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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