A Ghost a Day Read online

  Years later, a historic lecture hall was built on the site of the apple orchard; it would host such notables as Hawthorne, Thoreau, Emerson, and the prominent inventor, Alexander Bell. In fact, in 1877, history was made from this location, as Bell demonstrated his invention here and made the first public phone call.

  In 1989 George Harrington purchased the building, and the Lyceum Bar & Grill soon opened. Ever since, employees and patrons alike have witnessed scores of unexplainable phenomena. Above the hectic activities of a bustling restaurant, many people have heard a female voice whisper in their ears. Shocked patrons have given George countless photos depicting unexplainable light anomalies. Some employees have seen the ghostly image of a woman staring out a second-floor window, only to have her vanish upon their approach. And there are those that have caught the sweet, succulent scent of apple blossoms wafting in the air. When the staff are questioned about the origin of the floral aroma, they state that it's a gift from Bridget.

  JUNE 6, 1879 THE PROSTITUTE THAT LOST HER HEAD

  Griffintown, Montreal

  According to the Montreal Gazette, 129 years ago two prostitutes, Mary Gallagher and Susan Kennedy, drank two bottles of whiskey while they enjoyed each other's company. Inebriated, the women picked up a man named Michael Flanagan and took him back to Susan's home. Later in the evening, when Flanagan lay unconscious, the two women fought. Apparently, Kennedy was jealous of Gallagher. Enraged that Gallagher could so easily pick up a trick, she retrieved an axe and chopped off Mary's head, which was later found in a bucket beside the stove. At first, the unconscious Flanagan and Kennedy were charged with murder. But the police soon realized that since Michael had no blood on him, he was innocent of any wrongdoing. The press went wild with the story. In Victorian times, women were considered to be gentle, not cold-blooded murderers. The downstairs neighbor, who reported that at 12:15 A.M. she heard the loud thud of a body dropping to the floor, further corroborated the tale of horror. She continued to say that for a period of time after hearing the loud bang, she heard the disturbing sound of chopping. Kennedy was tried, convicted, and sentenced to hang; however, her sentence was commuted. Susan Kennedy spent the next sixteen years in prison. But that's not the end to this gruesome story. It appears that the day Mary died, a legend was born. Every seven years, the ghost of Mary Gallagher returns to the streets of Griffintown, seeking revenge and looking for her head.

  JUNE 7, 1873 ST. AUGUSTINE LIGHTHOUSE

  St. Augustine, Florida

  St. Augustine Lighthouse towers 165 feet above sea level and is located on Anastasia Island near America's oldest city. The lighthouse has seen its share of tragedy. The first keeper died of unknown causes, another fell to his death, and a third died of illness. However, the most tragic occurrence was in 1873. The superintendent overseeing the construction at the time was a man named Hezekiah Pittee. He had moved from Maine with his family. To aid with construction, a tram was built from the ocean to the station. The family's five children loved to ride in the tramcar. While riding in the tram one day, the car derailed and the children fell into the water. Nearby workers were able to save a boy and a girl, but three of the girls drowned.

  Today it is said that staff and visitors often hear laughter in the tower, and one astral girl appears to be wearing the same blue dress she drowned in.

  JUNE 8, 1693 BOSTON COMMON

  Boston, Massachusetts

  Established in 1634, Boston Common is the oldest public park in the United States. Known for its swan boat rides and Frog Pond skating rink, it has a much darker side. On the west end of the park stood a tall oak tree with a sinister purpose. It was the Massachusetts Bay Colony's dreaded hanging tree. Up until the new gallows were built in 1769, many a poor soul met his or her demise on its wretched limbs.

  The tree is no longer there, but the misery and terror it brought to so many of its victims remains. The homeless stay clear of the spot, especially in the evening. And many visitors have felt an uneasiness and heaviness in the night air. There have also been many reports of ghostly apparitions through the years, including that of two fancy-dressed women seen walking together in the Common.

  On June 1, 1660, Quaker Mary Dyer was hanged from the old oak because of her religious beliefs. In 1693 Elizabeth Emerson met the same fate for murdering her two children. Although the two women never knew each other in life, perhaps they have bonded together in death, fighting the loneliness of eternity.

  TERRIFYING TIDBIT

  Female prisoners tried to look their best for their executions, often buying new clothes. If they were too poor, it was not unusual for friends, neighbors, or even the authorities to provide them with a new outfit. I guess you would call them clothes to die for!

  JUNE 9, 1912 THE VILLISCA AX MURDERS

  Villisca, Iowa

  After 1912, life would never again be the same for many of the residents who lived in the peaceful, booming town of Villisca Iowa. The Moore family of six consisted of Sallie, her husband Josiah (or J. B.), and their four children. They, along with two young girls, friends of the Moore children, headed home after the Child's Day program came to an end. It was 9:30 P.M., and it was the last time anyone would ever see them alive.

  The next morning, a neighbor and J. B.'s brother discovered their lifeless, blood-covered bodies. All six family members, along with the two young girls who were visiting had been slain. Their heads crushed with an ax.

  The news of the massacre quickly spread through the town of 2,500. Before the police knew what was happening, the crime scene was compromised by curiosity seekers as hundreds of people walked through the Moore home, some even taking souvenirs as they left. The police had very little to go on. And although there were several suspects, the murders were never solved.

  This home has since passed through many hands. However, in an attempt to preserve history, Darwin and Martha Lynn purchased it in 1994. Through the use of old photographs, they meticulously restored it, replicating the way it looked that fateful night when the Moore family lost their lives. That's when the haunting began. The home has been opened to overnight visitors, many whom have been awakened by the sound of children's laughter when there are no children in sight. Investigators who have stayed at the home have captured many strange sounds, and curious anomalies have showed up on video. Objects move of their own accord. And loud banging can be heard during the night. Sadly, it seems the horror of the family's demise has stained the home forever.

  JUNE 10, 1915 JULIAN GOLD RUSH HOTEL

  Julian, California

  In the late 1800s Albert Robinson, a freed slave from Missouri, moved to the small gold-mining town of Julian. He was hired as a cook for a local ranch, where he met Margaret Tull. They married shortly thereafter and started a restaurant and bakery. A few years later, they constructed the Hotel Robinson. Known for its good cooking and hospitality, the hotel became a hot bed of social activity.

  Albert died on June 10, 1915, but because he was black, he wasn't buried in the town's “whites only” cemetery. Although it was protested, he was laid to rest forty-five miles away. His wife ran the hotel until 1921, when she sold it, and it was later renamed the Julian Hotel.

  Through the years, the place somehow acquired an evil spirit, which showed itself as a ball of light, breaking windows, scaring employees, and moving objects. An exorcist was called in to quell the spirit. It appeared to be successful because the destruction of the property has subsided. But some believe Albert's ghost still remains. His spectral image has been seen throughout the hotel but especially in his old room. When entering room 10, furniture is often rearranged and the bedding disturbed. Quite often, Albert is seen, pipe and all, in mirrors throughout the building. The faint odor of tobacco also lingers in the air. So, although the hotel has changed hands, it seems Albert is unable to move on, destined to remain in the Robinson for eternity.

  JUNE 11, 1201 SILENT POOL

  Shere, England

  Near the small village of Shere in the county of Su
rrey lies a tranquil pond — and a not-so-peaceful legend. Back in the eleventh century, during Saxon times, a hardworking woodcutter lived in the forest with his son and daughter. On a warm summer's day, his daughter, Emma, went to the lake to bathe. Removing all her clothes she walked out into the cool water.

  Suddenly she heard the clamor of hooves as a rider approached. Since she could not reach her clothes in time, she waded deeper into the lake, but the stranger on horseback spotted her. He tried to lure her out of the water, but she only waded deeper, shunning his advances. Angered, the stranger rode his horse into the lake chasing after the girl, who began screaming. Her brother, who was in the nearby woods, heard her cries and ran to her rescue. He dived into the lake and tried to pull her to safety. But he was a poor swimmer, and they both disappeared beneath its dark waters. Meanwhile, the stranger rode away.

  The woodcutter searched and searched for his children, but to no avail. Finally, several days later, the heartbroken father found the bodies of Emma and her brother. No one knows for sure who the mysterious rider was, but legend tells us that he was none other than the evil Prince John, of Robin Hood fame.

  Today if you go to Silent Pool, the deathly stillness haunts you. But if you take the time to listen, you can hear Emma's screams of terror. And on a warm summer's night, as a soft mist covers the pool, maybe you too can see her ghost gliding over the surface of the water.

  JUNE 12, 1731 DEVIL STONE INN

  Devon, England

  The Devil Stone Inn dates back to the fifteenth century. In its rich history, among some of its uses were a poorhouse and a coaching inn. Legend has it that the nearby “Devil Stone,” a huge boulder, had fallen from the Devil's pocket on his descent from heaven to hell. And thus, the inn's name was born. But who haunts the inn? According to visitors who frequent the pub, the ghostly specter of an elderly gentleman has been seen in and about the bar. The playful spirit of a young girl enjoying the occasional game of hide and seek is often seen in the upstairs bedrooms. And a grumpy old man has been seen in the upstairs rooms as well. Perhaps his bad mood could be attributed to a repetitive ethereal game of hide and seek. But that's not all. Staff members report that the taps have turned on by themselves during the night, and disembodied footsteps have been heard throughout the hallways. The paranormal activity even induced Richard Felix from the popular television show Most Haunted to pay a visit. Through the use of glass divination, séances, and table tipping, Richard, along with several investigators, reached out to the ghosts of the Devil Stone Inn. It appears, from footage of the show, that the spirits didn't disappoint them.

  JUNE 13, 1776 THE WOMAN IN SCARLET

  Boston Harbor, MA

  During the Revolutionary War, William Burton and his wife, Mary, were aboard a British ship blockading Boston Harbor.

  A cannonball fired from Long Island Battery struck the ship, splintering the hull. A flying shard, like a dagger, drove into the back of Mary's skull. Poor Mary did not die instantly. Rather, she suffered for days, all the while pleading to her husband to not bury her at sea. On behalf of Mary, a flag of truce was waved, and William was granted permission to come ashore with her body. Before he buried her at East Head, he lovingly sewed her remains into a red blanket and promised to return.

  In 1804, fishermen stranded on the island, not far from Mary's marker, started a fire to keep warm. They were at first startled by the eerie moans, then by the ghostly apparition of a woman wearing a scarlet cloak. As she strode by, the blood dripping from a wound to her head was clearly visible. Moments later, she disappeared over the dunes. Mary was also spotted during the War of 1812, when Private William Liddell reported a story nearly identical to the fishermen.

  Perhaps Mary is still waiting for her husband's promise of return to be fulfilled.

  JUNE 14, 1954 TUG HILL ANNIE PUT TO REST

  Plum Island, Massachusetts

  In 1954, Anna J. Machowski Tebidor's life came to a gruesome end. Anna and her friend, Jan, after purchasing wine at a local store, were driving back in a 1949 Studebaker truck when Anna made a crucial mistake that would cost her life. Anna, traveling too fast, could not make the sharp curve along Sears Pond Road. The truck flipped, landing on its roof in an adjacent field. A young man who had witnessed the accident hurried to the scene. When he arrived, he found Jan beside the truck. Although alive, his body was bruised and he was going into shock. Anna had not been as lucky as her friend. Her body was still, arms by her side, while her severed head lay six inches away.

  But that was not the last anyone would see of poor Anna. Many visitors have reported seeing the spirit of a headless woman wandering around the shoulder of Sears Pond Road. Over the years, the notoriety of Anna's fateful end attracted many a visitor, all with the hope of catching a glimpse of the headless apparition, which had received the nickname “Tug Hill Annie” from the location where she'd perished.

  In August 2008, a group of paranormal investigators, having heard the tales of her ghostly presence, decided to go looking for Anna. And although they expected to find no paranormal activity, they were soon convinced that the rumors of Anna's existence were not rumors at all. Although none of their team had been walking around, they all heard gravel crunch as if it was being walked on. Strange mists and light anomalies appeared in their photos. The mists, oddly enough, contained facial features that matched Anna's picture.

  Convinced that poor Anna's restless spirit needed to be put to rest, they made a return trip. This time they were joined by several members of the Tebidor family and a medium.

  They performed a sunrise ceremony to help Anna to cross over. Since then, Anna's headless ghost has been seen no more. It appears she listened.

  JUNE 15, 2008 OLD ELLERBE ROAD SCHOOL

  Shreveport, Louisiana

  Realhaunts.com reported a story of an evil janitor from the Old Ellerbe Road School in Shreveport, Louisiana, who molested a collection of children. He then gathered them up, locked them in the gym, and set fire to the building, leaving them to burn alive. It is said that the mournful cries of children can still be heard throughout the crumpled remains.

  Curious to find out if the tales were true, without permission, a group of teens decided to investigate. On their drive there they shared laughs, making light of the rumors. How could someone be so gullible to fall for such crap?

  Once they arrived, they stepped over the fence, disregarding the “do not disturb” sign. By the fading beam of their flashlight, they walked past the graffiti-covered walls and took in the sight of the devastation. There before them, in place of lockers loomed a life-size mural of the grim reaper. Not deterred, they continued on. Slowly, reverently, they walked through overgrown weeds and dirt-filled halls until they reached their final destination, the gym. They could tell by the black, charred bleachers that they had found what they were looking for. That's when it happened. A door slammed shut. The sound of a school bell ringing echoed in the night, followed by the muffled cries of children calling for their mommies.

  Terrified, the group ran out of the building and sped away. Whether or not the experience will fade from their memories remains to be seen, but it's said that one thing is for certain: their ride home was a lot more somber.

  JUNE 16, 1881 MARIE LAVEAUS

  New Orleans, Louisiana

  The Saint Louis Cemetery has been the target of countless vandals, and it appears the hoodlums have awakened the ghost of voodoo queen Marie Laveaus. A woman wearing a turban has been seen gliding along the narrow pathways between the old crypts. Her mumbling of voodoo prayers have been heard by many a tourist.

  But who is Marie Laveaus? She was a Louisiana Creole who practiced voodoo. A free woman of color, Laveaus had become highly feared and revered for her magical abilities. Her rituals and religious beliefs, among other things, were an eclectic mix of Catholicism and voodoo.

  Today Marie is visited by scores of people who come to pay homage to her, bringing voodoo offerings of food, dolls, statues, Mardi Gras beads, an
d so forth, hoping that the long-ago queen of voodoo will repay them with her blessing. And if they are lucky enough, she may even grant them a wish or two.

  Many a tourist has reported seeing the ghostly apparition of Marie Laveaus exiting her tomb while visiting the site. Then again, there are those who believe her soul has revealed itself many times by entering the body of a black cat. Either way, the fact remains that Marie Laveaus will forever be the queen of voodoo.

  JUNE 17, 1959 SUPERMAN RETURNS

  Los Angeles, California

  George Reeves was found dead in his mansion in June 1959. Reeves, a popular actor of his time, had been best known for his role as Superman in the 1950s television show. His friends reported that while they were throwing an impromptu party they awakened George, who, investigating the racket, decided to join the gathering. However, he didn't stay long. Instead, being in a foul mood, he enjoyed only one drink before retreating back to his bed. Not long after, his fiancée, Lenore Lemmon, and two friends heard a gunshot ring out. George's death was ruled a suicide. Although never substantiated, there are some who believe his ex-lover, Toni Mannix, or her husband, Eddie Mannix, had something to do with it.

  Today, there have been several reports of supernatural phenomena. Lights flicker; objects move of their own accord; and dogs bark at the doorway to his bedroom, refusing to enter. The rottenegg smell of gunpowder singes one's nose. And every now and then George Reeves make an appearance near the foot of his bed, wearing his Superman costume. Perhaps this method actor is taking his role to new heights, racing through time and space to thwart his foe. It looks like Superman has returned!