Ohio's Most Haunted: The Knox County Poorhouse

Haunted places exist around the world, but in the United States, haunted schools, hospitals, and county institutions are among the most popular buildings to be labeled as haunted. In some cases it may be as simple as the building being abandoned, and stories being attributed to why the building was abandoned. In some cases the story becomes a little convoluted over time. Such is the case with the Knox County Poorhouse in Mt. Vernon, Ohio.

The Knox County Poorhouse opened is 1857 as a place to house the poor and indigent in that area of Ohio. County homes during this time were a last choice for many. The mentally insane were sometimes left there by families who could not afford proper treatment. Many of the other residents were elderly people who had no other place to go. The county homes were overpopulated with not enough resources or employees to go around.

During its use as the Knox County Poorhouse, the first rumors that something wasn't right began appearing. Rumors swirled that the horrible conditions those inside faced led to more than a few deaths over the years. To cover up those deaths, the bodies were buried around the adjacent land, and anywhere else employees could find space.

Once the Knox County Poorhouse closed, the building became part of the Mt. Vernon Bible College. What happened during those days only added to the rumors surrounding the building. A tragic elevator accident took the lives of several students at the college.

What is it than that people experience at the former Knox County Poorhouse that leads some to believe it might be haunted? First there are the voices that have been heard. Some have claimed to hear what sounded like someone directly behind them, but when they turned around there was no one there. Others have taken photographs on the property, and found weird things in the images. Another story says that the girls who were killed in the elevator wander through the halls, as if still on their way to class.

Then there is the space outside the building. Remember those bodies supposedly buried on the property? It has been said that during a massive construction project, dozens of bodies were found without any markers, or ways to identify the bodies. Those poor souls are now rumored to haunt the building, or at least the outside of the building.

What then is the true story of the Knox County Poorhouse? It did once serve the county, but it was later used as the Mount Vernon Bible College, from 1957-1988. For a short period of time following that it was used by the Chapel Hill Golf Course. More recently it housed a haunted attraction known as the House of Nightmares. At no time during its history was there an elevator accident, and in fact the building did not have an elevator. There is also no evidence to support the idea that bodies were discovered on the property. Some attribute this to the former haunted house owners spreading the stories to increase their customers. Oddly enough, none of the former students ever claimed to see a ghost, or experience anything unusual during their time living there.

Still, the ghost story of the Knox County Poorhouse is an interesting one. Just because some people say it isn't haunted doesn't mean that it isn't. Visit for yourself, and see if you can find any ghosts for yourself. The former Knox County Poorhouse is located in Bangs, Ohio.

Haunted Illinois: The Culver House in Decatur

The Culver House in Decatur, Illinois is listed as one of the ten most endangered sits in the state. This gorgeous Richardsonian Romanesque style home currently sits empty and abandoned. Preservation groups have managed to save and restore the exterior and hope to get started on the interior as soon as they secure the funding. Until then the ghost stories of this building will have to suffice.

Once upon a time the land underneath the house was an Indian burial ground. That didn't deter Josiah Clokey from purchasing the land and building his own home in 1881 for a fairly small price. One day with no explanation the man up and left, abandoning the work he had started. In stepped John Culver.

Culver finished the home and quickly moved in his family. Local legend claims that the family witnessed something so disturbing that they raced from the home. One night when they sat down to dinner, a large and scary creature came right down the chimney and swept into the dining room through the fireplace. Culver's wife and children were frightened so badly that he instantly had the fireplace removed and bricked over the opening. Even today legend says that you'll find fireplaces in all the rooms on the first floor except for the dining room.

Following Culver's death in 1943 the house sat empty, but people began seeing a man staring at them from the windows. This ghost may have even stuck around for a few additional years as did a strange and mysterious curse.

The house was eventually turned into apartments, but the horrors didn't stop. A resident killed herself in the building during the 1960s and the house had severe damage after a fire broke out. The final straw came in 1988 when a resident was killed inside the building by her lover. People were already hesitant about the Culver House and after that incident, no one wanted to live there. The building was officially abandoned and at one point in recent history it was even condemned.

Today there are some who hope to change things. There has been a lot of work done on the house in recent years and even more work is planned in the future. Those who think there is nothing wrong with the house believe that the Culver family saw nothing more than a bird. Then there are those who say the house has experienced too much to ever be inhabited again.

The Haunted High Schools of Indiana

Haunted schools are a dime a dozen, especially if you live in Indiana. When it comes to haunted high schools, Indiana has more than its fair share.

Start with the old Anderson High School in Anderson, Indiana. The old gym part of the school is supposedly haunted by a student who was raped and murdered. A number of people have heard her screams. Part of the school was destroyed by a fire, which makes the building look even more creepy. According to legend, there's a frisky ghost haunting the burned spot who throws things.

In Austin you'll find the haunted Austin High School. A Spanish teacher who worked at the school was killed in a car accident. The woman is now sometimes seen walking through the halls. There are also stories that she was a fan of the Beatles and approaches teachers playing the music late at night.

You'll also find a haunted school in Charlestown at the Charlestown High School. A group of students were supposedly playing around on the catwalk in the auditorium. One gave another girl a teasing push, but she fell off and died. Some claim to hear her walking around on stage and laughing behind the stage. There's no proof that this story or the haunting are true though.

In Columbus you need to look for North High School. Mikey was a neighborhood boy who was killed by a horse and buggy during the 1800's. The spot where he was killed is now the auditorium. Many people have seen the boy's ghost in the auditorium or roaming around the catwalk. There are also stories of people seeing him from the corner of their eyes as he runs by and some believe that he likes to play with the lights.

Crown Point is home to the haunted Crown Point High School or at least the haunted gym of the school. The lights flicker, the basketballs move on their own, and there are strange noises heard inside. Students at the school have also seen transparent figures walking across the catwalk in the auditorium and hearing strange noises there.

Carroll High School in Fort Wayne isn't necessarily haunted, but is the center of an old fashioned curse. According to rumors the school is cursed in such a way that a student dies every year, only to come back and haunt the school. You can also go ghost hunting at the nearby Snider High School. Supposedly a girl died in the swimming pool and the school filled in the pool. There's no proof of this, but some students have heard a girl screaming and crying early in the morning.

Nearby North Side High School is also haunted. A local Miami tribe chief attempted to stop the school from being built and now haunts the area. A former students also haunts the school and is sometimes seen walking on the track or standing in the gym. Several janitors have also reported seeing the ghost of an old janitor in the basement where he was believed to have had a heart attack. A construction worker who died during the building of the school is also sometimes seen.

In Griffith you'll find the haunted Griffith High School. A ghostly face seen in the girl's bathroom is rumored to be the ghost of a girl who killed herself there. Another student supposedly died in the library and now makes the chairs move.

Hammond has the haunted Gavit High School. This haunting only happens at midnight, when people see human figures walking on the roof and see windows shut on their own. There are also stories of people seeing figures walking inside the school and hear someone screaming. A number of former students claim these stories are complete fiction.

Hebron High School in Hebron, Indiana is also haunted. During the 1930's a female student killed herself in the bathroom after being stood up on prom night. Some claim that her spirit can still be seen swinging from a rope late at night. Many people claim it happened on Halloween night, when the school doesn't host their proms.

Highland's namesake high school is haunted by the ghost of Bobby Haymaker. Haymaker was a student on the basketball team and died suddenly in the gym. His spirit can be heard running laps and playing basketball in the gym.

Indianapolis is the state capital and has several haunted high schools. Cathedral High School was one a private boarding school by the name of Ladywood High School run by Catholic nuns. The Loretto Hall on campus was where the students were housed. Many people have reported seeing burning candles in the windows of the attic, hear someone walking in the hallways, and see a nun.

Decatur's Central High School is haunted by the ghosts of five female students who died there in 1977. A drunk driver wrecked his car into the auditorium and all five girls were tragically killed. On the anniversary of the incident students report smelling burning rubber and seeing the lights go out. Others see a female figure crying on the stairs near the auditorium.

The ghost of an unknown woman haunts the high school in Jeffersonville, Indiana. She likes to move things and occasionally hit students. A construction worker who died during the building of the school also haunts the area. Students have sometimes seen him walking around. In Laporte you'll find cold spots at their high school. There are also stories of toilets flushing and faucets turned on when the bathroom is empty.

Leo's high school was haunted by the ghost of a student who didn't even attend the school! Supposedly a new drama teacher had a student die during one of his shows. When he arrived at the school, the ghost of that student came too and began haunting the school. In Loogootee you can check out the haunted JFK Gym. A student fell from the upper floor of the gym while running laps and died. Students now hear people running laps followed by a loud bang on the floor. There are also stories of a blood stain sometimes being seen on the spot where he died.

The Washington School in Pekin is haunted by an unknown spirit. A bloody handprint can be seen in the gym and the lights in the hallways and bathrooms turn on and off without anyone touching them. The gym at the high school in Shoals is haunted by the ghosts of those buried underneath the gym. There are stories of things moving on their own, doors slamming, and tapping heard on the walls.

End your tour with a trip to the Whitko High School in South Whitley, Indiana. The school was supposedly cursed during construction. Now a student of the school dies every year.

With all the haunted high schools in Indiana, you may have attended one and never even knew it!

A Tour of Haunted Hotels in Ohio

Unless you're from Ohio, a trip to the state will necessitate a stay in a hotel. You can always choose a plain and boring hotel, but why bother? In the state of Ohio you can stay in haunted hotels from Cambridge to Toledo, and everywhere in between.

When you travel to Cincinnati, you can stay at the Country Hearth Hotel, but make sure to book Room 331. Guests report feeling cold spots, and chills that stay around even when the heat is on. Some guests have also heard banging on the walls outside their room and from the room above.

The Cleveland area is home to two haunted hotels. The Punderson Hotel is plagued by stories of loud music and banging on the doors, when no one is there and no one is checked into the rooms. Some guests have also reported seeing the ghost of a maid in the hallway. The Tea Bridge Hotel is haunted by a lady wearing a long gray dress. There are also some people who feel like someone is watching them.

The Old Stone House Bed and Breakfast is a Marblehead hotel rumored to be haunted. The third floor is the hotspot for activity. This is where people hear toilets running or flushing and witness a television that mysteriously turns its own volume up. A young girl supposedly died after she fell out of the window in Room 11 and now haunts that room. There is also a presence in the basement, the room where people feel like someone is watching them.

You can also stay at The Castle Bed and Breakfast in Marysville where guests report an uncomfortable feeling. Some guests have also seen strange shadows in the hotel.

The Old Millfield Inn is one of the older hotels in the Ohio city of Millfield, and naturally one of the most haunted. One ghost is a slave by the name of Luther, who stayed in the hotel when it was part of the Underground Railroad. The man came to the hideaway with a bad infection on his leg, and when a doctor couldn't be called, he eventually died. Some people have seen the man's ghost walking around the property.

Supposedly the Old Millfield Inn is also haunted by a ghost named Sam. Sam was an illegal bootlegger, who was a little too fond of his product. One night while trying to make alcohol while drunk, he did something wrong and his still exploded. Some people have heard the man laughing.

The Link Inn in Maumee is another haunted hotel in Ohio. There are two ghosts in this hotel, and both have their own signature smell. One smells terrible, while the other gives off the scent of lilacs.

In Norwich, Ohio you can stay at the haunted Siesta Motel. A local man fought with his mother, who he lived with and stormed out in the middle of the night. He booked a room at the hotel, but he still couldn't get away from the woman. She wouldn't stop calling him and he eventually took his phone off the hook. Later that night he heard a robber in his room, but attacked the man because he though it was his mom. The man was killed and he still haunts the hotel. People hear someone cursing, crying, or laughing. They also see lights flicker, doors slam, and sometimes guests complain of a dark haired man who tried to him them.

Painesville is home to the haunted Riders Inn. Some people claim a Civil War soldier haunts the building and is seen standing in the front window, while others claim the ghost is a woman named Suzanne. Suzanne was the wife of one of the former owners, and is known to help weary travelers check in.

The Hotel Breakers in Sandusky is also haunted, this time by two ghosts. In Room 169, a female guest killed herself during the early 1900's. People now see strange things, hear noises, and have problems with their electrical things. Other people report see ghostly figures in the Breakers East wing. Rumors persist that the hotel was built on a Native American burial ground.

Sandusky's Sleep Inn is also haunted, or at least the third floor is haunted. People feel someone watching them in the halls, and strange things happen in the rooms. Room 317 has a television that changes channels and turns itself on. An employee got locked inside Room 315, and Room 312 has curtains that move on their own. People also hear footsteps and slamming doors when the floor is empty.

The Riverview Inn in Toledo is another haunted Ohio hotel. The bar and grill area was the site of a grisly suicide, and the woman now likes to move things in the room. The water in the pool is known to move, and people staying in the penthouse sometimes hear knocks on the door but find no one there. Some guests have also snapped pictures of the hotel that show a ghostly face in the image.

Don't think that it's only older hotels and bed and breakfast type places are haunted either, because some chain hotels have their own stories as well. The Comfort Inn in Marietta, Ohio is one such place. Guests see the curtains shut, their doors open, and their televisions turn on without anyone touching them. Some guests also claim that they felt someone touch them in the hotel, when no one was around.

The Candlewood Suites Hotel in North Olmstead is another newer haunted hotel. The land where this hotel now sits was once a large wooded area. A woman killed herself in the woods and wasn't found until the construction worker arrives. Now she manifests herself in the form of cold spots. She is also known to touch employees, and some guests have spotted a shadow out of the corner of their eye, when no one is there.

The next time you plan a trip to Ohio, why not book a stay in one of our haunted hotels?

The Ghosts of Fort Mifflin in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Philadelphia has dozens of haunted locations, but none may be as famous or as popular as Fort Mifflin. The stories and legends surrounding Fort Mifflin are so popular that they even attracted the attention of the folks at T.A.P.S, the group behind the Sci-Fi Channel show "Ghost Hunters". The group investigated Fort Mifflin, and made it the basis for their season 4 premier in March of 2008.

Fort Mifflin once served as a post during the Revolutionary War. With its long history, no one is surprised by the stories and legends that surround the Fort. The two main ghosts who seem to make Fort Mifflin their home are Billy Howe and Elizabeth Pratt, sometimes spelled Eliza-Beth. Pratt is known only for her screams, while Howe's history includes being the only soldier who as ever handed there.

Fort Mifflin was originally used during the Revolutionary War. Upon its completion, it was named after a local Commandant, Thomas Mifflin. Its main use was to protect General George Washington. In the event that the British ventured close enough, there was enough ammunition inside to stop them dead in their tracks.

The Colonial Army later held off the British long enough for Washington to escape unharmed from the area. During the Civil War it was used as a prison, and later the military used the Fort for storage before closing it in the 1950's.

William "Billy" Howe was one of the more interesting men held there. Howe was regarded as a hero for his work during the Civil War, only to turn tail and run, deserting his men. Upon being captured he was held at Fort Mifflin, found guilty, and held in casement 5. These areas were originally designed as bombproof shelters for troops, but were transformed into prison cells during the Civil War. Howe was held in casement 5 until he was executed on site.

Those who have visited Fort Mifflin have claimed to had odd experiences with their electrical equipment, including flashlights turning on and off, and brand new batteries dying unexpectedly. Others have noticed windows and doors opening on their own.

Casement 5 where Howe was allegedly held is probably the most famous haunted site at Fort Mifflin. Recent discoveries have shown that Howe may have actually been held in a different cell, but this is still the spot rumored to hold his ghost. Howe is sometimes referred to as the Faceless Ghost, and is the most famous ghost there. Some have seen a man sewing in casement 5, but when he looks up, his face is gone. This is thought to be Howe. Those who have visited Casement 5 have claimed to hear people talking, or see soldiers walking by.

Elizabeth Pratt is the other famous ghost associated with Fort Mifflin, and is sometimes known as the Screaming Woman. Pratt was the wife of a local officer who disowned her daughter for falling for running away with a soldier. When the daughter contacted typhoid fever, the two never had time to reconcile before the disease took her life. In response, Pratt hanged herself and he screams are still heard today.

The former blacksmith shop is home to the ghost of an old blacksmith known only as Jacob. His ghost is sometimes seen inside the building, while others report seeing the door closing or opening on its own. Some people have also claimed to see a talkative spirit dressed in an old military uniform. It isn't until they ask for his name that they learn there is no such guide there. These stories have been around since before Fort Mifflin was turned into a museum.

If you would like to investigate Fort Mifflin for yourself, ghost tours are provided by the president of the Philadelphia Ghost Hunters Alliance, Lew Gerew.

Ghosts and Haunted Spots in Anaheim, California

One of the first places to stop on your ghostly tour of Anaheim, California is the House of Blues. While this happening hotspot showcases live music and has great music, the atmosphere is also a little creepy at times. Stories abound about the mosh pit. Visitors claim to feel someone touching them or pushing against them, while standing behind the mosh pit. Maybe it is a case of guests having a little too much to drink, or maybe the House of Blues has its own resident ghost.

If you decide to visit Anaheim, why not stay at a haunted hotel? The Fairfield Inn by Marriott is supposedly haunted by a tragic accident. A couple driving along the nearby highway were killed in a sudden accident. Many believe that their ghosts are the ones wandering the hotel.

You can even find ghosts while shopping, like the ghost haunting the Kmart store on Euclid. The stories surrounding the store relate to a little girl that employees call Isabel. According to reports, employees have encountered items falling from the racks long after customers left for the night.

Anaheim High School reportedly has two ghosts. One ghost haunts the auditorium, but seems to prefer the higher areas. Students have heard someone or something running across the roof, while others heard someone laughing near the balcony. There are also stories of students and teachers hearing people talking in the auditorium, even after the school closes for the night.

The Red Cross House is one of the most famous haunted spots in Anaheim. The building has multiple ghosts residing on the property, including that of a former caretaker. A picture of the caretaker supposedly has eyes that follow people around the house. Another story claims that visitors feel chills and a general feeling of unease when standing in the children's room. One ghost in the building does not like happy couples. The ghost pushes apart couples wandering through the building.

Chain Reaction, a venue showcasing talented musical acts, is haunted by the ghost of a homeless man that died in the alley behind the building. According to locals, the building was once a biker bar and a restaurant before becoming Chain Reaction. Those working after closing have heard people laughing, talking, and partying near the alley side of the building. Some claim those are the ghosts of bikers that were stabbed to death in the building.

Last on the list of haunted spots in Anaheim is the Performing Arts Building, which once served as residence home for the elderly. Maybe those patients never moved on because some claim to hear people walking and talking. Most of the activity takes place on the second floor, where some guests felt cold spots. The Performing Arts Building is just one of many haunted spots in Anaheim.