock Ave (same route as Phoebe) and that someone could vouch for him arriving at home at the time stated.

      Although George was their prime suspect the police could not hold him due to a lack of evidence. However, within a couple of weeks of Phoebe’s murder he attempted suicide by cutting his own throat. In a letter left for his estranged wife he stated emphatically that he didn’t kill Phoebe. Interestingly enough, just shy of one year later, George Franck was arrested and charged with assault and attempted rape of a Mrs. Hilfinger. This is why I believe that he was the best suspect for Phoebe Paullin’s murder. He had gotten away with it once, why not try again?

      Phoebe Paullin’s Death Certificate

      Despite arresting numerous suspects for Phoebe’s murder, not a single person was ever charged due to lack of evidence. It makes me wonder how quickly this case would have been solved had the technology available today been available back then.

      In the years following the story in the newspaper, reports of Phoebe’s ghost became less and less frequent. The area today appears to be much different than it was during the time of her death. The Eyrie still stands, but many of the roads have changed. It makes me wonder if anyone still sees Phoebe’s glowing ghost standing near the side of the road on dark, moonlit nights.

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      CemeteriesForgotten HistoryHaunted America

      Shadows From Beyond the Grave: The Ghost Lore of Cheesman Park

      by Jennifer Jones
      written by Jennifer Jones

      Situated southeast of downtown Denver sits a large park that on any given summer day is full of people basking in the sun, jogging, or playing with their dogs. It seems like just a normal park until you learn that the 80 acres it covers were once Denver’s pioneer cemetery. It is also very close to the site of the house that inspired the book (and movie) The Changeling. The story of what happened to turn this cemetery into a park is more macabre than you might imagine.

      Around 1859, General William Larimer set aside 320 acres of land for a cemetery. 1Colorado Encyclopedia, and Mount Prospect Cemetery was born. As early as 1863 a large portion of the cemetery was in serious disrepair. Cattle were allowed to roam freely through the cemetery, and the city didn’t put any effort into caring or maintaining for the graves.2Rocky Mountain News Weekly, January 8, 1863 Around 1872 it was determined that the cemetery was actually on federal land and Congress sold it to the city of Denver under the condition that it always remained a cemetery.

      Rocky Mountain News December 23, 1861

      Around 1875 twenty acres were sold to the Hebrew Burial Society for Jewish burials. The rest of the cemetery was parceled out into sections for the different ethnic groups and fraternal organizations. At the south end of the cemetery slightly separated from the rest was a section for the Chinese.

      Jack O’Neils Ranch

      Just a few short years later Denver citizens were referring to the cemetery as the Old Boneyard, Boot Hill, and Jack O’Neils Ranch. A few other cemeteries had popped up around Denver and soon Mt Prospect was left to bury the “undesirables” such as the poor, the unwanted, and outlaws.

      Hand-drawn map of the Old Prospect Hill Cemetery in the Cheesman Park neighborhood. Included are names and locations of the different sections of the cemetery.
      Image – Western History and Genealogy Dept., Denver Public Library

      Jack O’Neil was a very popular, reportedly a very handsome man of “powerful physique.” He was gunned down in a Denver saloon on March 30, 1860. Following his death citizens debated on where he should be buried. The Mt. Prospect Burial Association offered to bury him at Mt. Prospect for free, which ruffled the feathers of the Denver elite. His burial started a precedent that led to the outer portions of the cemetery becoming the place to bury criminals.

      Once the cemetery had gotten the nickname of Jack O’Neils Ranch the influential citizens of Denver decided they could not be buried amongst such riffraff and Mt Prospect cemetery was left to be a Potter’s field.

      The Death of The Cemetery

      By the late 1880s, the cemetery was an absolute mess. Some of the graves were still tended by families and were in good shape, but most of the graves were uncared for and the cemetery was covered with weeds and junk. In 1901 it was remembered as being a “treeless, shrubless, waterless, utterly forsaken and neglected except by the prairie dogs.”3 Cheesman Park Hill History The neighborhood that was now surrounding the cemetery had become one of the most exclusive parts of Denver and the influential families complained about the unsightly Mount Prospect Cemetery.

      Before long real estate developers began lobbying for Mount Prospect Cemetery to be turned into a park. Because it was later determined that the cemetery was located on Federally owned land, Colorado State Senator Henry Moore Teller persuaded Congress to allow the cemetery to be converted into a park and on January 25, 1890, Congress voted to allow the city to vacate the cemetery. In recognition, the park was named Congress Park. Because of the large number of Catholic graves in the eastern portion of the cemetery, Denver Mayor Joseph Bates sold the 40-acre section to the Archdiocese of Denver and it was renamed Mount Calvary Cemetery.

      Hop Alley Denver between 20th and 21st
      Image Courtesy –Western History and Genealogy Dept., Denver Public Library

      The Chinese section of the cemetery was given to the Chinese community who lived in the “Hop Alley” district of Denver. Due to Chinese customs, most of the bodies in this section were removed and shipped back to China for burial.

      The Graveyard Conspiracy

      After it was determined that the cemetery was to be vacated, the Mayor of Denver made an announcement for families to arrange for the removal and reinternment of their loved ones. After approximately a year, the city realized that there were still many bodies left in the cemetery and opened up the task of removal and reburial for bids. A local undertaker named E.P. McGovern won the bid and would be paid $1.90 (approx $53 today) for each box moved and reburied in Riverside Cemetery. On March 24, 1893, the Denver Republican published a letter from Mayor Platt Rogers to E.P. McGovern effectively charging him with fraud and removing him from his duties.

      The Mayor pointed out the following issues in his letter to McGovern:

      • Boxes were not made of surface lumber and not the correct size
      • Joints were not made perfectly tight with white lead
      • The City Inspector reported that a solution of corrosive sublimate was not used in the manner and amount required
      • Quick lime was not used in the manner and amount required
      • No evidence that a house for the workingmen to wash and change their clothes was provided
      • No evidence that the workingmen were compelled to wash and change their clothes prior to leaving the cemetery

      Denver Republican – Tuesday, Oct 24, 1882  – Page: 2

      And the most damning accusal of all was that the city inspector found evidence that bodies from certain graves were divided and placed in two or more boxes, and in other cases, boxes that were sent to Riverside Cemetery contained nothing at all, or simply fragments of wood. The city inspector went to Riverside Cemetery and dug up a box marked B.H. 274 and found that it contained 2-3 small pieces of wood which they assumed were the remains of a coffin.4 Denver Rocky Mountain NewsFriday, Mar 24, 1893, Denver, CO Page: 3

      When McGovern’s contract was canceled the city knew that hundreds of graves had not been reached, and yet a new contract for the removal of the bodies was never awarded. It seems the city had had enough.

      Old grave markers and vaults in the abandoned City Cemetery
      Image Courtesy –Western History and Genealogy Dept., Denver Public Library

      A Morbid Park Is Born

      By 1894 a fence was erected around the new park, leveling of the ground was begun, and grass was planted over land that still contained hundreds of bodies. The Hebrew section of the cemetery remained until 1910 when it was sold back to the city and the bodies moved, and the Catholic section of the cemetery remained a cemetery until 1950 when the land was sold back to the city and approximately 6,000 bodies were moved to another location.

      In 1907, a successful Denver businessman named Walter Cheesman died and his wife told the city that she would donate a marble pavilion to the park if the name were changed to Cheesman Park. And so, Cheesman Park was born.

      Cheesman Memorial
      Image Courtesy –Western History and Genealogy Dept., Denver Public Library

      Strange Sightings

      It shouldn’t come as a surprise that people have experienced unexplainable things at Cheeseman Park when there are an estimated 3,000 bodies lying underneath the ground.

      It’s a beautiful green area and when I was there there were numerous people lying on the grass and jogging around the park perimeter with their dogs.

      However, many people who visit the park say they feel overwhelmed with a sense of sadness and even dread.

      Rumors of paranormal activity began to haunt this location as soon as the bodies were being removed. Locals that lived near the now park reported ghostly activity in their homes and complained that the souls were unhappy and were wandering about.

      Children have been seen playing in the park late into the night who then simply vanish into thin air.

      One woman observed a woman who was singing in the park, her clothing was out of place and dated and the observer thought this was really strange. As she stopped to watch the singing woman, the lady simply vanished. Some people even say on moonlit nights if the conditions are just right you’ll even see the ghostly forms of long gone headstones.

      https://www.denverpost.com/2010/11/01/four-preserved-skeletons-unearthed-at-denvers-cheesman-park-once-a-cemetery/

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