This Alexandria legend is one of the most popular ghost stories in the town. Alexandria is noted for its plethora of ghost stories, many of which feature women at the forefront. As with many legends and lore, they often deviate from the truth for the sake of a good scare. But sometimes, at least in the case of Laura M. Schafer, famously known as the Burning Bride of Alexandria, truth is more horrifying than fiction.
One Fateful Night
In June of 1868, Laura M. Schafer lived with her family at their home on N. Fairfax Street. On the bottom floor was a confectionary ran by her father Mr. Christian Schafer, who was a prominent citizen of Alexandria. The second and third floor would be the residence in which the Schafer family lived.
On one fateful night in late June, Laura was getting dressed for bed on the third floor of the house, with her grandmother, named Mrs. Ballenger, in the room with her. According to an article from the The Alexandria Gazette, Laura went to father’s room to wish him goodnight. She wasn’t even halfway into her father’s room when she heard the glass of her kerosene lamp crack. The burning oil from the lamp landed on her dress. Laura frantically threw the lamp into the hearth in her father’s room and ran out of the room, screaming and crying for help.
Unfortunately, the wind from Laura’s running only added fuel to the fire. By the time she reached the bottom, the flames had reached above her head. Her brother-in-law, William Phillips, had been at the stairs in front of the house when he heard her cries. Her mother also heard the cries and tried to help her. Phillips removed his coat and wrapped Laura, which extinguished the flames. Laura’ grandmother had used a blanket to extinguish the flames that had been going in Laura’s father’s room.
Clip from The Alexandria Gazette recounting the tragedy from June 29, 1848.
Sadly, Laura had severe burns, parts of which The Alexandria Gazette described as “to a crisp.” By 11:00am the next morning, Laura passed away, with her companion, Mr. Charles Tenneson by her side.
It was rumored that Laura and Charles were engaged to be married, but not confirmed. They were friends for years and Laura wouldn’t take another man as a friend.
A Broken Heart
Charles took Laura’s death rather hard. The day of her death, he took to drinking. His friend, a Mr. Henry Green, walked with Charles to the local wholesale liquor store and bar. Mr. Green didn’t have the key to the back door, so Charles waited for him in Ramsey Alley, which was right next to the Schafer House. Mr. Green let Charles in through the back door and he offered to buy Charles any drink on his bill. As the two men said cheers, Charles said, “Here’s to you and I – God save us.” As Mr. Green took an empty glass back to the bar, he heard a gunshot and Charles on the floor. The heartbroken Charles took a pistol to his head. Even though he was unconscious, he passed away around 3:20pm.
While not specific, local churches took care of the final arrangements for the young couple. Laura is buried at Washington Street United Methodist Church in Alexandria, and it’s believed that Charles is buried not too far from her.
The staircase of the Schafer House. Credit: Alex Matsuo
The Schafer House went through a few different identities after it was a confectionery with the Schafer family. It has been a real estate agency, a Christmas trinket store called the Christmas Attic, once again a candy store, and currently, at the time this piece was written, it is a coffee house and gelato shop with an AirBnB on the third floor. According to Michael Lee Pope, author of Ghosts of Alexandria, tenants who have owned and worked in the building know something is different and not quite right.
Echoes of a Traumatic Past
One local ghost tour guide shared that she felt lightheaded and dizzy when she visited the house while it was the Christmas Attic. Employees of the Christmas Attic also shared that Christmas trees and other holiday props would be knocked down the next morning after the store closed.
When a woman named Candida Kreb opened Candi’s Candies in the house in 2007, she never knew the story of Laura Schafer until a ghost tour was outside one evening. Kreb told the group that she doesn’t believe in ghosts before closing the window. But then she had an experience that changed her mind.
Front of the Schafer House. Credit: Alex Matsuo
Kreb was working alone one evening while closing the shop when she smelled something burning. She went to the hallway to search for the source but didn’t find anything. Using her nose, Kreb followed the smell upstairs, but once again, found nothing. Kreb decided it must have been a neighbor smoking. So, she closed the shop for the night. The next day, the smell came back. As Kreb went to investigate once more, she went to the same staircase that Laura ran down for her life and it was then Kreb remembered the story of Laura.
This wouldn’t be Kreb’s only experience. One night, she was cleaning the store when she had this overwhelming feeling of being watched. She heard a voice in her head say, “Enough. Leave.” Kreb didn’t stick around and quickly took the cash register and left. She believes that this was Laura telling her that she overstayed her welcome and it was time to go. Kreb also reported feeling an overwhelming presence in the basement as well and described it as a male.
Kreb kept a receipt signed by Laura M. Schaefer behind the cash register. It is unknown if the coffee and gelato shop still have it, but it’s a nice reminder that there are real people behind these stories.
Legends & Lore Emerge
Variations of Laura Schafer’s tragic end and the paranormal experiences following have become widely popular. The story I heard on the ghost tour described Laura as a bride and the wedding was taking place at the confectionery and the town square right next door. Laura the Bride had gone upstairs when the kerosene lamp broke and the burning oil spilled onto her wedding dress. Like the real account, Laura the Bride ran downstairs while engulfed in flames. But this time, she ran outside to the wedding reception and was ablaze in front of her wedding guests. Other variations will state that Laura was just trying on her wedding dress for the ceremony that would take place a week later. Hence, this is why Laura became known as the Burning Bride of Alexandria.
The Schafer House as a coffee and gelato shop. Credit: Alex Matsuo
Similar outcome as well as the death of Charles Tenneson, with stories sometimes pinning his death in Ramsey Alley instead of the bar. Other bastardizations of the story even have Charles as a stalker throwing stones at Laura’s window and setting her on fire himself.
Given the horrific tragedy of Laura’s death, no embellishment or exaggerations are needed. Laura certainly had her own identity and agency, which seems to be reduced to a burning bride. But, there are people who are dedicated to sharing the true story of Laura’s passing, thus giving her her identity back.
While the house that was used for “The Exorcist” may not be haunted, the land was host to Prospect Cottage, the site of a fascinating ghost story involving one of the most famous female authors of the 19th century.
When “The Exorcist” was released in 1973, it took the world by storm. The story of a young girl named Regan becoming possessed by the demon Pazuzu and the battle for her soul, both captivated and terrified audiences. Thus, the filming locations in Georgetown in Washington, D.C., became landmarks in their own right. Since “The Exorcist: Believer” is coming out in October 2023, let’s take a look at the haunting that took place on the land where the Exorcist House sits now.
While the infamous Exorcist Steps and House aren’t known to be haunted, it doesn’t stop tourists from stopping to take a picture of the cinematic landmarks. If you go up the Steps, you can easily see the Exorcist House to your left. Please note that the Exorcist House is privately owned (I can’t stress this enough), so be sure to enjoy the house from a distance and don’t walk onto the property. The House was used for the exterior shots for the movie. People often recreate the iconic movie poster with Father Merrin standing in front of the House at night in an eerie fog. I’ve heard the owners are welcoming, but take that information with a grain of salt.
Source for Both Photos: Alex Matsuo (recreating the final scene from “The Exorcist” on the right)
But what many people don’t know is that the location of the house was once the location of Prospect Cottage, owned by Emma Dorothy Eliza Nevitte (E.D.E.N.) Southworth. What also isn’t well known is that Prospect Cottage was the site of several ghostly sightings before it was eventually torn down in the 1940s. All we have are a few newspaper articles from the early 1900s to tell us the story.
Who was E.D.E.N. Southworth?
Source: womenhistoryblog.com
E.D.E.N. Southworth was born as Emma Nevitte on December 26th, 1819 in Washington, D.C., in a house developed by George Washington. She wrote over 60 novels in her career, often featuring heroines who went against societal norms of the Victorian era. She was also a friend and contemporary of Harriet Beecher Stowe. E.D.E.N. was one of the most popular novelists of her time. She was also an avid supporter of women’s rights and social change.
At the deathbed request of her father, Emma was rechristened as Emma Dorothy Eliza Nevitte, (E.D.E.N.). After her father’s death in 1824, her mother remarried to a school teacher named Joshua L. Henshaw. E.D.E.N. and her step-father did not get along. She described herself as a dark wild-eyed elf, as well as being shy. After she completed her secondary education at the age of 15, E.D.E.N. became a schoolteacher at 16.
E.D.E.N. got married at 21 in 1840 to an inventor named Frederick H. Southworth from New York and the couple moved to Wisconsin. The couple was living on the frontier in a log cabin and E.D.E.N. despised life. She had two children with Frederick, a son and a daughter. In 1844, E.D.E.N. returned to DC without Frederick, who abandoned his family in search of gold in South America.
Now a single mother, E.D.E.N. started teaching at a measly $250 per year. To supplement her income, she started writing to support herself and her children. She submitted stories to magazines, and her writing was very well-received. The editor of the National Era contracted her first novel. She eventually became one of the highest paid authors of her day with an annual salary of $10,000. She was able to step back from teaching and write full time.
A New Home and Mysterious Voice
Source: Woman’s Record, 1855
Around 1853 to the 1860s (exact date is unknown), E.D.E.N. moved into Prospect Cottage at 36th Street and Prospect, where The Exorcist Steps and House sits today. It is unknown when Prospect Cottage was built. But we do know it was formerly owned by a former French minister. The house had a Carpenter Gothic design, which was popular at the time.
E.D.E.N. was an avid supporter of the Union. Since her house was located along the Potomac River, she could see the Confederate border from her house. She also had a front row seat to Lincoln’s second inauguration and worked at Seminary Hospital. E.D.E.N. also lets the hospital use her house to help as many as 27 soldiers to recover from their wounds at one point.
According to legend, after the second battle of Bull Run, all of the residents of Georgetown were terrified of the Confederates coming in. Knowing her home would be one of the first stops for the Confederacy, E.D.E.N. barricaded herself in her house. As she stood by the door, she said, “There’s only 3 of us here, what are we going to do if the Confederates come?” A voice in the darkness replied, “There are 4 of you here and you will be fine.” E.D.E.N., her children, and the house survived and they were indeed fine.
Towards the end of E.D.E.N.’s life, the Union Station (now the Car Barn) was built next door, and the Exorcist Steps were constructed while she was alive. E.D.E.N. passed away in 1899 in Prospect Cottage and was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery, just up the hill. Her son, Richard, inherited the house, and lived there until he passed away a year later. E.D.E.N.’s daughter, Charlotte, then inherited the house, but she wasn’t interested in keeping the house, so she sells it. The house gets bought and sold a few times.
Prospect Cottage then became an ice cream parlor. The ice cream parlor was in the sitting room and the drawing room became a cafe. They sold ice cream, lunches, live bait, cigars, and tobacco. There was even a classic Coca-Cola sign. It became a popular spot for people to sit and wait for the street cars that were passing through Georgetown. It was such a popular spot and pretty much a tourist trap because E.D.E.N.’s legacy was still well known. People would rip off the wood as souvenirs. They would also catch the bugs so they could tell people it was from E.D.E.N. Southworth’s house.
Here’s a snippet from an article in The Washington Post, dated 1905:
The text reads: “Now the sitting-room that Mrs. Southworth planned is an ice cream parlor, and the handsome, old drawing-room serves as a cafe. On the verandas visitors sit and chat as they wait for the [street]cars. Their talk is of Mrs. Southworth, and it is claimed that they cut great splinters out of the porch and side of the house, and even capture the bugs and grasshoppers in the yard for souvenirs. Furthermore, they pull up the weeds by the roots and carry them off, happy in their ill-gotten spoils.”
The house was eventually bought by the National League of American Pen Women in 1928. They hoped to turn it into a museum for E.D.E.N. before it was torn down in 1942. The house that sits there today, The Exorcist House, was built in 1950.
The Ghost of E.D.E.N.
Source: Georgetown Metropolitan
It seems that E.D.E.N. Southworth still visited Prospect Cottage after she passed away, showing that not even death could hold her back from her home.
There’s one particular story from the same 1905 Washington Post article, which was published about six years after she died, about an Italian grocer who set up his cart in front of Prospect Cottage one day. As he set up and got ready for the day, E.D.E.N. came out of the garden to chat with him. Since the grocer was a local, he knew that E.D.E.N. had passed several years ago. He didn’t even wait to see what she had to say. He ran and left his cart and all of his stuff in front of the house.
During the days as an ice cream parlor, E.D.E.N. would frequently appear to talk to people inside Prospect Cottage. People passing by Prospect Cottage claimed that E.D.E.N. would be seen walking around edges of the veranda, wringing her hands.
The author of that article also ran into a boy. The boy tells them that he had seen E.D.E.N. in the window at night, looking out onto the street below.
Final Thoughts
Source: DC Public Library
It seems that once Prospect Cottage was torn down, the ghostly sightings of E.D.E.N. Southworth disappeared completely. This begs the question; did E.D.E.N. decide to move on after her home was razed, or were witnesses experiencing a residual haunting? Since people reported that she was having conversations with them, I’m leaning towards E.D.E.N. was enjoying the company in her home.
The haunting of Prospect Cottage is a hidden gem of Georgetown History. Sadly, it has been eclipsed by “The Exorcist” and the demonic spookiness that surrounds it. This is certainly not a negative haunting. This story is a delightful tale to show that not all ghosts are scary or evil. Sometimes it’s a famous author stopping by her house to have a chat with the new inhabitants.
How lovely would it be to have a chat over ice cream with the ghost of one of the most prolific authors of the 19th century?
Publishing Note: This is a condensed version of an upcoming article that will be publishedin the September 2023 issue of Haunted Magazine for the 160th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg. Stay tuned!
****Content Warning: This piece includes graphic details of war and includes images of the aftermath of the Battle of Gettysburg with corpses.****
On July 1-3, 1863, an isolated town in Pennsylvania found itself as the center point of one of the bloodiest skirmishes that is often described as the turning point of the Civil War.
One could argue that Gettysburg is one of the most paranormally charged locations in the United States, if not the world. In order to examine the hauntings of Gettysburg, one must examine multiple factors. The explanation, “Lots of people died”, is too one-dimensional in Gettysburg’s case.
Before the Bloodshed: A Little College Town
Prior to the Civil War, Gettysburg was a small college town that was founded in 1786 and named after a tavern owner named Samuel Gettys. In 1806, the area attracted many travelers and settlers thanks to the ten major roads that intersected in the town and “All roads lead to Gettysburg” would become a well-known saying.
Gettysburg’s legacy before 1863 was being the home to the Lutheran Theological Seminary, founded in 1820, as well as Gettysburg College, which was established in 1832. Today, it’s evident that Gettysburg’s legacy is overwhelmed with not only the battle, but also its ghosts.
Trauma in the Aftermath
There isn’t much discussion on just how traumatized and destroyed the town of Gettysburg was in the aftermath because so much focus is on the battle.
Sullivan, Timothy H, photographer. View of Gettysburg from Cemetery Hill. [Photographed 1863, july, printed between 1880 and 1889] Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/2014646001/>.
Crops, homes, businesses, and barns were destroyed. There wasn’t enough food to go around for everyone plus a short supply of clean water. There were thousands of soldiers that needed care and medical attention. Some of the wounded soldiers stayed as long as January 1864, which added more strain to the town and its economy.
Most of the local women took it upon themselves to care for as many wounded soldiers as they could in their homes in the meantime. Bloody limbs were left in piles or buried in the ground. The U.S. Sanitary Commission and the U.S. Christian Commission eventually came with much needed medical supplies and provisions.
Gardner, Alexander, photographer. Headquarters of the Sanitary Commission, Gettysburg, PA. [Photographed 1863, printed between 1880 and 1889] Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/2014646000/>.
The day after the battle, it rained hard. Any shallow graves that had been dug were washed away, leaving thousands of bodies exposed to the elements. That’s not counting the thousands of bodies (both dead and alive) that were left lying in the summer heat of July. Needless to say, it stunk.
The locals couldn’t get to all of the bodies right away. Wild hogs ate several of the corpses that were on the battlefield. The townspeople dabbed their handkerchiefs with peppermint oil to help manage the stench of rotting flesh of the dead. According to historians, the stench could be smelled for miles outside of town.
Treatment of the Dead
Gettysburg is considered one of the most devastating man-made disasters in history. As the devastation of Gettysburg spread through the media, photographers came for purposes of documenting the devastation. Photos were shot of the dead bodies as they were strewn about the field and around the town.
However, some of these photos were staged.
Photographer Alexander Gardner and his team of photography assistants headed off to Gettysburg in hopes of claiming his own legacy. Before Gettysburg, Matthew Brady commissioned Gardner to take photos of the Battle of Antietam’s aftermath. Gardner’s photos shocked the nation, but Brady got all the credit. Gardner left Brady and started his own gallery in order to build his own legacy.
O’Sullivan, Timothy H, and Alexander Gardner, photographer. Battle-field of Gettysburg–Dead Confederate sharpshooter at foot of Little Round Top i.e., Devil’s Den. [photographed July, printed later] Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/91732531/>.
Gardner would take one of the most famous photos of the aftermath of the battle. Known as “Dead Confederate soldier in Devil’s Den,” this heartbreaking photo is of a young man in a Confederate uniform laying behind a stone barricade. It haunted everyone who gazed upon the photo.
But it wasn’t until 1961 when the illustrator for Civil War Times magazine, Frederick Ray, discovered that the body was photographed twice in two different locations. It was realized that Gardner and his assistant, Timothy O’Sullivan, dragged the body around the battlefield and staged several photos.
In 1975, William Frassanito discovered that the Confederate sharpshooter in the photo wasn’t actually a sharpshooter and didn’t die at Devil’s Den. In his book, Gettysburg: A Journey in Time, Frassanito examined the soldier’s uniform and realized that his body was moved 72 yards from its original location. The soldier was eventually identified as Andrew Johnston Hoge. This made it easier to determine that his regiment was not involved in the fighting at Devil’s Den.
With such disrespect and exploitation happening to the bodies, we can consider that this could have an impact on paranormal activity, since the remains were used to tell a different narrative of the battle. Perhaps the spirits of these men are still active so that they can have a more accurate version of their story and restore a proper legacy.
Ghost Tourism Explodes
In January 1991, Mark Nesbitt published his book, Ghosts of Gettysburg. In the book, he refers to his experiences as a park ranger and having paranormal experiences while doing night time security checks in places like Devil’s Den. He also references several others who had experiences at the battlefield and around town. Nesbitt is now known as one of the experts in hauntings at Gettysburg today and runs his own ghost tours. Today, there’s an entire street dedicated to the different paranormal tours and investigations that go through the town night after night.
Some ambitious ghost hunters will even try to sneak onto the battlefield at night and try to sneak in an investigation, which is not allowed. More publicly accessible places like Sachs Bridge are frequented by dozens of visitors nightly, especially in the warmer months.
Sachs Bridge. Photo credit: Alex Matsuo
Some park rangers today with the National Park Service will tell you that the battlefield isn’t haunted. However, according to various historians, locals have come forward to share their own paranormal experiences to friends and neighbors as early as the 1870s.
The majority of the ghost tour groups in Gettysburg are exceptional and strive for accuracy. But, mistakes happen. Intentional deceit can also happen to make a story more dramatic…just like Gardner and his staging of corpses for a more dramatic picture.
Constant Retelling of the Story
Each monument and statue on the battlefield is a testament to those soldiers, many standing where they once stood. They stand as ghosts in the vast emptiness in the field, representing the memories and legacies of the hundreds of stories tied to the battle. Each ghost story is tied to a person who was once alive, even if we don’t know their name. Whether it’s just the essence of their energy or a fully conscious apparition of that person, they are being constantly reminded of the devastation that happened between July 1-3, 1863.
There are licensed battlefield guides, books, and auto tours that tell the story over and over again. Nearly one million visitors come to Gettysburg each year to experience the story of the battle. That means that the stories are told at least one million times every year. One can only imagine how intense this energy is on a daily basis and how much it permeates into the soil of the town.
The constant retelling of the story could very well be the reason that the energy from the battle, and the energy of those who were alive at the time, doesn’t have a moment to rest. As presenters tell the story, they have their own vibration level as they go through the journey. There are emotional reactions to facts of the war. Even the regular visitor who has heard the story dozens of times will still have a reaction.
Plus, there are over 1,300 monuments on the battlefield. Thus, over 1,300 places to pause and remember the events that happened and lives lost. This is an incredible amount of concentration in one place.
Knowing what we know today about how anomalies like thoughtforms and egregores are created, could it be possible that the spirits of Gettysburg could very well have been created by the one million people that visit each year?
Dressing Up for the Role
What is also a regular occurrence at Gettysburg is people dressing up in period clothing. It’s not uncommon to see people dressed in period clothing standing in line with you at McDonalds or at Walmart. It’s just the nature of the area. But not only are people dressing up, they’re roleplaying. Re-enactments also happen in various capacities.
The tour company Ghostly Images once hosted nights where an actress performs as Mary Wade at the Jennie Wade House. During the performance, Mary recounts the day she lost her daughter. It’s an emotional performance that takes place right in the kitchen where Jennie died.
The emotional journey that accompanies the performance could also be a trigger or even a conduit for paranormal activity in locations like the Jennie Wade House. It could be why many people who visit the location feel odd sensations and emotions standing at the spot where Jennie was kneading dough before the bullet pierced her heart.
Jennie Wade House. Photo credit: Alex Matsuo
Ghostly Images also heads up the similar dramatic offerings at the Orphanage. There, they have an actress dressed up as the cruel headmistress, Rosa J. Carmichael, to tell the story of the Orphanage.
But could it be possible that the presence of people in 19th century clothing could be fueling the energy and keeping the spirits of the period “awake” so to speak? They see someone relatable from their time period and may reach out and relate to them.
It’s been often said that the lack of closure fueled the Spiritualism movement to its peak. But it also could make a strong case for hauntings by these soldiers if one believes the lore of a spirit having unfinished business. The inability to say goodbye to loved ones or be laid to rest with family, let alone be found and identified…to have their name…could certainly have an impact on the hauntings at Gettysburg.
The Sensory Experience
Gettysburg is a sensory experience. When one visits the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center, they offer a film, the Cyclorama, and the museum exhibit. The film, “A New Birth of Freedom”, is a 22-minute background of Gettysburg narrated by Morgan Freeman and a few other celebrity voices.
The Cyclorama is a 360-degree hand-painted canvas that’s four stories tall and depicts Pickett’s Charge. There’s music, dramatic narration, cannon fire, gunshots, and lighting effects that direct your attention to different parts of the painting from the perspective of standing on the Union line of Cemetery Ridge. As the artillery rages on, you hear the line spoken by a Confederate soldier, “Slowly but steadily we marched forward. Every step some poor fellow would fall and as his pitiful cry would come to my ear, I almost imagined it the wail of some loved one he left at home.” This aids visitors in creating an emotional connection to the battle.
Finally, the museum’s extensive exhibit, which include artifacts, flags, campsites, artillery, and so much more.
Between the emotional and sensory experience, there is an exchange of energy occurring. The artifacts could potentially have their own energy. Add in the energy coming from the living who are looking at these items plus the emotional energy, one could argue that there’s an elevated charge to these items outside of conventional “haunted” objects. This could possibly make an impact on the energy of Gettysburg, but also, quite possibly, awaken potential past life memories as the vibrations of the artillery roars through the room.
A Case for Thought Forms & Biases
If one believes that energy can be absorbed into the stones and into the ground, then Gettysburg is filled with energy that comes from not just those three days in battle, but also the years of trauma and recovery. This energy could certainly play a role in the paranormal activity experienced by visitors including residual hauntings, emotional reactions, flashbacks, and more.
One could make the cast that most of the hauntings at Gettysburg could be created by the living. Between hearing and living the stories daily, could this be enough concentration and energy transference that we’re creating a self-fulfilling prophecy?
Or could the paranormal investigators visiting the area are so eager (and maybe desperate) to have an experience that they manifest activity? Then they share their experience with others, not realizing it was of their own creation. Possibly, then the people they shared their experience with try to recreate the experience of their own and provide their concentration and energy, thus fueling a man-made paranormal experience.
There’s also the possibility that paranormal investigators may come in with a bias. That bias could be that any strange sound, noise, or sighting is paranormal. It could also be that any activity that takes place must be coming from the events of 1863 because of the location.
Conclusion
With the constant storytelling, people dressed in period clothing, and investigators looking for spirits to talk to, I truly think that most of the activity relating to the battle is residual. Meaning, it’s like a broken record player replaying a moment repeatedly.
There is a strong possibility there are conscious spirits from the battle still residing in the area. The hauntings of Gettysburg are some of the most staggering cases of paranormal activity. There are multiple layers to the paranormal activity, which means that researchers and investigators must consider their approach on a case-by-case basis.
It’s hard to determine what causes the activity at Gettysburg. But one thing we could agree on is that all of the factors noted do not allow the energy to rest. They’re constantly being woken up and kept awake, much like a baby waking up their parents.
Bodies disappear, but these spirits remain. It was a tremendous loss that we still feel the vibrations of today. For decades after the battle, it was said that the land itself cried out in anguish.
If you listen carefully, you may still hear it cry today.
Could it be that the happiest place on Earth is also the most haunted place on Earth? Be still our hearts! With so much energy going through the park on a regular basis, plus the heightened emotions and spiritual awakening many of us feel when we pass through those gates, it’s not surprising that there could be spiritual activity going on.
Disneyland was once a way of life for me. Growing up and living in San Diego, Disneyland was just a 90-minute drive away. Even before I dove into becoming a paranormal investigator, I always felt a strange energy in Disneyland that I wanted to experience over and over again.
Walt LOVED Spooky Stories
Walt Disney loved the creepy and spooky. In fact, one of his favorite legends is the Headless Horseman. And we can’t forget The Haunted Manion. Here’s some fun Disneyland trivia: The Headless Horseman was part of the earlier plans for the Haunted Mansion. Apparently he was going to be part of the finale in the graveyard area. The plan was ultimately scrapped. But today, well, when Disneyland was having parades, the Headless Horseman opened up the “Boo to You” Parade.
The Ghost Stories
The Woman in White
Did you know that Disneyland has its own Woman in White? Many believe that this woman died around the area even before Walt built Disneyland. This is an entity in a white dress that hangs out around Main Street after dark. According to legend, she scopes the area out looking for lost children and escorting them to the Baby Care Center where they can be reunited with their parents.
Ghost Train
This might just be my favorite story. A former cast member by the name of Darrold Wagner claims that the Disneyland Railroad is haunted. If you’ve ever been on the ride at Disneyland, it circles the park and it’s a nice way to relax and get off your feet for a bit. As always, there’s usually more than one train on the track, but you would never know. According to Wagner, the train command center has a board that shows where the trains are on the track. Usually late at night, a train would show on the board in the far corner. The whistle would even blow even though there wasn’t a train. The older employee’s used to say, “That’s Walt’s train.”
The Constant Vigil & a Smoke
Walt’s apartment is above the fire station to your left when you walk into the park. If you’ve ever been to Disneyland, you’ve probably noticed the lamp that’s always on. That’s a constant vigil in Walt’s memory, reminding us all that he is still watching over his beloved park. But could there be more there than just a lamp? According to Anna Bees, who can see and sense spirits, has seen Walt in the window of his apartment by the lamp. There is also the famous story of a cast member who tried turning off a light in Walt’s apartment, only to come downstairs to see it lit up again. This incident happened multiple times until the cast member gave up and kept the light on. She also heard a voice say, “I’m still here.” Apparently, the constant vigil to Walt was born from this experience.
Anna has also seen Walt smoking while leaning on a lamppost in front of “Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln.” Considering Walt’s apartment and Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln are close to each other, this doesn’t surprise me.
A Wave Hello
Multiple guests have claimed to see Walt around the park. One guest, who was let into the park after hours by a cast member (supposedly), said that they saw a man standing outside of the castle. He was on the drawbridge, noticed the guest, and smiled and waved. According to the guest, they immediately recognized the man as Walt Disney. He stood there waving for about 20 seconds before he disappeared.
The Crying Boy
I’ve heard of this for years growing up, and I honestly thought it was an urban legend until about middle school. The Haunted Mansion is apparently a favorite spot for people to scatter human ashes. I’ve also heard that Pirates of the Caribbean is another popular spot. From my research, this trend seemed to have started in the 90s. Or, at least that was when Disney started to notice it. By the way, if this is something you’re wanting to do, just don’t. They will close the ride and your loved one’s ashes will likely get vacuumed or swept up. I don’t even know if you’d see those remains again. That is such a bizarre situation.
There is reports of a crying boy seen in The Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean. The reason why he is there is because, according to legend, his mother scattered his ashes on Haunted Mansion.
The Man with the Cane
Is it a shock that Haunted Mansion might be home to actual ghosts? In the 1940s, there was a terrible plane crash in Anaheim, not too far from where the Disneyland property sits today. Apparently, this plane crash took the life of a pilot who walked with a cane. Cast members and guests have claimed to see a man hobbling around the attraction, especially in the loading dock, while walking with a cane.
The Stockroom
A former cast member reported that she often heard the door open and close in one of the stockrooms of one of the gift shops. At one point, she even heard a crash, and one of the items in the stockroom was broken. According to the cast member, there was no way that the item could have fallen by itself since the park was empty and there was no other cast member in the stockroom.
Mr. One Way
Mr. One Way is one of the most well-known ghosts at Disneyland. He has been seen riding next to single riders on Space Mountain. He has been described as a large man with red hair and a red face. Many believe that they have caught glimpses of him on camera. Apparently, he will disappear before riders reach the final tunnel of the ride.
Deaths at the Park & Their Hauntings
There are multiple hauntings that are associated with deaths that have occurred at the park.
Let’s start with the People Mover, which ran from 1967 until 1995. When the ride first opened, a 15-year old teen named Ricky Lee Yama decided to get out of his People Mover car as it was entering a tunnel. He tried to jump from car to car when he slipped and landed on the tracks. He was struck and killed by oncoming cars.
A similar accident happened in 1980 to 17-year old Gerardo Gonzales. During Grad Night, he was jumping from car to car when he too lost his footing and fell onto the tracks. He body ended up being dragged for a few hundred feet. I also read a witness testimony on MiceChat that he actually fell off the track and broke his neck. Either way, it was tragic and horrific.
When the ride was still functioning, visitors (specifically blonde females) reported getting their hair pulled as they entered the tunnel.
America Sings
In 1974, a woman named Deborah Stone was crushed to death when she was caught between the walls of America Sings. Cast members reported feeling a strange presence in the area when the attraction was open, especially if they got too close to the rotating walls.
Ultimately, we need to ask ourselves, why is Disneyland haunted? I touched on this in the beginning, but I truly believe that Disneyland is a prime energy course for paranormal activity. Not only do you have the energy from people, but there is so much electricity and EMF running around the park from the lights, fireworks, powering the rides, the list goes on. But also, if we truly get to choose where we get to haunt after we die, I’m sure millions of people would choose Disneyland. I know I would.
Have you every had a weird experience at Disneyland? Tell me about it!
North Carolina is rich with history, and it is one of the birthplaces of the United States. This means that there are plenty of ghost stories to go along with this history. There are hauntings all over North Carolina from each chapter of the state’s history, and they are all available and accessible to the public!
If you’re a roadtripping kind of person, you can easily make a fun roadtrip out of these locations and make a complete circle! This is meant to be a quick list. Each one of these places warrant their own full blog post!
Trivette Clinic – Hamptonville, NC
The Trivette Clinicis located in Hamptonville, North Carolina. Dr. William Amos Trivette built the clinic in 1932 after relocating to take care of his aging parents. The clinic was a full-service hospital until 1939. After Dr. Trivette passed away at the age of 50 in 1938 from pneumonia, his wife, Lorah Gwendolyn Trivette, decided to close the clinic and sell it. The clinic became a supper club, as well as an alcohol detox clinic; a rather ironic combination. The Trivette Clinic then became a nursing home in the 1950s and later became a private residence in the early 1960s.
It is believed that the Trivette Clinic is believed to be haunted by over 70 ghosts. Some of the most commonly reported activity includes a little girl named Emily who haunts a wardrobe on the second floor. She has been known to open and close the wardrobe door. A young girl, named Majesty, haunts the basement. She even has a ball to play with! There is reportedly another child spirit by the name of Jimmy. Two nurses named Helen and Polly are also believed to be haunting the clinic, never clocking out from work.
There are also reports that flashlights will turn on by themselves as well as a male entity haunting the operating room named Philip. His presence was confirmed by a former employee of the nursing home. Apparitions have also been seen in the windows.
Henry River Mill Village – Hickory, NC
Henry River Mill Village opened in 1905 as a cotton yarn manufacturer. The area had 35 company houses for employees and their families and even had a company store, a two-story boarding house, and a bridge. You may recognize Henry River Mill Village as the filming location for District 12 in “The Hunger Games” movie franchise. While prosperous and bustling in the beginning, Henry River Mill Village would suffer the same fate as other boomtowns. The mill shut down in 1973. Even though people moved away, there were many that remained until the early 2000s. Today, Henry River Mill Village is a historic site, as well as a haunted hot spot. It seems that the folks who lived in this community don’t want to leave.
Brookstown Inn – Winston-Salem, NC
The Brookstown Inn is located in the Old Salem district of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It began as an old cotton mill in 1837. So, many of the employees were women who actually lived in the mill. According to legend, two women got into a fight, and it took a turn for the worst. Tragically, one of them was killed after she was pushed down the elevator shaft. That woman, named Sally, is reported to haunt the Inn, specifically the fourth floor at night, and as a full-bodied apparition. At night, reports of the screams of a woman are heard. While you may not be able to have an investigation at the Brookstown Inn, you can still book a room for the night.
Person’s Ordinary – Littleton, NC
Person’s Ordinarywas built in 1739 was built on one of the main stagecoach routes running from Hillsborough to Halifax. It is called by Person’s Ordinary as it was owned by Thomas Person, a prominent political leader of the time. An Ordinary was a place for “ordinary” men to sleep, as the wealthy and connected traveled with letters of introduction and stayed at manor houses during their travels. On the second floor, there is a bloodstain in one of the bedrooms. This was one of the only places I have witnessed a REM-Pod go off by itself in a room where the nearest person was at least six feet away. People have reported seeing faces in windows as well as candle-like flickering when no one is in the building.
Lydia’s Bridge – Greensboro, NC
I’ve heard a few different stories in relation to Lydia’s Bridge over the years since I’ve moved here. This is your classic hitchhiking ghost story. But in this case, I actually know people who have encountered this phenomenon. Lydia’s Bridge is actually not a bridge. It’s located just south of Jamestown, NC, but instead it’s a culvert for railroad tracks. The story goes like this; on a rainy night at an old underpass, drivers will see a woman in a white evening dress. She will flag the driver down, hoping for a ride. Then, she will get into the backseat, tell the driver her address, and then she will disappear upon arrival. There have been variations of this story over the years, including a name change to Mary. You can dive deeper into this legend with the book, “Looking for Lydia.”
Battleship North Carolina – Wilmington, NC
This location is something special. Also known as the USS North Carolina, the Battleship North Carolina is a favorite among ghost hunters. When I went with my team, we dressed up in period clothing and had quite an active investigation. The Battleship North Carolina has quite a history with World War II, and there seem to be sailors still on the ship…unable to leave. Or, maybe they don’t want to leave? We heard strange noises throughout the ship like tables were being dragged in the mess hall area. What was also interesting was that overnight, the activity was pretty dull. But then, it started to pick up around 4am-7am, around the time the sailors would have been waking up.
Cabelands Cemetery & Eno River – Durham, NC
This location is near where I live, and it’s probably one of the most active places I’ve been to. This little cemetery is easy to miss if you’re not paying attention while you’re on the hiking trail. While there are only 12 markers, it’s believed there are actually 51 people buried here. The nearby Cabe homestead is also a hotbed of activity. My team and I did an extensive investigation in the area right before COVID-19 hit, and funny enough, we kept getting responses from a spirit that was obsessed with geese. They just kept saying, “Goose. Geese. Goose” repeatedly. Others who have visited this spot have also reported seeing shadow figures and feeling the presence of multiple people. We also heard phantom voices, and strange feelings around the Eno River.
Heritage Square – Fayetteville, NC
We spent about a month at the Sandford House in Heritage Square in October 2019. We spent about a month at this location and encountered quite a bit of activity. The whole property has something going on, but the Sandford House is truly a marvel. It was the headquarters for Sherman’s men when he was coming through Fayetteville for his infamous march. There is a chip on the mantle from a bullet that was shot from the inside! During the 1930s-1950s, the house was home to numerous families, especially women who were displaced by World War II and looking for work. The second floor is one of the most active spots with the spirit of a young boy named David.
Asheville, NC
I have to tell you, there are a ton of haunted hot spots in Asheville, NC. I’m pretty sure this town has more haunted hot spots per capita than most cities around the country. Asheville was incorporated in 1797, there is a ton of history in the area, which makes its haunted status unsurprising. The Biltmore House might be one of the most notable haunted places in the area, as well as The Grove Park Inn. From Riverside Cemetery to Helen’s Bridge, plus an array of ghost tours around the area, you won’t have a problem quenching your thirst for spookiness in Asheville!
Cape Hatteras Lighthouse – Buxton, NC
The Outer Banks is a rich source of paranormal hauntings, especially those that are pirate-centric. Did you know the ghost of Blackbeard has been seen and heard around the Outer Banks? It’s crazy that such a famous part of history is just a drive away from me. I was especially drawn to the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse because there have been sightings of a ghost kitty around the area! The shoals that extend offshore of Cape Hatteras has been known as the “graveyard of the Atlantic” because there have been so many shipwrecks. .
“Lizzie Borden took an axe and gave her mother forty whacks. When she saw what she had done, she gave her father forty-one.“
The case of Lizzie Borden is an unsolved mystery that still has no answers. The truth has truly been lost to time. A small town was thrust into the spotlight thanks to one of the most brutal murders in history. This led to one of the most sensational murder trials of our time. We will never know what truly happened on August 4th, 1892. But it seems like those who lived at that time remain, and they are desperate to tell their story. The question is, are you willing to listen?
Lizzie Borden has become an American icon, and her story has become the center of one of the most interesting folklore in history. Who else has a creepy and grisly nursery rhyme about them?
The Bordens were the ideal and model family. The family patriarch, Andrew Borden, was a wealthy businessman. The family matriarch, Abby Borden, was a devoted wife. The two Borden sisters, 32-year old Lizzie, and 41-year old Emma, were admired members of their church. Abby was the stepmother of Lizzie and Emma, as their mother, Sarah, had died in 1863. Three years after Sarah’s death, Andrew married Abby.
On August 4th, 1892, it was a sunny summer morning in this little town in Massachusetts. But there was a darkness that creeped over the town. Andrew and Abby Borden were found hacked to death in their home. Abby was hacked 18 times, and Andrew was hacked 11 times. At the time, their 32-year old daughter Lizzie, 41-year old daughter Emma, Bridget “Maggie” Sullivan, and John Vinnicum Morse were living in the house at the time. But, Emma Borden was out of town at a dress fitting, and John only stayed temporarily for a night.
The Timeline
So at the time of the murders, it was Lizzie, Bridget, and John in the house, along with Andrew and Abby Borden.
At 7am, John, Abby, and Andrew had breakfast. John left around 8:45 am to buy oxen and to visit his niece, and Andrew went to work around 9 am and 9:15 am. John’s alibi is somewhat solid. He said he took a streetcar with six priests. But the streetcar conductor didn’t remember John but remembered the priests. The police seemed to confirm his alibi.
As stated before, Emma was out of town for a dress fitting in Fairhaven, Massachusetts. The seamstress is a friend of Emma, and she stayed in town for several days before her fitting and was planning on staying for several more days after that.
While Lizzie and Emma usually cleaned the guest room, Abby went upstairs to make the bed. Sometime between 9 am and 10:30 am, Abby was hacked to death in the guest room, where John slept the night before. Bridget is sent outside to clean some windows.
Andrew returned home around 10:45am, and laid down on the couch in the sitting room to take a nap.
Bridget wasn’t feeling well, and also went upstairs to take a nap. Apparently, Lizzie gave her permission to go check on a sale at the nearby department store, but Bridget declined. Around this time, Lizzie leaves the house through the back door to go to the barn to prep for an upcoming fishing trip.
The Discovery of the Bodies
Around 11:15 am, Lizzie said she came back into the house and went to the sitting room. That was where she discovered her father’s bludgeoned corpse. She called Bridget and said that Andrew was dead and that someone came and killed him. She sent Bridget to go get the town doctor, who was a neighbor. Lizzie then sent Bridget and the neighbor upstairs to get Abby, but Abby was already dead. She too was hacked to death.
I’ve also found research that indicates it was the police who actually found Abby first. They did see that Abby’s blood had coagulated since it was dark and sticky. This means that her murder might have happened long before Andrew had been killed. Well, let’s just say Andrew was still dripping. That’s why it’s commonly believed that Abby was killed at least an hour before her husband. However, Abby was in a room that faced the sun, so the heat may have sped up the coagulation.
Andrew Jackson Borden was 69 years old when he died, and Abby Durfee Gray Borden was 63 years old.
The Suspects
This is your classic “Who done it?” mystery. There were two main suspects in the murders; Lizzie Borden and John Vinnicum Morse. Lizzie wasn’t fond of Abby, she even called her “Mrs. Borden.” She truly believed that Abby married Andrew for this money.
John Morse was the brother of Andrew’s first wife (and the mother of Lizzie and Emma Borden). There is even speculation that Lizzie and Bridget conspired the murders together because they were in a relationship. There is another theory that Lizzie, Emma, and John conspired the murders as well.
While she was never a suspect, Bridget Sullivan was in the house at the time of the murders, and it’s speculated that she may have helped Lizzie in some way. On the day of the murders, there were dozens of people coming in and out of the house, and rumor has it that Bridget was seen leaving the house with a bundle.
But Lizzie became the main suspect and became a news sensation.
You could say there’s a third suspect, an unknown assailant. In fact, neighbors reported seeing a stranger knocking on the door of the Borden house the morning of the murders. Back then, the mindset was that the intruder must have been an immigrant who went mad and decided to hack the Bordens to death. Ah…how we’ve evolved.
Yet given how much time was in between Abby and Andrew’s murders, the third suspect was the least likely. But, Andrew was a successful businessman who made a lot of enemies. So, this possibility wasn’t completely thrown out.
The Investigation
During their investigation, police found a handleless hatchet in the basement. The handle had apparently broken off very recently.
What is really interesting is that at the time of the Borden murders, forensic science and investigation was just beginning. In fact, those photos of Andrew and Abby’s corpses were some of the first crime scene investigation photos.
Yet, Victorian science still had a ways to go. Back then, crime scene photography wasn’t always seen as necessary because it was believed that the eyes of the victim would have an image of their murderer burned into the retinas, known as optography. This idea dates as far back as the 17th century. Murderers even started destroying their victim’s eyeballs, just in case. Even if true, that wouldn’t have worked in poor Andrew’s case since one of his eyeballs was cut in half, which means he was sleeping at the time of his murder.
Abby, however, was facing her attacker. The forensic investigation confirmed that she must have known her attacker because her wounds indicate that she was face-to-face, but there were no signs of a struggle. She also had bruise marks on her face from when she hit the floor, which means she was still alive. She had 18 blows to the head…which means this was a crime of passion.
It’s also noted that Lizzie was oddly calm during the investigation, even for someone who just lost her parents, let alone discovered her father’s corpse. Her calmness was seen as suspicious. Not to mention, her story was inconsistent when it came to her whereabouts at the time of the murders.
Lizzie was arrested and put in jail. This came as a shock to her community because people could not imagine that such a woman like her could have committed this heinous crime.
Question of the Dress
From the nature of the bodies, it’s clear that Lizzie would have been covered in blood from the murders. However, when police came to investigate, Lizzie was in a clean blue dress. Even Bridget confirmed that Lizzie’s dress was clean at the time Andrew’s body was discovered.
Newspaper illustrations of the Borden murder trial
Lizzie’s trial started on June 5th, 1893, and she became an instant celebrity overnight. People would stand in line for hours at the courthouse in Ned Bedford, Massachusetts in hope of getting a seat in the small courtroom. The prosecution also started its opening statement with the skulls of Andrew and Abby Borden. Their actual skulls. This causes Lizzie to faint.
By the way, that famous rhymed that opened this blog started becoming popular during the trial.
While the skulls were used to demonstrate the gruesome matter of Andrew and Abby’s deaths, it backfires. Lizzie fainting in court actually drew sympathy for her. Also, Lizzie’s inconsistent alibi was thrown out because her lawyer wasn’t present. It was also revealed that she was taking morphine at the time of the investigation. By the way, morphine was commonly used by many women of that time. It was one of the earliest opioid pandemics of the Victorian century. Her dosage was large, and it was prescribed for pain, women’s issues, stress, and more.
The handleless hatchet had a hair on it, but it turns out it was bovine hair. Also, the wood part was tested for blood, but results showed none was present. The defense managed to cause everyone to question whether that was the actual murder weapon.
Ultimately, there wasn’t enough physical evidence to convict her. We’re talking no fingerprints, footprints, nothing. She was found not guilty.
She was acquitted in 1893. Yet, many believe that Lizzie was guilty. If you look up the details of the case and timeline of events, it’s easy to see why. But the mindset of the jury was that a woman would never pick up such a masculine tool and brutally kill her parents.
The location of the murders, the Borden House, which can be found at 230 2nd Street in Fall River, Massachusetts, still stands today as the Lizzie Borden Bed & Breakfast Museum. You can sleep in the same room where Abby Borden was murdered, and sit on the couch located where Andrew Borden met his end. It’s a macabre lover’s dream come true. But there is more to this house than the murders.
It seems there are sinister spirits residing in the house. Guests at the Lizzie Borden House have reported hearing voices, especially a woman’s voice, hearing footsteps, bangings, the list goes on. There is even a room that reported to be haunted by children.
There is also a room with money and coins. Why? In life, Andrew Borden was a frugal man, even though he was wealthy. If you take his money, you might get scratched. Well, at least that is what is reported by people who have toyed with fate.
In case you’re wondering, yes, this location is on my ghost hunting wish list. I want to witness these occurrences for myself and ask questions to the specters that reside in the home. As you can imagine, multiple paranormal investigators have tried to solve the mystery of the murders. I doubt ghost testimony will ever give us the answers.
Paranormal Theories
While I haven’t investigated the Lizzie Borden House myself, I’ve done some research on the consistent activity and I have a few theories.
Tulpas or Thoughtforms – I think, given how many people come in, and the legends that have been circulating over the years, that some of the haunting could be blamed on…us. Meaning, we’ve put so much energy into the stories we’ve heard, that we’ve given it a life of its own.
Footsteps – I think this is all residual. Given how many people are at the house every day, and the number of guests coming in with the spooky stuff in mind, I think this is all replays of history.
Scratches from Taking the Money – I don’t know what Andrew Borden was like in life, so I don’t know if he was someone that would either scratch people or grab them if they were taking his money. Depending on what the scratches look like, I wonder if it would look like what an arm looks like after it’s been grabbed and the assailant dug their nails in.
Voices – This could also be residual, but I’ve read enough reports and watch quite a few investigation videos that lead me to believe that either Abby’s conscious spirit is still around, or the trauma of her murder still stays in that house, especially the guest room.
Many pieces of the murder and trial are still on display today at the Fall River Historical Society. They have the couch that Andrew Borden slept on when he died, as well as the handleless hatchet that was found in the basement. The museum has tons of artifacts from the murders. While this may seem dark, the historian and macabre lover in me is thrilled that these artifacts have been preserved.
Just a few months after her acquittal, Lizzie bought a house, where she lived until her death in 1927. What is truly interesting is that the house went up for sale in 2020. Lizzie herself named the house, Maplecroft. How exquisite!
The owners, Donald Woods and Leeann Wilbur, also own the murder house, now known as Lizzie Borden Bed & Breakfast. Truly, the house is spectacular and beautiful. The owners intended to open a second bed and breakfast, but COVID-19 was the nail on the coffin for that dream.
I have to wonder if there’s paranormal activity tied with this location as well. In reality, I suppose we will never know, unless someone with a paranormal business in mind ends up purchasing the house. Time will eventually reveal the answer to my curiosities.
Did Lizzie Do It?
Personally, I think she did. Andrew was incredibly frugal, and since he didn’t have a will, if he died, Abby would have inherited his estate. And if Abby got the estate, it would have been passed onto her sister when she died. This means that Lizzie and Emma would lose their inheritance. Andrew signed multiple properties over to Abby, so their fears were valid.
Also, before Andrew and Abby’s deaths, Lizzie often said that she was unhappy with where she lived and felt she needed to live in the more prestigious area, known as “The Hill.” That is exactly where her new house is located. Money can be quite a motivator. Plus, Andrew was very much a Victorian man, and often put a lot of restrictions onto his spinster daughters.
Do you think Lizzie murdered her father and step-mother? What do you think of these hauntings? Let me know in the comments!
