True Ghost Stories:

Real Haunted Cemeteries and Graveyards

By Zachery Knowles
Real Haunted Cemeteries and Graveyards—Copyright © 2017 by Z. Knowles
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction
Bachelor’s Grove Cemetery
Greyfriars Kirkyard
St. Louis Cemetery #1
Lona China Cemetery
Sacramento City Cemetery
Ross Bay Cemetery
La Recoleta
God’s Acre Cemetery
Valley of the Kings
Panteón de Belén
Camp Chase Cemetery
Boot Hill
Goodleburg Cemetery
Westminster Presbyterian Church Cemetery
Howard Street Cemetery
Pine Hill Cemetery
Metairie Cemetery
Deerfield Old Burying Grounds
Old Jewish Cemetery
Glasnevin Cemetery
Salem Cemetery
Stull Cemetery
Sleep Well
INTRODUCTION
Not all who lay within the cemetery are at rest. Though they may have passed from
this life, something might have been left behind in the cemetery—and it may not be
friendly or ready to be disturbed. From mysterious, mournful cries to a touch from
an unseen hand, many people have encountered something not of this world in the
graveyards within this book.
Imagine parking your vehicle one night at the edge of a chain-link fence
surrounding a rural, forgotten cemetery. With the car lights still on, you and your
friends start to get out of the car when you suddenly notice motion in the tall grass
on the sloping hillside illuminated by the headlights; the grass bends over as if
someone is walking through it, but there is no one to be seen!
Many individuals have made late night forays into grounds reserved for the dead,
only to come away frightened, horrified, or, as in the case of one young man at La
Recoleta, insane. While one might expect ghostly spirits would enact vengeance on
those who vandalize their resting spots (as seems to be the case for Bachelor’s
Grove and its phantom guard), some ghosts discussed within these pages seem
intent on causing fright and fear—just for fun.
What is quite disturbing is late night visits to some of the cemeteries discussed in
this book is not necessary to have something ominous happen to you. For instance,
Greyfriars Kirkyard in Scotland is notorious for making people positively ill in
broad daylight, including chest pains, fainting, and nausea. Of course, it was the
sight of terrible violence and cruelty, as you will learn.
There are many types of ghosts that seem to haunt graveyards, including those
taken at a young age, which tend to be sweet and playful; victims of murder and
violence, which seem to wander and search; targets of extreme injustice, which are
more violent, and careful guardians whom cared for the cemeteries during their life.
The ghosts discussed in this book also include animals, such as dogs, cats, and even
horses, spotted in cemeteries across the world. Some are harmless, simply going
about their lives as if still alive while others, like hell hounds, are aggressive right
up until the moment they disappear from sight. Of course, there is also the infamous
Golem named Joseph at the Old Jewish Cemetery in Prague, which doesn’t really
fall into either the human or animal classification.
Are you ready to delve into the hair-raising stories of haunted cemeteries from
around the world? If so, don’t expect to get much sleep tonight.
Bachelor’s Grove Cemetery
Location: Midlothian, Bremen Township, Cook County, Illinois
The Bachelor’s Grove Cemetery on the outskirts of Chicago is one of the area’s
most haunted locations. What was once a peaceful cemetery that doubled as a
picnic and swimming area for families took a dark turn. Sightings began to occur
after teenagers used it as a nightly hangout with activities progressing from
romance to vandalism and occult practices.
Tombstones were wrecked, turned over, moved, and stolen; graves were dug up and
the coffins desecrated. Remains of animal sacrifices were discovered and the spirits,
it seems, awakened after a long, quiet slumber.
Keep on Plowing
In the 1970s, two forest rangers were keeping an eye on a spooky old cemetery
known for being vandalized when driving by the stagnated pond at the edge of the
cemetery, they saw something unforgettable.
Out of the pond, a powerful farm horse emerged, straining to lift something with it
from the murky depths of the pond. Suddenly, a plow and an old man dressed in a
worn pair of overalls and long-sleeved shirt come out from within the pond. The
man is holding tightly to the horse’s reins and seems oblivious to everything around
him; however, it is obvious to the rangers the man, horse, and plow aren’t real in the
sense of physically being there, yet they are there. Silently, the horse and farmer
pull the plow into the forest that borders the cemetery. The rangers were stunned
and perplexed as they had both witnessed a ghost sighting.
This particular sighting is not uncommon around Bachelor’s Grove. It seems a
farmer in the 1870s was plowing a field nearby when something spooked his horse,
causing the horse to take off running with the plow and farmer still behind him. The
farmer couldn’t stop the horse as it dashed into the pond (which was rumored to be
quite pretty and not at all stagnant at the time).
As the horse began to sink under the weight of the plow, the farmer went in with
him, tangled up in the reins and unable to free himself in time. He and the horse
both perished in the pond. Based on the sightings, it seems he still isn’t finished
with his work. Some say if you call out to him, he and the horse (and the plow!)
slowly disappear from sight.
Mob Burial Site
The pond has its own dark history, as it was used as a dumping ground for mob hits
in the 1920s and 1930s. Not only have numerous bodies been found in the pond, but
weapons, too. Possibly connected to this outbreak of violence is the regular sighting
of a hunchbacked man emerging from the stagnant depths of the pond late at night.
Others have heard the sounds of heated arguments coming from the direction of the
pond, but when they arrive at the location of the voices, no one is around.
Phantom House
One of the most puzzling apparitions appearing at Bachelor’s Grove cemetery is
neither a person nor an animal, but rather a mysterious house. Multiple people have
reported seeing an attractive, old-fashioned, two-story white frame farmhouse
complete with a porch and a porch swing. From one of the windows can be seen the
inviting glow of a lamp. However, the closer one gets to the house, the smaller it
gets until it disappears from sight altogether.
There’s a bit more to this puzzle, too. The house never seems to appear in the same
place twice. Sometimes it may actually appear on the road leading to the cemetery,
other times it appears in the cemetery, and still other times it can be seen
somewhere nearby.
To make matters even more interesting, historians have found no physical basis for
this sighting, as no such house ever stood in the area. Perhaps it existed so strongly
in the mind of someone buried nearby that it bursts onto the scene when certain
sensitive people appear. This sighting continues to remain a definite mystery.
Caretaker
The cemetery has had the same caretaker for many years. Of course, caretakers
have come and gone, been hired and retired, but one man always remains on the
scene. He’s quite faithful in trying to discourage teenagers and vandals, even
though he hasn’t been alive for many years.
One young man described his encounter with him in considerable detail. As he was
approaching the cemetery at night, with less than honorable plans, an old man
suddenly appeared in front of him. He described the man as a stereotypical grouchy
old man, wearing worn, loose-fitting clothes and carrying a rather menacing
shotgun. The old man, believed to be about 70-years-old, told him to get lost since
the youngster had no business there in the cemetery. Suddenly, a large Doberman
pinscher stood by his side. At that point, the young man didn’t realize he was
talking to a ghost and his dog. He thought they were very real, and the sight of a
shotgun and a menacing, growling dog was enough to change his mind about
fooling around in the cemetery.
Subsequently, he realized the old man made no sound when he approached. There
was no crunching leaves, shuffling sound, or footsteps on the hardened ground.
Furthermore, the dog didn’t walk up to the caretaker’s side, but rather materialized
out of thin air as the young man shined his flashlight at the man.
Slowly, the young man began to back away, yet as he did, the dog took a few steps
towards him. He turned to run and looked back only to see nothing; the old
caretaker and the dog were both gone, disappearing as soundlessly as they had
appeared.
When he checked things out the next morning, he found there was no nightly
caretaker for the cemetery nor did the man’s appearance match the description of
the daytime caretaker. He also found out others had encountered this old man. The
thought of once again encountering a ghostly security team holding a shotgun was
enough to curtail his midnight activities at the cemetery.
White Lady
Many people have seen a woman dressed in white wandering the cemetery, often
seen holding a small child and openly sobbing. People have named her Mrs. Rogers
and believe she was buried next to her baby daughter, as many have reported seeing
her near a child’s tombstone bearing only the words “Baby Daughter,” apparently
dying so quickly that she wasn’t even given a name. We can only imagine the grief
and heartache of the mother she left behind.
The grieving woman, also referred to as the Madonna of Bachelor’s Grove, walks
around the cemetery aimlessly, her head hanging low and her shoulders falling in a
most pitiful way, as if she is walking in another world only she can see. She always
seems extremely sad, making those who have seen her very touched by her grief;
however, she never seems to notice the presence of the living.
There is one haunting photograph believed to be a picture of the white lady sitting
on a bench, in a long, white dress. She has shoulder-length hair, but is not holding a
child; her hands rest on her knees and her legs are together with one foot extended
slightly further than the other and seemingly deep in thought.
Conclusion
Many other inexplicable sightings have occurred in Bachelor’s Grove, including
numerous sightings of a phantom monk slowly walking through the cemetery in the
direction of the road. Others have seen orbs of light, which seem to change colors
throughout the years.
There are also mysterious colored mists that appear and have been captured in
photographs, as have numerous ghosts. Whatever apparition making its presence, it
is clear Bachelor’s Grove is bombarded with them.
Greyfriars Kirkyard
Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
Greyfriars Kirkyard is hundreds of years old and if ever a cemetery had reason to
house an angry, vindictive ghost, Greyfriars does. It is considered one of the most
haunted sites in all of Great Britain and possibly the most haunted cemetery in the
world.
Beginnings
Greyfriars began as a small herb garden for a group of Franciscan monks, but was
taken away from them to serve as a cemetery. Through the years, the cemetery kept
growing and taking up more and more land. Now there are about 700 vaults in
Greyfriars, but it is estimated this cemetery houses between 100,000 and 250,000
bodies.
Recent plumbing work revealed the presence of bones just a foot beneath the grass;
many of these unmarked graves belong to paupers and victims of the plague who
were dumped there unceremoniously in deep burial pits, their final resting places
forgotten. There is more to Greyfriars’ history, though.
Violent and Bloody History
Grave-robbing became rampant at different times as doctors-in-training needed
human bodies to dissect and disreputable men were more than happy to supply the
need, without the consent of the deceased family. For that reason alone, many
graves in Greyfriars are encased with an iron cage, not to keep the dead in, but to
keep the living out (or at least that is what historians claim).
However, there is an even more horrific reason than grave robbing for Greyfriars to
be haunted and it can be summed up in one name: George “Bluidy” MacKenzie.
MacKenzie was a Scottish lawyer and outspoken persecutor and murderer of the
Scottish Covenanters in 1638. At one time, he had 1,200 men placed in a prison on
what is now part of Greyfriars. After four months, only 400 men came out alive.
These brave men were tortured by the guards and treated as less than human. Those
that died had their heads placed on the spikes of the fence surrounding the
graveyard and then buried in unmarked graves.
When MacKenzie finally died, he was buried in Greyfriars just a short distance
from the prison of horror he established under the auspices of his government.
Immediately, rumors circulated of the MacKenzie vault being haunted. Locals
believed this so strongly at one time, a wanted man was hidden successfully in the
vault because his benefactor was certain no one would dream of opening it—and he
was right.
However, any paranormal activity occurring in Greyfriars through the years was
nothing compared to the violent attacks that began around 1999.
Something is Awakened
In 1999, a homeless man was wandering the area in search of some shelter. It was
raining and very cold so he decided the best shelter would be one of the
mausoleums. Out of all the burial vaults in Greyfriars, he chose the one belonging
to the MacKenzie family.
The man easily broke the locks from the vault door and stepped inside. No doubt he
was off-put by the musty air, but it was a refuge from the elements. However, he
made a very poor decision by opening up one of the caskets to use as a bed—a poor
decision in anyone’s vault, but especially in MacKenzie’s. Out of the seven or so
coffins housed in the MacKenzie vault, the man chose the casket belonging to none
other than “Bluidy” MacKenzie.
As the man struggled to open the casket lid, he was horrified to feel the ground
beneath his feet give way. Unknown to him, the MacKenzie vault was built
immediately over one of the pits where plague victims were thrown; the homeless
man fell down into a massive sea of human bones from victims of the plague.
Screaming and terrified, he managed to climb out of the pit, make his way out of
the vault, and run out of the cemetery.
It would seem he disturbed someone or something that night. Greyfriars had always
been rumored to be haunted, but never like it was after that night. A few days after
the MacKenzie vault was violated, a woman was passing alone in front of the vault
door. She paused for a moment, as a most unnatural feeling swept over her; she
suddenly felt lightheaded and everything began to slowly go black.
One of the cemetery attendants came upon her, lying unconscious on her back in
front of “Bluidy” MacKenzie’s vault. At first glance, he thought she was strangled
to death as her throat was covered in finger-shaped bruises. Fortunately, the woman
was not dead. When she came to, she knew nothing of the bruises, although she had
pain in her throat. Whatever happened occurred after she fainted or was so horrible
her mind refused to remember it. That marked the beginning of the more violent
attacks at Greyfriars.
Violent Haunting in Greyfriars
Imagine being with a tour group learning about the history of Greyfriars. All is
going well until suddenly, a terrible fear seems to overwhelm you, your heart begins
to pound, and you realize you have soiled your clothing. Someone else in your tour
group suddenly faints, allowing you to take that opportunity to head out of the
cemetery while discretely hiding your little “accident.”
This is a common happening in Greyfriars; people faint, soil themselves, and run
away in terror for no reason. Individuals have been slapped, struck, burned, cut,
scratched, grabbed and others have even been strangled. People have suffered
sudden attacks of nausea, vomiting, and severe heart palpitations. Skin rashes and
burn marks have suddenly appeared without explanation and have smelled strange
odors that both appear and disappear suddenly. Others have had something gouge
their skin and leave a bloody injury.
Others have insisted they felt cobwebs on their face and try to bat them away, only
to realize there were no cobwebs in that area and be teased by their companions.
Something, it seems, touched them – but it wasn’t something that could be seen
with the naked eye.
Voices cry from the now empty Covenanter prison, as the tortures that went on
there seem to have left an imprint for eternity. People experience both cold and hot
spots as camera and phone batteries suddenly drain. People feel like they are being
followed and see shadows lurking around them. Orbs commonly appear on
photographs taken inside the cemetery.
Local newspapers have carried images of the aftermath of visits to Greyfriars.
While any skeptic could probably explain them away, the people that have been on
the receiving end of these injuries insist no physical explanation exists for what they
experienced. Without a doubt, Greyfriars is very active.
Conclusion
Some people insist the entity is none other than MacKenzie himself, but oddly
enough none of the psychics, sensitives, or clairvoyants that have visited Greyfriars
have ever mentioned him by name. One spiritualist/exorcist named Colin Grant
attempted an exorcism of whatever was in Greyfriars, but did not succeed and died
one week later of a heart attack. Was it a coincidence, or not?
St. Louis Cemetery #1
Location: New Orleans, Louisiana
The land in New Orleans is below sea level, which means bodies must be buried
above the ground. This makes for hauntingly beautiful cemeteries that truly
resemble small cities of the dead. Aboveground vaults and mausoleums are
arranged in what seems like a haphazard maze, twisting and turning.
Some graves are beautiful, while others have been damaged by hurricanes or
vandals. While this may be the final resting place for many, it seems not everyone is
resting. Of all the cemeteries in New Orleans, St. Louis Cemetery #1 is reputed to
be the most haunted.
Marie Laveau: Voodoo Queen
The name Marie Laveau is synonymous with voodoo. During the mid- to late
1800s, she was truly the Voodoo queen of New Orleans and was both feared and
admired by countless people during her lifetime and even after her death. When she
passed away, an attempt was made by the local government to hide her grave so it
would not become a shrine; on that they failed.
One of the reasons this cemetery is no longer open to the general public (although
tours can go in) is the desecration of Marie Laveau’s tomb. Many years ago, a tour
guide started a rumor claiming the making of certain markings on her vault will
allow her to answer your request. You can imagine the results!
If you do get a chance to go inside St. Louis #1, you can spot Marie’s tomb, as well
as that of her daughter, quite easily. Theirs will be the two vaults with the most
markings and trinkets laid around them.
Though she has been gone for many, many years, it would appear Marie is still
quite the powerful woman. One man visiting the cemetery made the serious mistake
of stepping on the section of land comprising Marie’s tomb and immediately a hand
with great force slapped his face very hard, but no one could be seen.
With one hand over the slapped portion of his face, he whirled around, but there
was not another soul close to him. He then looked closely at the tomb he had almost
bumped in to, covered with trinkets and markings; he realized it was the tomb of
Marie Laveau. Needless to say, he learned his lesson about being careful where he
walked.
Others have reported being pinched, scratched, or shoved down to the ground—all
by invisible hands and all next to the burial place of Marie Laveau. Some people
have suddenly been struck ill, only to realize they were beside her tomb when it
happened. She seems to be most hostile toward those who are disrespectful of her
burial place.
She isn’t always invisible, though. Marie Laveau has been seen walking through the
cemetery wearing her red and white turban and dressed in beautiful, colorful
clothing from a different era. Some have seen her walking calmly, while others
have heard her chanting. She often vanishes suddenly from sight, which is when
people realize instead of encountering a modern-day voodoo practitioner they may
have just seen the Queen of Voodoo herself.
One woman left an offering at Marie’s tomb, which explains the various cigarettes,
items of costume jewelry, trinkets, souvenirs, etc. that make it easy to find her vault.
As this woman turned to rejoin the tour group, she saw a very tall, queenly woman
walking nearby with her head held high, her hair held in place by a turban, and
dressed in a mourning outfit.
Struck by her appearance and her attire in the terrible New Orleans heat, the woman
watched her for a while. She never seemed to notice anyone that walked by her or
acknowledged her presence. This tall, dark-skinned, regal woman finally quickly
disappeared from sight. Was it the spirit of Marie Laveau?
Some have seen what they firmly believe to be Marie Laveau, but not as a person.
Reported sightings of a very large black dog and an abnormally large black crow
standing guard in the vicinity of her tomb are common. Others have reported a
large, dark boa constrictor slithering its way among the tombs at night; perhaps it is
the ghost of Marie’s pet or a physical incarnation of her restless spirit.
Henry Vignes: No Final Resting Place
Henry Vignes was a sailor and a wanderer with no place to call home except for a
vault in St. Louis #1. He may not have had a resting place during his life, but Henry
was determined to have one after he passed on, though this did not work out as he
intended.
It was during the 19th century when Henry was preparing to leave on yet another
long sea voyage, he left some papers with the women owning the boardinghouse in
which he stayed. Henry trusted her implicitly and included the deed for his burial
place with the papers. His papers were misplaced and the heartless woman sold his
plot. When he returned to New Orleans to retrieve his papers, he discovered the
betrayal. Before he could take legal action, however, he passed away and was
buried in an unmarked grave in the pauper’s area of St. Louis #1.
Over the years, more than one person visiting the cemetery has described the exact
same sighting. One young woman was tagging along toward the end of a tour group
with her camera in hand taking pictures. It was very hot and muggy, as it usually is
in New Orleans, and as she reached up to wipe some beads of sweat from her
forehead she saw a tall, handsome man approaching her. She described him having
blonde hair and gorgeous, piercing blue eyes wearing a white, old-fashioned shirt
and a pair of dark pants.
She quickly swept her hair back in position as he drew closer. As they made eye
contact, he politely asked her, in a most delightful accent, if she knew where the
Vignes’ vault was located. She said she did not, as he slightly bowed in a polite
manner, and then disappeared right before her eyes. The young woman could not
bring herself to believe the man she just spoke to was a ghost. To this day, she
insists he seemed so real, so alive, and so vibrant—so humanly.
That is one of the unusual things about Henry: no one believes he could possibly be
a ghost until he disappears. Henry has even been captured in some photos, but, alas,
Henry is a ghost, which is no doubt a disappointment to many of the young ladies
that have encountered him.
He has also been seen by those attending funerals in St. Louis #1. People have
described a young man with blonde hair and blue eyes approaching the family
during the funeral, asking if there might be room for one more person in the vault
(note: these vaults often house multiple family members). When they reply, rather
indignantly in the negative, he turns and disappears.
Conclusion
From phantom Civil War soldiers to voices calling out for help from within the
tombs to ghostly cats, St. Louis #1 is considered a hotbed of paranormal activity.
This cemetery is the final home to aristocrats, pirates, paupers, Voodoo
practitioners, devout Catholics, soldiers, and criminals. It is no surprise things out
of the ordinary would occur there.
People have felt their hand touched when nothing is there and have seen shadowy
figures darting in and out of the tombs. Other shocking experiences have taken
place though people don’t like to discuss them, but that does not discount St. Louis
Cemetery #1 remains a hotbed of paranormal occurrences.
Lona China Cemetery
Location: San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas
The Lona China Cemetery, also known as the Guzman Burial Ground or the
Chinese Cemetery, is a tiny cemetery hidden away in San Antonio, a city already
known for historical landmarks such as the Alamo. This tiny cemetery, about a two-
block radius, may seem forgotten, but its heartbreaking history lives on through
paranormal phenomena.
Of Lovers and Lightning
Many, many years ago, a man fell deeply in love with a tall, statuesque, beautiful
Chinese immigrant woman; however, his father forbade the relationship, insisting
his lovelorn son quit seeing this foreign woman, as he disapproved of their
interracial relationship. The young man disobeyed his father’s wishes, riding his
beloved horse to meet with her in a hidden rendezvous spot, now known as the
Lona China Cemetery.
The lovers met in secret, or so they thought. The father put a curse on his son in
case he did not stop seeing his Chinese love: “Continue to see her and lightning will
strike you down!” One fateful evening, the young man rode in on his horse to their
meeting spot when he and his horse were struck by deadly lightning.
He was buried there, reportedly with his horse (this is Texas, after all). The woman
was inconsolable and visited his grave until she finally took her own life over his
grave, falling lifeless upon the ground that came between them.
The Guzman family felt incredibly guilty for both the death of their son and the
tragic suicide of his lover, feeling their attitudes and threats had driven the pair to
an early, untimely death. They had the young woman buried next to their son so at
least they could be side-by-side, without shame or secrecy, in death.
Such tragedy, possibly embellished with time, will leave its mark on a place.
Individuals visiting the cemetery have seen a tall Asian woman wandering the
cemetery as if she is looking for someone. Some have seen her as a thick, white
mist, while others have seen her as a fully-formed woman.
A local legend says if you pull up to the cemetery gate, roll down your windows,
and flash your lights five times you will see tiny, white apparitions floating around
in the graveyard and hear muffled voices. Most people depart as soon as they see
the mists take the shape of people, but not everyone.
One young couple decided to try out this legend. They pulled up to the small gate
with the front windows down and flashed the car headlights five times. Giggling
with nervousness, they waited until suddenly, a thick, glowing mist shaped like a
tall, shapely woman appeared in the cemetery.
Too terrified to back out, they sat frozen as the apparition came closer to the car; the
only sound they could hear was the cicadas and their hearts pounding. She passed
through the chain link fence, as if nothing was there, and stood at the passenger side
of the car. Pausing for just a moment, she reached in and grabbed the young woman
by the arm. Her boyfriend immediately put his car in reverse and tore away from
the cemetery—they never returned.
Another couple had a similar experience; as they waited, silence fell over the area.
Abruptly, a tall, snowy-white mist began to move out of the darkness and toward
their vehicle. When she was just a few feet away from the front of the car, she
vanished. The young couple was so shocked by the sight of the apparition they were
almost paralyzed for half an hour before they drove away.
The Donkey Lady
There is another story of a spirit that remains around Lona China. Nicknamed the
Donkey Lady because of her facial deformities, she lived a life of squalor and
deprivation in a small hut near a local bridge. She was considered an outcast of
society and either mocked for her appearance or treated as if she were some type of
witch. Late one terrible night, her shack caught on fire and she was trapped inside
long enough to suffer terrible burns, which only added to her disfiguration. She died
not long after and was buried in Lona China.
One visitor to the cemetery experienced something others would later share. He was
in the cemetery late at night when the stillness was broken; the air surrounding him
was suddenly filled with moans, cries, and pleas for help. After a few moments,
they stopped and he was still standing alone in the cemetery. To this day, he is
convinced he heard the supernatural echoes of the Donkey Lady’s terrible
sufferings.
Conclusion
From the tall, white spirit of a heartbroken lover to the pitiful cries of the Donkey
Lady, Lona China Cemetery is a compact haven of ghostly activity. Even if you
don’t see the white apparitions appear after flashing your headlights, you are
guaranteed to feel someone following when you visit after dark.
Others have reported a black shadow figure, far more menacing than the white mist,
in the cemetery, but other times it has been spotted in the road running by the
cemetery. If you decide to visit, be prepared—not all the spirits are friendly.
Sacramento City Cemetery
Location: Sacramento, California
The Sacramento City Cemetery, also known as the Old City Cemetery, is relatively
large, yet still just a fraction of its original size. Through the years, the land
comprising the cemetery was sold—even with graves on it. Sadly, not all the
deceased were reburied, and many of them are believed to be at rest beneath a
neighboring street. The burial ground is filled with all types of people, including a
disproportionate number of cholera victims from the 1850s who were buried in
unidentified mass graves.
Not all those buried are at rest, however. People have reported the laughter of a mad
woman, the sound of heavy footsteps from an invisible entity, and even a ghost dog
that wanders the site.
Sweet Little May Woolsey
May is one of the longtime residents of Old City Cemetery who tragically died of
measles and encephalitis just a couple of months short of her 13th birthday in 1879.
Many of those who have visited her grave feel it emits a positive energy, while
others have seen her playing in both the cemetery and the place she once called
home. Visitors often leave trinkets and gifts in memory of a young life cut so short.
May’s story doesn’t end there, however. Her parents, distraught over the death of
their beloved child, couldn’t bear to part with her things nor could they look at
them. Their solution was to box up her toys and possessions in a trunk and seal it up
inside a wall of their home.
The years passed, and the home was sold to new owners. In 1979, the wall
containing her trunk was discovered during renovation. When the trunk was
opened, it still contained May’s things. Legend says there was something else in the
trunk—a mysterious letter, no doubt written by young May. It is reported to have
read:
“Dear Momma,
I am so happy, as I did write to you and say I was happy. Now Momma
dear, do not weep for me. I am not dead, no, only gone before to wait
your coming when you will be out of all sorrow and care and will be
happy with me. Oh, what pleasure there is in the spirit life no one can
tell. Only think of everlasting life and pleasure where we know no
sorrow; all is sunshine, there is no cloud to darken our path as on earth;
we have our choice of mission…”
The letter ends there.
As mentioned, many believe she visits the home and ghostly appearances increased
after the renovations started. However, it is far more common for people to report
seeing a young girl playing around May’s grave.
Graveyard Dog
One daytime visitor to the cemetery found himself being followed by a large, but
friendly, pit bull. As the man walked through the cemetery, he assumed the dog
following him belonged to the caretaker until the dog disappeared right before his
eyes.
This pit bull never leaves the confines of the cemetery and has been seen by many
visitors. No one knows if he is there because his master or mistress is buried there,
or perhaps he belonged to a caretaker in the past and remains on guard.
Railroad Hero
William Brown saved many lives when the wrong switch was being thrown as the
train he engineered was approaching Ferry Wharf. Recognizing hundreds would be
killed if he did not act quickly, William uncoupled a passenger train from the
engine. The passenger train continued on unharmed, but the engine landed in the
murky waters of the wharf, taking him with it. When the engine was pulled out of
the water, they found William still clutching the controls.
At his funeral, onlookers saw a man that looked just like William Brown dressed in
a black suit following at a distance. To this day, visitors have seen a similar man,
dressed in a black suit, standing at or near his grave.
No Pictures!
One ghost hunter was in the cemetery at night with a tape recorder. He placed the
recorder on an elegant, old headstone beneath a pine tree and turned it on to record.
The young man kept a close eye on the area to make sure no one went near his
recorder to ensure anything it recorded was not due to human interruption. After
recording on both sides of the tape, he listened for a few minutes and was
disappointed at the silence.
Later the next day, he decided to have another listen further into the recording. His
hair reportedly stood on end as he heard two distinct voices on the tape. One female
voice was saying, “No pictures! I said no pictures!” while a male voice could be
heard shouting, “Get out! Get out! Get out!”
Conclusion
Many shadow figures are seen in the cemetery, as well as a couple dressed in black
who wander the cemetery, arms linked. These apparitions are supposedly connected
with the hundreds of cholera victims buried in unmarked, often mass, graves
because of the sheer number of victims needing to be buried.
Along with the ghost dog, there has been a sighting of a ghostly cat, too. While this
cemetery is undoubtedly haunted, it seems its inhabitants do not mean any harm to
the living.
Ross Bay Cemetery
Location: Victoria, Vancouver Island, Canada
The Ross Bay Cemetery is a beautiful, Victorian-era cemetery with almost 30,000
graves and quite a few ghostly residents. It has a rich history and astounding views
with beautiful trees and walkways. Unlike most cemeteries in this book, it has no
seriously dark history, but that doesn’t seem to stop it from being haunted.
Fortunately, the ghosts seem more tragic and lonely than they do violent…so far.
David Fee
One of the ghosts who often makes an appearance at the Ross Bay Cemetery is
David Fee. One tragic Christmas Eve in 1890, David was gunned down on the steps
of the St. Andrews Cathedral as he left the midnight mass. The murderer was the
night watchman who also happened to be an active member of the Irish Republican
Army.
The motive for this tragic killing was never discovered. Visitors to the cemetery
have seen David’s apparition appearing in a white mist; they immediately run away
with the distinct feeling he was seeking out the man who murdered him. Others
have spotted this same figure near his grave.
Isabella Ross
The first woman to own land in British Columbia was Isabella Mainville Ross, who
also owned the farm upon which the cemetery was eventually built. Isabella was
quite unusual for her time—not just a female landowner, but also a mixed-race
Ojibwa-French woman. When she died, she was buried on her land, which was
purchased after her husband’s death, in sight of the bay that bears her name.
Sadly, her grave remained unmarked from her passing in 1885 until 1994, which
may be why her ghost has been spotted many times in the cemetery. She has
reportedly been seen wearing a long, black veil and a full-length black dress, still
sporting the mourning attire from when her husband passed. Isabella is typically
seen looking forlornly out at the bay, lonely and mournful.
Dancing Ghost
One young woman was walking around the cemetery right before dawn when she
saw a glowing, iridescent mist-like smoke under one of the large, mature trees.
Initially, she assumed it was just morning fog catching the light from a nearby
streetlight.
Transfixed, however, she watched as it began to move and twirl, then realized it
strongly resembled a young lady dancing. Once she realized she was likely seeing a
dancing ghost, she quickly made her way out of the cemetery.
Multitude of Ghostly Sightings
Another individual was visiting the cemetery after dark and was horrified to hear a
dragging sound nearby, describing it as the sound of someone’s body being pulled
with his heels dragging in the gravel.
Many visitors to the cemetery have seen an elderly couple, always together, dressed
in their Victorian best wandering through the cemetery together. Other than their
unusual clothes, no one would have paid much attention to them except for the fact
their feet never seem to touch the ground. This dapper pair is usually seen only on
the western side of the cemetery.
One common encounter is disturbing to all who see her: a woman, dressed in all
black, running frantically through the cemetery and calling out names. Those who
have encountered feel strongly she is searching for her children among the graves.
Conclusion
Ross Bay Cemetery houses two ghosts many recognize as historical figures—
Isabella Ross and David Fee; while other apparitions may not be identifiable, they
are unforgettable.
Many people have seen disturbing mists and fogs for which they cannot explain.
Others have captured similar apparitions on camera, including the presence of fog
on a clear night. Whoever these ethereal visitors are they seem relatively oblivious
to the world of the living.
La Recoleta
Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina
La Recoleta is a majestic 14-acre cemetery filled with intricately carved
mausoleums and above-ground vaults of unparalleled beauty. It is the final resting
place of about 4,000 individuals, including the likes of Eva Peron and one of
Napoleon’s granddaughters. However, not all who are buried there have remained
at rest.
Rufina Cambacérès
Rufina Cambacérès was a beautiful 19-year-old socialite born into a wealthy and
illustrious family. The stuff of nightmares became a reality for Rufina one evening
as she was preparing to attend a local social event at the Colon Theater in the year
1902. She collapsed on the floor and was pronounced dead by a physician who
assumed she had suffered a heart attack. However, she was not dead, but instead
buried alive.
The horrific mistake was discovered a few days later. Some sources say her coffin,
sealed tightly shut, was placed in the chapel while others say it had already been
placed in the family mausoleum where it could be clearly seen through wrought
iron bars on the doors. Regardless, cemetery workers noticed the coffin had been
disturbed. Puzzled, they carefully opened the coffin; what they say was inside
would haunt them, and the rest of those involved, for the rest of their lives.
Rufina’s body was in disarray, bruised and bloody. Her fingers had clawed at the
coffin lid until they were torn to pieces and unrecognizable. Rufina’s arms, legs,
and feet were terribly bruised from trying to beat her way free of the coffin. The
interior of the wooden coffin was covered in bloody claw marks, some containing
fragments of nail and bone. Her face, too, was covered in bloody scratches.
It seems young Rufina awoke from her coma, trapped in the pitch-black darkness of
the coffin. Unable to see and running low on oxygen within the sealed coffin, she
struggled unsuccessfully to free herself. They believe she finally died of a heart
attack due to the panic, fear, and low oxygen.
Visitors to La Recoleta say they have seen Rufina walking the cemetery grounds,
listening carefully for any signs of life from the various crypts and mausoleums,
trying to protect others from the same fate she suffered. Others go so far as to say
she has been known to unearth recent burials just to make sure they are really dead.
David Alleno
David Alleno was a very dedicated employee of the La Recoleta for most of his
adult life. Day after day, he strolled the cemetery grounds with his keychain rattling
as he walked—a familiar sound to those who visited La Recoleta at the time. He
lived and worked among those who passed on for years; it no doubt affected his
outlook on life.
In 1910, David reached a point when he decided to put all of his paycheck toward
purchasing his very own plot in the cemetery. He then hired a gifted Italian architect
to make a statue of him for his plot. Once the statue was complete and installed on
his burial plot, David went home and committed suicide.
A visitor, like many others, told the story of going to the cemetery in late one
evening. As he wandered among the stone walkways in and out of the beautiful
mausoleums, he heard the rattling of keys. He looked around, but no one was in
sight. The rattling came closer and closer until it seemed it went right past him, yet
still he saw no one. Many believe this is faithful David Alleno, still watching over
the cemetery.
Luz Maria Garcia
At fifteen, Luz Maria Garcia seemed to have her entire life ahead of her until her
untimely death from leukemia in 1925. Her family buried her in La Recoleta, even
commissioning a detailed grave marker of a young girl lying on a bed. It seems she
was not content to rest in La Recoleta, for many claim Luz is the ghost referred to
locally as The Lady in White.
One young man was driving along near the cemetery when he spotted a beautiful
young woman in a flowing white dress by the side of the road. He offered her a
ride, which she gladly accepted. Once in the car, they begin to talk and she
introduces herself as Luz. After driving for a short while, the couple decided to stop
for coffee together. While in the café, she spilled some coffee on his coat.
Distressed, Luz insisted on taking it with her so she could clean it up for him.
After their first date was over, he took her back to the same spot on the road where
he found her. He waited to see where she went and noticed her walking into the
cemetery before completely vanishing from sight. Worried something may have
happened to her, he pulled off the road and ran into the cemetery, frantically calling
her name, but not a soul was to be found. Then, he suddenly spotted his coat, folded
with great care, lying on the grave of Luz Maria Garcia.
Conclusion
La Recoleta is considered the most haunted cemetery in Argentina, whether you
encounter Rufina keeping watch over those buried or David walking the cemetery
grounds. If you are driving by and notice a beautiful young woman in white, go
ahead and give her ride, though; Luz will do you no harm as long as you remember
she is a ghost.
God’s Acre Cemetery
Location: Bethany, Brook County, West Virginia
God’s Acre Cemetery goes by several names, including the Bethany Cemetery and
the Campbell Family Cemetery; it includes about 300 graves, some dating back to
the 1700s. Locally, it is best known as the resting place for the first missionaries in
the area, brothers Alexander and Thomas Campbell.
Alexander Campbell chose the cemetery site after the death of his young daughter,
Amanda, and aptly named it God’s Acre. Something unusual was added in the
cemetery in 1866 after Alexander’s death that was seemingly prone to paranormal
activity.
Don’t Fence Me In
In 1866, a decision was made to completely fence in the cemetery by a solid wall
with portions both above and below ground. The wall is 2.5’ thick and 4’ high and
extends 3’ below the ground; it is comprised of stone from a couple of old
flourmills. There is no gate to enter; instead, you must step over the fence or use the
steps provided.
The reasoning behind adding the stone wall was to keep grazing animals out, but
others suspect it might have been to keep spirits in, especially since it is sunk below
ground level. Many people claim an extremely unnerving presence permeates the
cemetery. Locals claim the addition of the wall gave the cemetery a very disturbing
atmosphere. What effect does it have on spirits to be trapped within a cemetery?
Oddly, the ghosts of members of the Campbell family have been seen in the
Campbell mansion and on the premises of nearby Bethany College.
Reports of Visitors and Investigators
Visitors have claimed to hear screams, whines, and whimpers emanating from the
graveyard and feel an icy chill upon stepping in. Apparitions have been sighted
within the boundaries of the cemetery as well as mysterious shadows that move
among the graves, scaring the wits out of those unwise enough to visit the cemetery
at night.
Paranormal investigators have documented pictures capturing ectoplasm and orbs
that could not be explained. They, too, reported an almost unbearable heaviness and
odd presence as soon as they stepped over the stone fence into the cemetery, but
both dissipated as soon as someone stepped back over the fence.
Don’t Spend the Night
A group of college boys decided it would be fun to spend the night in God’s Acre
Cemetery, sleeping beside the Argyle Campbell tomb. One of the boys fell asleep
and had the most terrifying nightmare he ever experienced. He dreamt he was
buried in an impenetrable, nailed-shut coffin in the tomb he was sleeping beside.
In his dream, he was struggling desperately to claw his way out; when he awoke, he
found his fingers and nails bloodied. His horrifying dream had leaked out into the
real world and he couldn’t decide which was more frightening: the nightmare or its
effect on his physical body.
Another young man that same night dreamed he, too, was inside the tomb, but with
a slightly different twist. Apparently, his presence angered the ghost of one of the
tomb’s residents. This vengeful specter carried an antique gun and began to shoot at
the boy as he struggled to get out of the tomb. Alas, in his dream he was shot in the
heart next to the tomb.
The next morning he awoke and upon inspecting the tomb, he saw a bullet hole that
corresponded exactly to where he was standing in his dream when that bullet
pierced his chest. Needless to say, he found this quite disturbing and no doubt
checked his chest for injuries or bruising.
Neither college student chose to spend another night sleeping in the cemetery. It
seems the ghosts do not take kindly to overnight visitors.
Conclusion
One of the mausoleums in the cemetery bears the words, “Beyond This Door Is
Rest;” based on the activity there, it is doubtful if that saying is altogether true. If
you should pay a visit to God’s Acre Cemetery, don’t spend the night, but if you do,
don’t sleep next to the Campbell tomb or you are likely to have nightmares that
creep a little too far over into reality.
Valley of the Kings
Location: Luxor, Egypt
The Valley of the Kings in Luxor, Egypt was built around 1500 B.C. and for about
500 years it was used as the burial place for Egypt’s kings and greatest nobles.
However, it is best known for its relation to the infamous “King Tut’s Curse,”
which fell upon those who discovered Pharaoh Tutankhamen’s tomb in 1922.
However, this valley, which holds 63 tombs and burial chambers, is full of
disturbing activity that cannot be explained well by science.
Pharaoh’s Ghost
One of the most common hauntings associated with the Valley of the Kings
involves the ghost of a mighty pharaoh who still rides the shifting sands of the
valley. One tourist was out at night, later than is advisable for visitors to Egypt,
when he heard an unusual sound.
Turning to the right, he saw a man who looked like the classical image of a pharaoh
driving a fiery chariot drawn by a set of sleek, powerful dark horses. This ancient
king wears a beautiful golden collar and Egyptian headdress as he drives his
glowing chariot with the authority and resolves only belonging to a powerful ruler.
This phantom pharaoh seemed oblivious to the world around him, lost no doubt in
his own kingdom and own time. He has been spotted numerous times through the
years, usually near the stroke of midnight.
Pharaoh Akhenaten
Another phantom pharaoh witnessed by many throughout the years is Akhenaten.
According to legend, he was cursed by the priests of his time (~1336 BC) after he
abolished the worship of Egypt’s gods. This curse forced his spirit to wander the
desert of the Valley of the Kings, always seeking a place of rest, but never finding
it.
One tourist who witnessed a surprising and haunting apparition late one night
described the figure of a tall Egyptian, dressed in the style of thousands of years
ago. He was stumbling aimlessly across the sand, with his head and back slightly
bent forward. The tourist, concerned this man might be ill, called out to him. The
tall, slender Egyptian man turned toward him, but before this tourist’s eyes had time
to take in any details of the man’s face, he simply disappeared.
The Mummy’s Curse
Many of those involved with the unearthing of the final resting place of Pharaoh
Tutankhamen met with seemingly untimely ends. Howard Carter was the
archaeologist who discovered the find of his career, yet died from exposure to some
of the chemical found in King Tut’s tomb.
Lord Carnarvon, a wealthy and powerful man, financed the expedition, but
succumbed to an infected mosquito bite on his neck. Many others suffered a fate not
unlike Howard Carter, perishing from the effects of bacteria, chemicals, and gases
that were trapped in the tomb for thousands of years.
Conclusion
While not a cemetery in the modern sense, the Valley of the Kings is still a city of
the dead. Even if you don’t see the blazing chariot flying through the desert valley
or Pharaoh Akhenaten wandering among the burning sands, you will likely hear
footsteps walking near you, only to turn and see nothing. Or you may hear
desperate screams echoing within the valley, but never be able to locate the source.
The watchmen in the area remain convinced the spirits of those whose tombs have
been carelessly desecrated still wander. Are they searching for the treasures taken
from their tombs? Whether you should see or hear anything out of the ordinary, you
will most certainly feel something unusual in the area.
Panteón de Belén
Location: Guadalajara, Mexico
The Panteón de Belén is a beautiful historical cemetery located in Guadalajara,
Mexico. It took over 50 years to build, but was erected next to the Old Civil
Hospital due to the lack of space for the amount of patients in the city, especially
due to the plague. Many disturbing legends are associated with this cemetery.
The Vampire and the Bleeding Tree
Panteón de Belén was believed to be the home of a bloodthirsty vampire that had no
qualms about stalking the helpless citizens of Guadalajara. First, there were the
small animals found completely drained of blood. Next, the vampire graduated to
innocent infants and small children. Out of fear, the citizens began hiding indoors
after dark and praying desperately for protection from this creature of the night.
Apprehensive, a group of men banded together to hunt the vampire. After finding
the man they felt was responsible, they drove a wooden stake through his heart; the
next morning, they buried him beneath very thick concrete slabs and the killings
stopped.
Several months later, the concrete slabs began to break apart and to the locals’
horror, a tree was growing through the slabs; they assumed it found its roots in the
stake driven through the vampire’s heart and its life source the vampire’s blood.
This tree still stands in Panteón de Belén.
One visitor to the cemetery scoffed at the legend and broke a small limb off the tree.
He felt the sticky sap from the broken limb and glanced down at it; he realized it
wasn’t sap oozing from the limb, but something like blood.
Another visitor, like many others later on, was visiting the cemetery rather late at
night. As she stood and looked at the tree thinking of the pitiful victims that fell
prey to the vampire, she suddenly began to see faces appearing on the bark of the
tree—the faces of his victims.
Visitors have noticed a gate around the tree, for it seems to be the object of extreme
care and concern and for good reason; locals believe if this tree ever dies, the
vampire will arise again.
Mad Bet
Many years ago, a young man from the local community bet his friends he would
enter the cemetery at 8 p.m. (when it is believed the dead leave their graves), walk
all the way through the cemetery, and then bury a nail in a particular stone as proof
he had completed the bet.
As the next night came, he headed into the cemetery as the church bells struck 8
p.m. He walked through the graveyard, hammer and nail firmly in hand; he placed
the nail in a stone, though he could not see very clearly due to the dark, and firmly
hammered it in. Feeling quite pleased with himself, he turned—only to realize
something was holding him back.
Convinced it was a hand from beyond the grave, he struggled to get free, but could
not. He then felt an icy cold hand grab him by the shoulder, the chill penetrating
through his clothing to his every bone. Terrified, he struggled and struggled until he
fell unconscious.
It had been hours since he ventured into the cemetery and his friends became
concerned. At the break of dawn, they rushed into the cemetery and found him at
the back wall, collapsed in a heap with his cape nailed to a stone. When they finally
woke him up, he had lost his mind. It seems the residents of the cemetery do not
enjoy being entangled with bets made by foolish young men.
Hanging Ghost
Another tragic legend associated with Panteón de Belén involves a young man
named Santiago who was suffering and dying of cancer. The pain was too severe
for the doctors to treat and the man lost all hope. One evening, his mother found
him sleeping and placed a picture of his favorite saint in his hand; this woke him
and, in anger, he cursed the photo. Horrified, his mother tried to calm him and
reason with him, but to no avail. Ordering his mother out of his room, he shouted he
no longer believed in God.
The next day, Santiago was found in the cemetery hanging from a tree with a rope
he had fashioned from one of his bedsheets. It seems in his desperation, he took his
own life. The hospital staff gently took his body down and soon had the tree cut
down. Now only the stump remains.
However, though the tree is gone it seems Santiago remains. Visitors have reported
an unusual shadow cast by the stump: the shadow of a full-size tree with the body
of a young man swinging from one of its branches.
Conclusion
There are other frightening stories associated with this beautiful cemetery. Visitors
and those living near the cemetery have repeatedly heard the sounds of a horse-
drawn carriage approaching and stopping at the entrance. When they look, however,
there is nothing there.
Others have insisted though the cemetery gates are always locked tightly at night,
they can often be found partway open. There is also a grouping of three graves
many have made the mistake of stepping on, only to awaken in their beds with their
ankles being pulled on by something they cannot see. It is said once experienced,
one knows to never carelessly step on a grave again.
Undoubtedly, the spirits resting in Panteón de Belén do not like to be disturbed, so
be careful if you visit—you might end up like the young man that went mad.
Camp Chase Cemetery
Location: Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio
The Camp Chase Confederate Cemetery serves as the final resting place for
approximately 2,260 Confederate soldiers, located at the site of a Union POW
camp. The need for a cemetery arose after a horrific epidemic of small pox broke
out in 1863.
That, compounded with crowded conditions, lack of food, and a shortage of
medicine quickly killed off many prisoners. With that kind of history, it is no
surprise this graveyard is haunted.
The Lady in Gray
Many of those who have visited this cemetery have a shared experience. While
walking among the graves, they see a young woman dressed in what looks like a
traveling suit from the Civil War era. The woman is always dressed completely in
gray, hidden beyond a gray veil, and carrying a small, clean, white handkerchief. A
gray veil always seems to hide her face.
She may be seen standing over one of two particular graves, her head bowed as if
she is weeping. One of the graves over which she has been seen to linger is that of
the Unknown Soldier, while the other belongs to a Benjamin F. Allen from the 50th
Tennessee Infantry Regiment. Fresh flowers are often spotted at the graves after a
sighting of her.
Others have witnessed her literally walking through the trees surrounding the
cemetery or through the closed iron gate at night. Her identity is uncertain, but
many refer to her simply as The Lady (or Woman) in Gray. When she is
approached, she simply disappears. Others have noticed she is almost transparent as
they are able to see through her dress well enough to distinguish the shape of
headstones behind her.
One particular moving incident occurred during a Civil War re-enactment in 1988.
Onlookers enjoying the historical action reported hearing the sound of a woman
weeping. Concerned someone might be injured, an attempt was made to find the
source of the mournful cries, but none was found.
Some have noted as the cries began, several tents and lightweight tables were blown
over in a sudden, inexplicable gust of wind. Those familiar with the history of the
Camp Chase Cemetery believe it was The Lady in Gray, disturbed by the
recreation.
Some believe the ghost is a woman named Louisiana Ransburgh Briggs, a
Southerner whose father sent her north for her education as the war broke out. She
eventually married a Yankee (northerner). After the Civil War was over, she would
place flowers on the graves of the Confederate soldiers out of respect and
acknowledgement of her heritage; however, she would dress in all black with a
heavy veil to hide her identity so it would not mar her husband’s reputation.
Later on her identity was revealed and she then began to work to restore the
cemetery. Could it be she still watches over it from beyond, still tossing flowers
onto the graves of men who seem to be forgotten?
Shadowy Figure
The Lady in Gray isn’t the only spirit to haunt Camp Chase Cemetery. A
paranormal group was performing an investigation at the cemetery that included
multiple photographs, one taken after another. As they were reviewing the images
later on, they realized one picture in particular showed a shadowy figure of a man
that disappears in the next image, taken just a split second later.
Conclusion
The sounds of weeping are often heard at Camp Chase and have been recorded on
occasion, yet the source has never been identified. Other shadowy figures and
apparitions have been spotted, including those of soldiers dressed in Confederate
uniforms and marching in rank through the cemetery, sometimes with glowing red
eyes.
There have been the sound of children playing happily when no children were
present, bugle calls heard at dusk and dawn, and cries, weeping, and other
mysterious sounds are not uncommon at Camp Chase Cemetery, earning it a solid
reputation for being very haunted.
Boot Hill
Location: Tombstone, Arizona
Boot Hill is a common name for cemeteries across the Western United States, but
this particular Boot Hill Graveyard is located in the infamous Tombstone, Arizona.
The term “boot hill” usually refers to the fact those buried within its confines
passed away suddenly, dying quite literally with their boots on.
This cemetery is filled with outlaws, pioneers, law enforcement officers, and
children. Many of those buried suffered violent deaths, even executions. In total,
about 250 individuals are buried there.
Paranormal Photobomber
One of the most famous historical events associated with Tombstone is the gunfight
at the O.K. Corral. Deeply involved in this infamous standoff was a group known as
the Clanton Gang. In 1996, a descendant of the Clantons, a man named Ike, decided
to dress in the 1880s Tombstone fashion and have some pictures with Boot Hill as
the backdrop.
In one of the pictures, Ike looks every bit the cowboy, even with a gun in hand.
Scattered behind him are small, simple tombstones and further back in the distance
is the city of Mesa and some beautiful mountains. However, just behind Ike’s
shoulder you can see someone.
Crouched in the grass (or rising from a grave, perhaps) is a man, also dressed in
1880s style in a black hat. In his hand is a large knife with the point near the bottom
of his light-colored shirt’s collar. He seems to be looking directly at the
photographer. This man wasn’t a friend playfully photobombing the picture, as he
wasn’t there when they took the picture. His image wasn’t discovered until the film
was developed.
This man has shown up in at least two more images, though not as clearly as in the
first. One occurred ten years later in 2006 in which a family was taking pictures and
didn’t notice the man in the image until they were looking through the pictures later
on.
Another incident occurred when a tourist decided to stay alone in Boot Hill, to get a
feel for the cemetery, and began taking pictures. He heard the sound of footsteps in
addition to his own, although he could clearly see all around that he was alone.
Brushing off the eerie feeling these ghostly footsteps were giving him, he kept
taking pictures.
When he arrived home, he downloaded the images and that’s when he discovered
that, contrary to what he thought, he wasn’t alone in the cemetery. The silhouette of
a tall man wearing a hat is quite visible in the photo. A similar figure appears in
another photo, but with long hair.
Billy Clanton
Billy Clanton was one of the Clanton gang who met his fate at the O.K. Corral with
his boots on. More than one visitor to Boot Hill has had the unpleasant opportunity
to witness a ghostly cowboy slowly rise from Billy’s grave.
As his cowboy boots reach the ground, he steps forward and slowly begins to walk
toward the road leading back to Tombstone, most likely heading back to the O.K.
Corral. It is unsure where he goes because not one of the witnesses was brave
enough to follow him.
Dutch Annie
Another restless resident of Booth Hill is a notorious prostitute named Dutch Annie
who was well liked for her generosity with money for those who truly needed it.
Her cause of death was apparently “too much booze.” At her funeral, an estimated
1,000 people followed the coffin to its destination in Boot Hill.
Her figure, dressed in the clothing expected of an Old West lady of the night and as
generously proportioned as she was in life, has been spotted in the cemetery. It
seems the “Queen of the Red Light District” isn’t at rest in Boot Hill.
Conclusion
There are others that haunt this graveyard including mysterious shadows, noises
that don’t seem to have a source, and strange lights. Electronic Voice Phenomenons
(EVPs) have been captured there, too.
Many spirits have been spotted in the cemetery and this level of activity is
attributed to several things, including many violent ends confined in such a small
area and/or the shallow graves used because the ground is so hard and rocky.
Regardless of the causes, there is no doubt Boot Hill is haunted.
Goodleburg Cemetery
Location: South Wales, Erie County, New York
This paranormal hotspot was active from 1811 to 1927. At the size of a village lot,
many of the headstones seem to have been lost either due to the passage of time or
vandalism. Though this cemetery may be small, it hosts some very active ghosts.
Oddly enough, some people say the word “Goodleburg” means “hill of the ghouls.”
Now isn’t that a charming name for a cemetery? On top of the dark activities that
took place in it, it is very possible Goodleburg Cemetery is also a Native American
burial ground and the rather desolate areas nearby served as mob dumping grounds.
Aftermath of Dr. Albert Speaker’s Career
One of the ghosts of Goodleburg Cemetery is presumed to be Dr. Albert Speaker, a
medical examiner by profession, but also a sloppy abortionist who seemed to have
botched as many illegal abortions as he successfully performed. Conveniently, his
home was located across the street from the cemetery, which allowed him to
dispose of the fetal bodies without authorities discovering his illegal activities.
The mothers who didn’t survive his abortions were callously dumped in the rather
deep pond, found within the bounds of the cemetery toward the back. This body-
dumping was reportedly done in the middle of the night under the cover of
darkness.
After years of his side business as an illegal abortionist, Dr. Speaker found himself
suspected in the murder of Mrs. Helen Lindeman in 1948. She was found murdered
and dismembered with her body parts left in various places. Before the case could
go to court, Dr. Speaker reportedly hanged himself from a tree in the very cemetery
he had disposed of so many bodies. However, others claim he died from a heart
attack.
Though he was not buried in Goodleburg, it seems he hasn’t left the area. More than
one group of would-be ghost hunters have found themselves prowling the cemetery
grounds late at night only to encounter a man dressed in a white lab coat.
Presumably Dr. Speaker, witnesses have reported he walks through the graveyard at
night like a man with a purpose, not wandering—perhaps coming back from
dumping a patient? Still, others claim to have seen the form of a body hanging from
one of the cemetery trees, swinging back and forth; oddly enough, this apparition
usually appears on the first Friday of the month.
One horrifying image came from a ghost hunt at Goodleburg. It shows a mist,
shaped like a human, but twisted and floating above the ground, supported by one
hand. Its face is apparent and the mouth is thrown wide open as if crying out. Is this
Dr. Speaker or perhaps one of his victims? That same night, a group using a voice
recorder captured these chilling words, “Where is my baby?”
Others have seen the figures of women wandering at the edge of the cemetery and
assume they are the unfortunate mothers who died at Dr. Speaker’s hands, refusing
to be forgotten. It is rumored their bones still wash up on the shore of the pond after
very heavy rains. Often there is a gust of strong wind followed by cries, including
those of a baby, emanating from the pond and many unusual mists and shadows are
seen near the pond.
A handful of visitors experienced the most chilling, horrifying, unnatural ghosts that
Goodleburg Cemetery offers. Imagine yourself wandering the small graveyard with
a flashlight and equipment in hand when you sense motion from the corner of your
eye; turning your head and your flashlight to get a better look among the
gravestones, you see tiny figures, ranging in size from a fetus to a very small baby,
half-crawling, half-dragging themselves along the ground.
Undoubtedly you, too, would run out of the cemetery. Oh, and don’t be surprised if,
when you get back to your vehicle, the handprints of a small child are on the
windows.
The Lady in White
Another common figure in Goodleburg Cemetery is the Lady in White. One visitor
to the cemetery, like many others, spotted a frail looking woman in a white dress
roaming along the road as he drove by the cemetery. He stopped to see if she
needed help, only to have her disappear before he got close. She has also been
spotted in and around areas next to the cemetery. Many believe she is one of Dr.
Speaker’s unfortunate patients.
Hell Hounds
One of the more unusual stories told by visitors is that of encounters with hell
hounds or barghests. They are a common topic in English folklore and a frequent
sight around Goodleburg Cemetery.
For example, one evening a visitor to the cemetery caught sight of a massive black
dog watching him closely. He was a little intimidated by the size of the dog, but that
intimidation turned to fear as he noticed the animal’s eyes were glowing green in
color. The man turned to rush back to his car when he heard an unearthly howl.
You may spot a single, massive black dog with either red or green eyes; however,
these hell hounds often travel in large packs. Believed to be the Devil’s servants and
the harbingers of death, they have been spotted both in and around the cemetery.
Their favorite times to visit seem to be either evening or night. Witnesses state their
howl is unnatural and has a horrifying evil sound to it. Considering the dark history
of the place, it is not surprising hell hounds would be present.
The Curse
Some people claim there is a curse on Goodleburg Cemetery that applies to those
who vandalize it, remove items from it, or disturb its residents. Rumors indicate the
punishment ranges from suffering extremely bad luck to harm and even death.
The legend of bad luck seems to be true because many of those who have removed
something from the cemetery often return it quite quickly after experiencing
misfortune after misfortune. It seems those whose remains are to be found within
Goodleburg don’t intend to leave the prosecution of vandalism up to the law, but
rather take things into their own hands.
Conclusion
The dark history of Goodleburg Cemetery no doubt contributes to the ghostly
activity both in and around it. Shadowy people, colorful orbs, low-hanging mists,
cries, and figures are common sights. Strange lights, icy cold areas, the sounds of
grief and mourning, and an overall sense of uneasiness are not unusual. Hell
hounds, phantom babies, and long-forgotten mothers seem to be among its
denizens.
Many have seen tiny footprints and handprints in the soil and on the grave markers.
There’s even an Amish looking farmer that appears in broad daylight and don’t
forget that the first ghost ever reported there was a tall, proud Native American. If
you do pay Goodleburg Cemetery a visit, don’t let the hell hounds catch up with
you or you’ll be cursed.
Westminster Presbyterian Church Cemetery
Location: Baltimore, Maryland
Also known as Westminster Hall and Burying Ground, this cemetery became the
final resting place of the “who’s who” of Baltimore for many years. Its residents
include Francis Scott Key’s son, a variety of generals from the Revolutionary War
and the War of 1812, and, its most famous resident, the enigmatic author Edgar
Allan Poe.
However, not all who live within its confines are at rest, which could be due in part
to the fact the church, now simply known as Westminster Hall, was built over part
of the graveyard, and the graves beneath it can only be accessed through tunnels.
Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe was found seriously ill, semi-conscious, and wearing someone
else’s clothes. He passed away a few days later and was buried in the Westminster
Presbyterian Cemetery (the part the church was built over). However, money was
raised to have his body exhumed, moved to a more prominent site near one of the
entrance gates, and marked with a headstone more appropriate for a man of his
fame and accomplishments.
That, however, is not the end of Poe’s story. From 1949 to 2010, a mysterious man
dressed in black would visit his grave on Poe’s birthday, leaving behind a half-
bottle of Cognac, three roses, and a short note. Some people believe this is a ghostly
specter, while others insist the man is a physical being.
Poe himself is said to appear in the cemetery around the time of his birthday
(January 19), dressed in black period-style clothes and carrying a cane with a cat’s
head handle. As he walks through the cemetery, it is said he taps the cane as he goes
along—and that tap can be clearly heard. Sadly, Poe seems to disappear before
anyone can catch up with him.
The Screaming Skull
One of the other famous legends associated with the Westminster Burying Ground
involves the screaming skull. The story involves the brutal murder of a local
minister who was buried within the cemetery. Every night, at a certain time, a
chilling and loud scream that pierces through the coffin and the soil atop it is issued
forth from his grave so all could hear.
Desperate to stop this otherworldly screaming, someone (most likely the killer) dug
up the body, put a gag in the mouth of the skull, and placed it in a concrete block
next to the grave. However, visitors to the cemetery still report the eerie sound of
muffled screaming emanating from the ground at night. Those who have listened to
it, rather than running away, usually end up in psychiatric care for the remainder of
their lives. It seems once the scream is heard, it echoes in the mind and never stops.
The Catacombs
As mentioned earlier, the Westminster Presbyterian Church was built over a portion
of the cemetery, which means a considerable portion of the graveyard is accessible
only through catacombs beneath the church. Many state this area is the most active
and filled with a dark history.
This should not come as a surprise, considering the offense likely taken at having a
church built over their remains. To make matters worse, these catacombs worked
quite well for body snatchers and students looking for corpses upon which to
practice medical skills in the 1850s. The dead likely did not appreciate the presence
of soldiers who used the catacombs as a hiding place for their weapons during the
Civil War.
Then came the vandals, who thought nothing of disinterring bodies and damaging
the graves. Between 1890 and 1920, many people were inexplicably drawn to visit
the catacombs and commit suicide while they were there, joining the already
deceased. One is left wondering what kind of dark forces are at work to draw
people to their own death.
One visitor may feel an unbelievable chill as they walk these gothic halls while
another may suddenly be met with an overwhelming stench, only to have it
dissipate moments later. People have been touched, some with soft caresses and
others with unfriendly contact; still others have heard someone whispering in their
ear, only to turn and find no one is there.
Conclusion
There are other restless spirits within the Westminster Burying Ground. Visitors
have seen a spirit that can only be described as a crazed lunatic rushing through the
cemetery, looking for something he never seems to find.
Others have reported sightings of a horrifying, drunken ghoul staggering among the
tombstones. A sixteen-year-old girl named Lucia Watson, who died in 1816, has
been seen many times praying at the cemetery. If you do decide to pay a visit, just
remember: if you hear screaming, get out—or you may never get the sound of that
scream out of your mind.
Howard Street Cemetery
Location: Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts
For many of us, just seeing the word Salem brings to mind the horrific witch trials
that occurred in the 1600s—and this cemetery has a strong connection to those
activities, despite the fact it was not founded until 1801.
Howard Street Cemetery, also known as the Howard Street Burying Ground, is the
third oldest cemetery in Salem. Unlike many cemeteries its age, this cemetery and
its gravestones are quite well-preserved.
Curse of Giles Corey
Giles Corey, an elderly man by the standards of the time, was falsely accused of
being a warlock during the witch hysteria at Salem; he was also the only individual
to die by torture. To enter any kind of plea was to automatically forfeit all property,
so Corey refused to enter a plea; he wanted his property to pass on to his sons, not
the greedy men at the core of the witch trials, which is why city officials tortured
him in an attempt to force a plea.
Corey was initially imprisoned in the jail that bordered the edge of the cemetery.
One fateful day, the sheriff took Corey from his cell, stripped him of his clothing,
and made him lay down in a pit dug near the jail, within what is now the cemetery.
The sheriff took a large board, placed it across Corey’s chest, and began to add
stones to it. Six muscular men kept adding stones as the sheriff asked Corey what
his plea was each time; however, Corey’s plea was a simple sentence: “More
weight!”
On the off chance he survived the ordeal, he would have been hanged from the
Gallows, but he refused to give the sheriff the satisfaction of taking land from his
sons. Corey held out for two days, twice being given bread and water to keep him
alive to make a plea. Stones were continuously added until Corey’s swollen tongue
protruded from his mouth. Disturbed at the sight, the sheriff took the tip of his cane
and forced Corey’s tongue back in.
Legend says that shortly before he passed, Corey had one more burst of energy,
which he used to place a curse upon the sheriff and the city. They piled more stones
upon him until he finally died. He never pled and his land went to his sons;
unfortunately, his wife was hanged a short time later.
Was the curse real? Evidence seems to suggest it was. Many of the sheriffs serving
Salem afterwards have reported awakening to a suffocating weight upon their chest
and a disturbing, ominous presence in their room. A high number of sheriffs have
perished from heart attacks or suffered heart problems serious enough for them to
resign from office. The sheriff who was in charge of Corey’s death, Sheriff Corwin,
died of a fatal heart attack at the rather young age of 30, only four years after
Corey’s death.
Nevertheless, that isn’t the end of Giles Corey’s story and his curse. His ghost is
said to appear on the spot where he perished, not randomly, but shortly before a
major disaster hits the community. For example, Corey’s ghost was spotted shortly
before the horrific fire on 1914 that destroyed 1/3 of Salem, which, oddly enough,
started at the location where Corey’s wife and many others were hanged for
witchcraft.
Black Dog
Another mysterious phantom haunting the Howard Street Cemetery is a large dog.
One nighttime visitor to the cemetery was busy taking pictures when she noticed a
massive, dark creature shaped like a dog coming toward her and her companion. It
was weaving in and out among the headstones and just the sight of it was
frightening.
Quickly, she began to snap pictures, managing to take three images of the ghostly
dog before it got too close for comfort. Once it was about thirty feet from them, the
couple made a run for it. They returned a few hours later, however, and captured
some images of a man they believe is Giles Corey.
Conclusion
If you choose to visit the Howard Street Cemetery, be aware you may well
encounter the ghost of Giles Corey, still angry over his horrific torture and
subsequent death. If you are in law enforcement, especially a sheriff, you might
want to avoid the area.
Don’t be surprised if you spot a massive black dog following you or feel an icy cold
hand touch you on the arm or face, feel a chilling breath upon your cheek, or
happen to see an apparition rise from the ground. Screams aren’t uncommon, either.
Just watch your step.
Pine Hill Cemetery
Location: Hollis, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire
Pine Hill Cemetery is said to be one of the most haunted cemeteries in all of New
England. Oddly enough, it is also known as the Blood Cemetery, which is the name
of one of the families buried near the center of the cemetery rather than any
reference to violence. It was established on land donated by an individual in 1769,
and, like many old cemeteries, not all the graves are marked.
Abel Blood
Imagine you are closely studying a headstone with an interesting carving of a hand
upon it. The index finger of the hand is pointing up, yet in the blink of an eye, the
finger points down. You quickly snatch up the digital camera used to previously
take a photo for comparison and note the hand was pointing up. The headstone
where this occurred is that of Abel Blood.
The patriarch of the Blood family who passed in 1867 supposedly haunts the
cemetery to this day. Some say Abel is looking for his wife, Betsy, who many
believe was the victim of murder. His ghost has been spotted numerous times
restlessly roaming the cemetery, but seems to be more lost or confused than
malicious.
One legend says Abel dabbled in the dark arts and his headstone tells of his
whereabouts: if the finger (now chipped away by vandals) is pointing up, he is in
Heaven at the moment, but if the finger is pointing down, it means Abel Blood is in
Hell. It is said he spends his days in Heaven and his nights in Hell. Others say when
the finger points down it means his ghost is in the cemetery. If that is the case, you
might want to watch your step.
Ghost Child
One young man was driving past the Pine Hill Cemetery one evening when, to his
horror, he saw a small child run right in front of his car. He veered to the side,
praying the child was all right, only to realize the child disappeared from sight. The
man quickly got out of his car concerned perhaps the child had been thrown off the
road. After searching the area thoroughly and calling out for the child, he came up
emptyhanded.
The next morning, he mentioned this hair-raising experience to one of the locals,
only to learn the child was likely a ghost. Local legend states late one night a young
boy ran for his life when his family was being murdered at their home near Pine
Hill Road, only to be gunned down moments later on the road.
Many people claim to have witnessed this young boy running out in front of their
vehicle at night, only to disappear from sight moments later. Others have seen a
young boy at the side of the road trying to wave down vehicles for assistance except
when they stop to help the little boy, he disappears.
Ghostly Cat
A ghost hunter was visiting the cemetery one afternoon looking at the various
headstones through the viewfinder of his camera as he snapped several pictures. He
noticed a gray animal in front of one the headstones, blocking the image he wanted
to capture. As he stared it down, he realized it was a very large, furry gray cat
(perhaps a Maine Coon cat) whose coat was almost the same color as the headstone.
Imagine his horror as the cat turned toward the headstone and vanished into it. He
reported it took about a half of a second to completely disappear. There was no
place for it to hide and the headstone was rather small. He searched for a rational
explanation, but there was none to be found.
Conclusion
There is such a wide variety of activity occurring within Pine Hill Cemetery.
Imagine you are standing at the foot of a grave when you notice the tree branches
swaying nearby, yet the air is still. Cameras have captured mists, orbs, and shadows
that are a bit too human for comfort—when the cameras (both film and digital) will
actually work.
People have experienced strange things just driving by including radio stations
changing randomly (and playing funeral music, no less) and gas gauges acting up.
Everything returns to normal once a short distance from the cemetery. Additionally,
fog suddenly appears and envelops the cemetery area.
Metairie Cemetery
Location: New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana
The Metairie Cemetery, also known as Lake Lawn Metairie Cemetery, has over
7,000 tombs located on 150 acres of land. Of all the cemeteries in the greater New
Orleans area, this one is considered both the most beautiful and most elaborate.
In 1838, the land now comprising the cemetery was the Metairie Racetrack. Local
legend tells of a man named Charles Howard who won a huge sum of money in the
corrupted Louisiana State Lottery. He applied for membership to the Metairie
Jockey Club, which owned the track, and was rudely denied. Mr. Howard’s
responded by stating he would bury all the members.
It is said Charles used a substantial part of his lottery winnings to influence the club
to turn their precious racetrack into a cemetery. Facts, however, point to a slightly
different course of events; the racetrack was turned into an army training camp
during the Civil War and never really recovered from its many losses. It became a
cemetery in 1872.
Regardless of how the racetrack became a cemetery, careful observation of how
graves are positioned and “streets” within the cemetery are arranged belies the fact
it was a racing track. According to some, the first ghost appeared before it was a
cemetery when an unlucky gambler lost a considerable sum of money and hanged
himself at the racetrack. He apparently kept “hanging around” the racetrack after his
death.
Charles Howard
Not surprising, Charles Howard himself is buried in the Metairie Cemetery. His
haunting is quite disturbing. One young visitor to the cemetery was walking near
Charles’ final resting place, located near the very center of the grounds. As he
passed, he heard a sound that chilled him to the core and haunted him from
thenceforth: moaning and other noises emanating from Howard’s tomb.
This is not an isolated incident, either. Others have heard loud noises coming from
his memorial, causing them to stop to listen in an attempt to figure out the location
of the sounds. Strangers passing by the grave often pause and glance at each other
to see whom the source of the thuds and moans might be. It seems he enjoys
creating a commotion as much in death as he did in life!
Honest Chief Hennessey
In the late nineteenth century, during a time of terrible corruption and danger for
honest men, there was a New Orleans police chief by the name of David
Hennessey. He was an honest man who was liked and respected by the citizens of
New Orleans, but not so much by criminals.
After a battle between rival mafia groups broke out on the streets, Chief Hennessey
took a stand by starting a “Keep Watch” list of criminals. The mafia, which was
primarily Italian, noticed most of the people on the list were Italian and called it an
act of racism. A short while after the list was established, Chief Hennessey was shot
in front of his home.
Needless to say, the reaction of the police force was to round up nineteen Italian
suspects. Most were acquitted though a mistrial was declared for several; however,
as far as the community was concerned, the killers were not brought to justice. A
mob of citizens assembled and performed a mass lynching that took the lives of
eleven men, three of whom were among the acquitted Italian suspects. This would
be one of the worst mass lynching incidents in American history.
Chief Hennessey is reportedly not at rest. More than one visitor to Metairie
Cemetery has witnessed a tall man dressed in an old-fashioned police uniform
walking the cemetery grounds as if guarding it from vandals and undesirables. The
descriptions provided seem to match that of the chief, whom may feel obligated to
carry his police responsibilities beyond the grave.
The Flaming Tomb
At one point, there was a red light district in the area referred to as Storyville; its
history spanned twenty years, from 1897 to 1917, and tells a tale of the most
famous madam.
Josie Arlington, originally named Mary Anna Deubler, was a very successful
brothel manager with a troubled past filled with rejection and heartache. In her
younger years, Josie had quite a violent reputation, which included biting off the
ears and lips of a fellow prostitute. She was determined to make a name for herself
in the business and did, especially after the commissioning of her brothel, the
Arlington, which was known for its experienced staff of women.
The Arlington burned down in 1905, though, and Josie never fully recovered from
the loss. She became completely obsessed with the subject of death and purchased a
plot among the high and mighty of New Orleans in Metairie Cemetery. She then
purchased an elegant mausoleum with a statue of a woman with her back turned to
the other graves, designed to appear as if she is in motion and seeking entry to the
mausoleum. Dressed in a long flowing robe, she stands cradling a bouquet of
flowers in one hand and reaching toward the door in the other. Josie died in 1914 on
Valentine’s Day at the relatively young age of fifty and was buried in her beautiful
crypt.
So much unusual activity occurred at her grave that she had to be moved to another
location within the cemetery, but it seems her spirit prefers the resting place she
bought and paid for.
Imagine walking near her grave at night and have what seems to be flickering red
flames catch your eye. As you venture closer, you realize those red flames are
actually stone-sculpted flames glowing on their own.
When she was first buried there, people claimed lights reflecting on the tomb
caused the entire structure to glow red, as if on fire. This would be how her tomb
got the nickname “The Flaming Tomb.” Knowing her manner of life, this caused
people to claim it was glowing like a fiery gate leading directly to Hell.
Some visitors of Josie’s tomb claim when enjoying the beauty of this statue, it
suddenly moves. The hand, whose palm is a few inches from the door, suddenly
balls into a fist and begins to pound on the bronzed door demanding entrance to the
tomb. Other visitors have reported seeing the statue leaving its post to walk among
the other graves in the cemetery, perhaps visiting Josie’s new resting place.
Conclusion
There is no doubt ghosts walk the racetracks that now form Metairie Cemetery. If
you plan on vandalism or some other form of skullduggery, just keep in mind one
of New Orleans bravest and most honest police chiefs still walks the beat in
Metairie. No doubt intimidating in his lifetime, there is no telling what he may be
capable of as a spirit.
Deerfield Old Burying Grounds
Location: Deerfield, Franklin County, Massachusetts
The Deerfield Old Burying Grounds, also known as the Old Albany Cemetery, is a
charming, pastoral cemetery lined with trees and set up on a hill. Its pleasant
exterior, however, hides a trouble past.
War and Brutality
The early settlers of Deerfield Village arrived in the late 1600s and were aware of
the risks they were taking settling there. The first village settlement in the area,
known as Pocumtuck, had already been destroyed during the French and Indian
Wars. Despite this, the Deerfield residents let their guard down and were attacked
by the French and Indians one fateful winter.
It is estimated the attack involved 200 French soldiers along with Mohawk and
Abenaki Indians. Many of the residents were either taken as prisoners of war or
brutally killed. Note the Indians were given permission to handle their prisoners
however they saw fit.
They were angry at these settlers laying claim to land considered their own and had
no qualms about executing, scalping, and holding prisoners for ransom. This raid
occurred on February 29, 1704 and led to the death of 56 men, women, and children
and taking the 252 villagers that survived captive. Of those, 110 were left in
Deerfield with a garrison of French soldiers while the others went with the Indians.
Those who went with the Indians were subjected to a 300-mile march to Canada in
the winter. The goal was to ransom the prisoners, though 21 of the captives died
along the way, including babies, infants, and adult men and women. No teenagers
died on the march, oddly enough. The remains of those who died on the march were
taken back and placed in a mass grave at Deerfield Village, with the marker simply
reading, “The Dead of 1704.”
The family of Reverend John Williams was hit particularly hard when he lost his
wife and two youngest children at the initial raid while the others were taken
captive; one of his daughters chose to stay with her capturing tribe. As a way of
dealing with his grief, the reverend wrote a book detailing what happened and how
the residents of Deerfield Village survived.
Mrs. Eunice Williams
Reverend William’s wife Eunice is believed to be one of the ghosts wandering the
area. She perished near the Deerfield River, but was later buried in the cemetery.
Visitors to Deerfield have seen a woman, dressed in the clothes of that period,
searching for a particular grave in the cemetery; many believed her to be alive, only
to discover she is not of this mortal realm when she silently disappears before their
eyes. It is heartrending to think of this mother searching for her children buried in
the mass grave at Deerfield Village.
A fisherman standing on the nearby river reported seeing a ghost he believed to be
Eunice, also. He said he was quietly fishing when he noticed a woman standing in
the water. The gentleman said she seemed slightly transparent, as he was able to see
the trees and shore through her body. He looked down at what he was doing, then
looked up again only to see she had disappeared. Attributing it to his imagination,
the man continued fishing.
In a few minutes, he almost had the life startled out of him when she suddenly
appeared by his side in a very solid state. Before he had time to react, she once
again faded from sight. Others have seen her on a nearby bridge, and they, too,
notice the transparency of her figure. If someone attempts to walk toward her
though, she disappears.
Leap Year Haunting
In the Williams’ household, there was an African-American maid who was
expecting a child. During the raid, she attempted to escape with the two youngest
Williams children through an underground tunnel leading to the nearby river.
Unfortunately, they were caught; it is believed the children she was trying to rescue
were killed in front of her. She was scalped while still alive, then hacked to death
with a tomahawk, by either the Indians or the Frenchmen, as the exact culprit is
unknown.
Every February 29th, the anniversary of the terrible raid, haunting, heart-rending
cries of mourning can be heard throughout the cemetery, emanating from the mass
burial mound. Most believe these cries to be that of the Williams’ maid, while
others believe it is the mother. However, because the maid’s remains lie in the mass
burial mound, many are convinced she is the one crying.
Conclusion
Violence, brutality, and heartache seem to leave a mark that survives for centuries,
and the Deerfield Old Burying Grounds are no exception. While the ghosts are not
malevolent and seem disinterested in the living, it would be only proper to show
respect for their memory if you should ever visit the cemetery.
Old Jewish Cemetery
Location: Josefov, Prague, Czech Republic
This would undoubtedly be one of the most unusual cemeteries you would ever lay
eyes upon. Headstone upon headstone sits extremely close to one other, making it
difficult to walk between some of them. It dates back to the 15th century (the oldest
headstone is dated 1439) and was in use until about 1786.
Many say it is impossible to know for sure how many people are buried in the Old
Jewish cemetery. Out of piety and great respect for the dead, the Jews refused to
abolish the older graves when they ran out of room for new burials and it became
impossible to expand the size of the cemetery any further.
Their solution to running out of space was to bring in more soil, resulting in a total
of 12 layers of burial ground. Currently there are about 12,000 headstones visible;
many of the headstones were raised when new burial layers were added, but as
many as 100,000 people may be buried there.
Apparitions and Skeletons
One thing The Old Jewish Cemetery is known for is shadows and apparitions
darting among the closely set tombstones. In fact, if a visitor were to become
frightened and attempt to run, he or she would likely trip because there is very little
room to move among the graves. Anything in the darkness of night seems quite
paranormal in nature.
Many, many years ago, a man visited the cemetery, possibly drunk, and vocalized
his wish to have a good game of cards. To his surprise, a few skeletons arose from
among the tombstones and expressed their willingness to join him. Against his
better judgement, the man agreed. Let’s just say the skeletons there don’t play for
money… they play for your soul.
Golem of Prague
In the 15th century, a rabbi by the name of Judah Loew ben Bezalel allegedly
created the Golem of Prague. The Jews were under attack from Anti-Semites and
needed a champion who was more than human. Rabbi Loew’s solution was to
create a mud sculpture and bring it to life through his powers and knowledge of the
Book of Creation. The resulting creature is known in Jewish legend as a golem,
with this particular one named Josef.
Josef looked quite humanly, though possessed extraordinary strength. Unable to
speak, he could be activated and deactivated as Rabbi Loew saw fit. He was only
active when a special clay tablet was placed into his mouth. As he completed the
assignments given to him by the rabbi, which ranged from protective tasks against
their enemies to manual labor, he became stronger and more difficult to control.
Josef was becoming increasingly destructive; Rabbi Loew finally had to disable him
once and for all.
There are visitors to The Old Jewish Cemetery who swear they have seen Josef, the
Golem of Prague, wandering among the tombstones, although the Golem was
supposedly hidden in the attic of a synagogue. Others report they have seen the
ghost they believe to be Rabbi Loew, who is buried in the cemetery.
Conclusion
Many who visit this cemetery describe a rather eerie silence, especially in light of
the fact it is located in the center of Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic.
Visitors often capture mysterious orbs and figures in the mist with their cameras. If
you catch sight of the Golem of Prague, you might make doubly sure you don’t do
anything disrespectful near the rabbi’s grave, as Josef may still be protective of his
creator. Oh, and don’t play cards with the skeletons!
Glasnevin Cemetery
Location: Dublin, Ireland
This large cemetery was founded in 1832. It began as Mount Prospect Cemetery,
covering nine acres of ground, but over the years grew to about 124 acres. Its
original purpose was to provide Irish Catholics with a place to bury their own and
perform the type of burial service their religion suggested.
Glasnevin Cemetery is now considered the largest cemetery in Ireland and contains
more deceased than live individuals living in Dublin.
Body Snatchers
The Glasnevin Cemetery is an imposing sight with its high walls and watch towers.
The purpose of such extreme measures was to prevent “body snatching” during the
18th and early 19th centuries. Thanks to local medical schools, there was a
tremendous demand for fresh corpses. Unscrupulous men took advantage of this
lucrative business and decided to procure fresh bodies from the local cemeteries and
were known as “body snatchers” or “resurrectionists.”
This became such a problem that watchtowers were built to allow guards to keep a
close eye on the graves; it wasn’t unusual for the cemetery’s security to release a
pack of bloodhounds to assist in discouraging body snatchers. Gunfights would
even break out between the body snatchers and the guards. Note, however, the 170’
tower in the middle of the cemetery was intended to memorialize the grave of
Daniel O’Connell.
It would seem that some of the body snatchers of old still hang around the
cemetery. Kavanagh’s Pub, better known to modern residents as the Gravedigger’s
Pub, was very close to the cemetery and legend has it that body snatchers would
often order drinks through a secret hatch or by throwing a shovel full of dirt at the
wall facing the cemetery. To this day, an elderly gentlemen dressed in a very old-
fashioned tweed suit is known to appear at the pub, order a drink, and then
disappear into thin air.
The Loyal Dog
A sea captain, John McNeill Boyd, was the loving master of a most devoted black
Newfoundland hound. In 1861, Captain Boyd was a part of a dangerous rescue off
Dun Laoghaire and his loyal dog was with him on the rescue boat. Sadly, as Captain
Boyd and his crew struggled to save a small group of sailors clinging to some
nearby rocks, a massive way swept over the group; the only member of the rescue
crew left was the dog, discovered the next morning, still obediently sitting in the
lifeboat.
Captain Boyd’s body was eventually swept ashore. His dog was present all through
the requiem mass, followed his master’s remains to the Glasnevin Cemetery, and
settled down beside the grave when the burial was complete. He refused to leave his
master’s side, laying down on top of the grave and neither eating nor drinking.
Soon, he, too, joined his master in death.
Many, many times since 1861, visitors have seen a dark Newfoundland dog
walking through the cemetery or resting quietly near his beloved master’s grave.
Children’s Graves
There are numerous graves for children, including those of stillborn babies. The
Little Angel’s plot is believed to be the final resting place for over 50,000 children
and babies. That said, it is not surprising for visitors to this cemetery to report the
sounds of children playing happily with laughing, shouts of enjoyment, and singing.
Conclusion
If you should pay a visit to Ireland’s largest cemetery, keep an eye out for Captain
Boyd’s dog and remember to show respect to his grave. Also, if you should hear the
sound of kids playing but not see any around, don’t be frightened.
Salem Cemetery
Location: Hendrysberg, Belmount County, Ohio
Salem Cemetery is also known as Salem Church and Salem Methodist Episcopal
Cemetery (referring to a nearby church that burned down in the 1960s). Located in
the Egypt Valley region of Ohio, it is the home of one of Ohio’s most famous
ghosts, Louiza Catharine Fox, the first person buried in Salem Cemetery and first
murder victim in Kirkwood Township.
Louiza Fox
Louiza’s story is most tragic; she met her murderer, Thomas Carr, when she was
only 13-years old. Thomas, a coal miner, was visiting his employer’s home when he
met one of their domestic servants, young Louiza. Despite the rather significant age
difference, Thomas was immediately attracted to Louiza and sought her hand in
marriage not long after.
Her parents initially agreed to the marriage, but changed their minds after they
heard about Thomas’ reputation for violence. As a result of their discoveries, they
broke the engagement. Thomas confronted them and later Louiza as well. When he
realized Louiza agreed with her parents and wanted to end the engagement, he
became enraged. The family quickly learned his reputation for violence was well-
earned.
In January of 1869, he waited along the route Louiza always took when she walked
home from work. As she approached, he saw she was with her younger brother;
undeterred, he stepped out and politely asked Willy to go on ahead while he talked
with Louiza. Willy agreed, thinking Louiza would surely be safe.
Once Willy was out of sight, Thomas kissed Louiza one last time then proceeded to
slit her throat with a razor. Still not satisfied, he stabbed her lifeless body fourteen
times and dumped her body in a ditch. Unknown to him, Willy had qualms about
leaving his sister alone and headed back in time to see what was happening, but too
late to rescue Louiza.
Carr was captured, but not before he attempted suicide by cutting his throat and
shooting himself. He was arrested, tried, and sentenced to death. He made a full
confession to Louiza’s murder and then admitted to the murder of 14 other
individuals. His execution was temporarily delayed by a legal technicality, but he
was finally hanged on March 21, 1870.
Louiza, it seems, is still not at rest. Motorists driving along the spot where she was
murdered reporting a young woman walking along and then vanishing from sight.
Another common occurrence is for individuals to see a young woman standing near
her gravestone, which is in an older part of the cemetery next to a rather spooky-
looking tree. There she stands and, even when she is not seen, she can often be
heard weeping and crying.
Ghost Dogs
One of the many visitors to Salem Cemetery had a most distressed encounter with
what can only be described as a pack of ghost dogs. As he was wandering through
the cemetery near dusk, he began to hear the sound of barking and baying drawing
closer to him.
As he turned, he realized a group of large, dark colored dogs with flaming red eyes
were running directly toward him. He turned to run; as he made it out of the
cemetery boundary he turned to look back in order to judge how close the dogs
were to him. As he looked back, they began to disappear slowly before his eyes.
Locals believe these dogs guard this cemetery, as well as some of the others in the
general area. Others claim they are hell hounds. Only those who have never seen
them in person or heard their hair-raising barks, howls, and baying would dare to
claim they are normal dogs.
Lonely Bachelor Alvin
Salem Cemetery has one resident who can best be described as a bit aggressive. The
story states a lonely young man, Alvin, passed away at the age of 39 from what
relatives described as a broken heart. Yet, even in the afterlife, he longs for female
companionship and has been known to pinch quite a few young women on the butt
when they come to visit the cemetery.
Phantom House
Another interesting paranormal phenomenon that occurs repeatedly at Salem
Cemetery is referred to as the “Ghost House.” Many say a small house appears in
the center of the cemetery on random nights. The house has nothing special about
its appearance other than always having seven red candles burning in its windows.
Anyone who attempts to approach the house sees it suddenly disappear as he or she
draws near.
Conclusion
Salem Cemetery is undoubtedly one of the ghostly hotspots of the state of Ohio.
Should you visit, don’t antagonize the ghostly guard dogs and if you should get
pinched, remember it’s only lonely Alvin.
Stull Cemetery
Location: Stull, Douglas County, Kansas
For being a cemetery in such as small community, Stull Cemetery is very famous. It
is probably best known for the urban legend started in the 1970s that claimed it
contains one of the Gateways to Hell in connection with Satanic rituals and
witchcraft supposedly performed at the neighboring ruins of a church (which has
since been torn down).
These urban legends have been disproved by careful research and study; however,
there are hauntings that occur there that are far more real than legend.
Mysterious Winds
Late one night, a young pair of college students were wandering around in the
cemetery when a powerful wind suddenly began to blow against them, almost
toppling them to the ground. The strength of these ghostly, inexplicable winds was
sufficient that they made a wild run for the car, only to discover not only was it
located on the other side of the highway, but it was also facing the opposite
direction. Nevertheless, they did not return.
Another man encountered something similar, only inside the ruins of the old
church. He was looking around at the ruins, possibly looking for some of the
evidence of satanic worship rumored to occur, when a strong wind not only blew
him off his feet, but also pinned him to the ground. There he remained, unable to
move until the mysterious wind died down.
Flames at the Four Corners
One particular daytime visitor to Stull Cemetery noticed something very disturbing.
As he entered the empty cemetery, he noticed flames forming small rings, one ring
in each of the corners of the cemetery. The rings didn’t correspond to a grass fire, as
it was the wrong time of year, and grass fires usually don’t form perfect geometric
shapes. Were the residents warmly greeting him or warning this visitor to leave?
Where the Rain Refuses to Fall
On the cemetery grounds there used to sit a simple little stone church built in 1867
and was associated with the town’s original Dutch settlers. The church had been in
ruins since the early 20th century, including missing its roof since 1920 when
multiple witnesses came to the same conclusion: no matter how heavy a downpour
of rain might take place, rain never fell within the church. This tiny, raggedy
remnant of a church would remain dry, even in the most aggressive of rainstorms.
The remnants of the church were finally torn down in 2002 as residents grew weary
of amateur ghost hunters and tourists spreading claims about their church and tying
it to occult activities. However, some people claim this act seemed to anger the
spirits in the cemetery and intensified the activity within the Stull Cemetery.
Active Paranormal Site
Students from the local college often visit Stull Cemetery, only to come back
reporting they have been touched by something neither they nor their companions
could see. Many other visitors have been suddenly struck with lightheadedness or
outright vertigo that would not leave until they left the cemetery grounds. Some
people have felt someone grab an arm, but no one anywhere near. Still others have
had vivid memories thrust themselves into their minds—memories that are not their
own, while some have experienced memory loss or lost time.
One group of young people was there at night after the remains of the church had
been torn down and carried away. They were taking pictures with a flashlight near
the site of the church. Later that day, they were studying the pictures when they saw
someone reaching out for one of the young men in the group. That someone in the
picture had not been standing there when they were and was not a part of their
group; not to mention, there was no one else in the tiny cemetery when they were
there that night.
Resident Witch and Murderous Child
One of the resident ghosts, who threats have been captured on Electronic Voice
Phenomenons (EVPs), is supposedly a witch. Those who have had the unfortunate
pleasure of encountering her specter describe her as tall and thin with long, flowing
white hair.
As to her threats, she is particularly insistent no one step upon her grave and her
bones be left alone. Some have noticed she is apparently buried next to her
husband, though he may not be too happy about it as the soil on his grave is often
pushed up, as if someone beneath it is trying to escape.
There is also a tale about a child who was born in the community that is half devil
and half human. Wild, unsubstantiated stories abound about this child including
claims he went on a murderous eleven-month rampage at the age of ten, after which
a local farmer killed him. His grave in within Stull Cemetery, but remains
unmarked. Stories point to the spring and autumn equinoxes when mysterious lights
and orbs that float above his grave.
Conclusion
While Stull Cemetery might not be a Gateway to Hell, it is still a very haunted
cemetery. Don’t be surprised at anything that may happen within its boundaries,
from mysterious flame circles to winds powerful enough to pin you to the ground.
But remember, whatever you do, don’t step on the witch’s grave!
SLEEP WELL
From La Recoleta in Argentina to the Old Jewish Cemetery in Prague, haunted
cemeteries are a phenomenon that exist the world over. It seems when some people
pass to the other side, they leave something behind. While it more typically is at a
place they lived or worked, sometimes it is left behind at the cemetery.
It is also interesting to note the demeanor of the ghosts involved is as varied as
personalities among the living. The playful child, the angry victim, the watchful
police chief, the grieving mother, or the controversial madam, they all seem to
reflect who that person was when alive.
However, as you have seen, not all hauntings involve ghosts that can easily be
identified. There are still the mysterious cries, packs of dogs, cold spots, voice
recordings, and footsteps. Let’s face it: hauntings refuse to be neatly classified.
They also refuse to be explained. While skeptics can come up with explanations for
many things, there are still some occurrences that are beyond even their skills.
Although they cannot give a rational explanation for an unusual occurrence, it
doesn’t mean it wasn’t paranormal in nature.
Finally, if you should visit a cemetery, respect the dead laid to rest there. Don’t
vandalize it, clean up after yourself, and don’t risk damaging any of the headstones
or artwork. You never know what may decide to follow you home if you do—or if
you make it home.
 Other Guides by Zachery Knowles

Real Haunted Ouija Boards

Real Haunted Cemeteries and Graveyards

Real Demonic Possessions and Exorcisms

Real Haunted Woods and Forests

 Real Police Ghost Stories

Real Haunted Castles and Fortresses

Real Haunted Hospitals and Mental Asylums

Real Hauntings at Sea

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