Page 67 - The 'X' Chronicles Newspaper - Late January 2019

26 Most Haunted Places in the U.S. 67

The 26 Most Haunted

Places in the U.S.

Continued from Page 66

New Amsterdam Theatre, New York
City
Olive Thomas’s story reads like the plot
of a Broadway musical: She came to Manhattan
at the age of 16, quickly won the title of "The
Most Beautiful Girl in New York City," and
became a member of the legendary Ziegfeld
Follies. She died in 1920 at the age of 25 after
swallowing mercury pills; but it wasn’t long
before her specter was spotted backstage at the
New Amsterdam, in full Follies regalia and
carrying a blue pill bottle. She’s since been
spotted many times at the theater, almost
exclusively by men. Theater employees still bid Pittock Mansion, Portland, Oregon Toni Jo Henry was a former prostitute
good morning and good night to her portraits Oregonian pioneers Henry and who reached national levels of infamy when she
hanging backstage. —Jenna Scherer Georgiana Pittock decided to build their dream killed a man in cold blood in 1940. It took three
house when they reached their golden years, in trials for a jury to convict the "charming" Toni
Gettysburg Battlefield, Pennsylvania 1909, spurring the innovative design and Jo, but she eventually became the first (and
The Battle of Gettysburg was one of the construction of the Pittock Mansion. only) woman in Louisiana to be executed in the
bloodiest in American history, with somewhere Unfortunately, the couple only got to enjoy their electric chair. However, her spirit is said to have
around 50,000 young men dying in the three- home for a few years before passing away— remained in the courthouse, where workers can
day conflict. Many of the soldiers never Georgiana in 1918 and Henry in 1919. The feel her presence and even smell her burning
received a proper burial after their untimely building is now a public landmark where some hair. Many claim she meddles with everyday life
deaths, and many believe the souls of these men strange occurrences have been reported, such as at the courthouse to make life more difficult for
now wander the field to look for their weapons the smell of roses (Georgiana's favorite bloom) the employees, locking doors and fiddling with
and comrades. filling a room with no flowers in it, and a office equipment.
childhood painting of Henry moving, on its own,
Moon River Brewing Company, from spot to spot within the house. Clearly, Devil’s Tramping Ground, North
Savannah, Georgia death was not enough of a reason for the Carolina
Pittocks to vacate their beloved home. Deep in the North Carolina woods, about
Considered one of Savannah's most
haunted locations, the Moon River Brewing 50 miles south of Greensboro, is a mysterious
Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, circle where no plant or tree will grow, nor any
Company has played many roles before
becoming the beer house/restaurant it is today. Weston, West Virginia animals cross its path. The reason? The 40-foot
The building began as a hotel in 1821, then The Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum clearing is where the devil comes to stomp and
served as a hospital for yellow fever victims opened its doors to patients in 1864, and in the dance every night—at least according to local
during the Civil War. Needless to say, the 1950s, the West Virginia facility reached its legends. The area has built up quite the eerie
building saw a lot of death during that time, and peak, housing more than 2,400 patients—even reputation over the years, with people claiming
many believe some of that macabre energy still though it was designed to hold only 250. The to see red eyes glowing there at night and
lingers. Many of the restaurant's guests have severe overcrowding led to inhumane conditions placing their belongings in the circle in the
reported seeing a woman in period clothing (like lack of heat and convalescents kept in evening, only to find them thrown back out the
staring down from the top of the staircase; other cages), and patients started acting increasingly next morning (presumedly so the devil can clear
sightings include a taunting spirit named "Toby" violent, from starting fires to attacking staff his dance floor).
in the basement, and a spirit named "Mrs. members. The asylum finally closed in 1994, but
Johnson" upstairs. But as long as you stick to the souls of some patients are said to linger. Dock Street Theatre, Charleston,
the main level, you should be able to enjoy your Ghost tours are available for those wishing to South Carolina
beer in total peace. see how some patients lived—and died—within One of the oldest theaters in America,
the cramped halls. this site in downtown Charleston has racked up
RMS Queen Mary, Long Beach, a lot of tumult and history over the years. After
California Queen Anne Hotel, San Francisco a fire burned down the original theater, the
Aside from a brief stint as a war ship in When it was built in 1890, this Victorian Planters Inn was built on the spot; it was
World War II, the RMS Queen Mary served as a hotel in San Francisco served as an etiquette converted back to a theater in the 1930s. The
luxury ocean liner from 1936 to 1967. During school for girls. It's since been reborn as a 48- most flamboyant ghost here is Nettie Dickerson,
that time, it was the site of at least one murder, room hotel, although remnants of the building's a prostitute who, legend has it, was struck by
a sailor being crushed to death by a door in the past life still linger. The ghost of Miss Mary lightning while standing on the balcony of the
engine room, and children drowning in the pool. Lake, the school's late headmistress, is said to hotel. Her shadow has been reported gliding
The city of Long Beach purchased the ship in haunt the hotel, particularly room 410 (her along the second floor of the theater, crazy-eyed
1967 and turned it into a hotel, and it still serves former office). Guests who stay in that room and dressed in a red gown. Also in otherworldly
that purpose today—although the reported might wake up to find their clothes have been attendance: Junius Brutus Booth, a renowned
ghosts of the deceased passengers get to stay for unpacked, or the blankets closely tucked around nineteenth-century actor (and the father of
free. (For an extra dose of spine-tingling them in bed. This ghost sure knows her Lincoln assassin John Wilkes) who used to
experiences, see if you can visit the ship's etiquette, wouldn't you agree? frequent the inn. —Jenna Scherer
engine room, which is considered by many to be
a "hotbed" of paranormal activity.) Calcasieu Courthouse, Lake Charles, (Continued on Page 69)
Louisiana