The Haunting of Federal Hill Cemtery in Kentucky

Bardstown, Kentucky, has an unusual story that people love to tell. This story is a ghost story, but it runs a little deeper than your average ghost story. This is the story of the moving gravestone in the Federal Hill Cemetery, and it has been around for at least 150 years.

John Rowan was a famous man in his hometown, having served seven terms in elected offices, along with being a state judge and working as a State Senator. Later in life he would also serve as a chief justice on the Kentucky Court of Appeals and also serving as the Secretary of State for Kentucky. He was also the cousin of Stephen Foster, who penned a number of his songs during the 19^th century.

Though he was fairly popular in the state, he experienced more than his fair share of rough times. As a child he was frequently sick, and doctors told his family that he may not live past an early age. This prompted the family to move to a country estate in Kentucky. He began changing his life, and studied law as a student. He even married a young woman named Ann Lytle. Lytle's father passed along land to the young couple upon which they built Federal Hill.

One night while playing a game of cards at the house, Rowan began arguing with a man by the name of James Chambers. The two were casual friends, and the argument was a silly one that quickly grew more heated. After Rowan insulted the man's wife, he demanded a duel. The duel led outside, and only Rowan survived.

This could have disturbed a smaller man, but Rowan persevered. However even he could not persevere the cholera epidemic that swept Kentucky in 1833. All told the man lost 26 slaves and four members of his immediate family, including his son John who was Andrew Jackson's Secretary of State. John stopped by the house to visit his family, contracted cholera, and passed away in the house.

Rowan himself passed away in 1843, and told family and close friends that he didn't want a monument or marker on his grave. The man believed in pride, and felt that his meager grave didn't deserve such a high honor. He further claimed that the elaborate house he had built on Federal Hill was a monument in and of itself.

Rowan was eventually buried in the Bardstown Cemetery, though his remains were later moved to Federal Hill Cemetery. Upon his grave family members erected a large obelisk type monument, with the belief that his life fitted such a memorial. That was when things began happening.

The moment the monument was complete, it fell over without warning. Despite spending a good amount of time trying to decide why the stone fell, no one could find a good reason. The best excuse they could find was that roots from a nearby tree had caused too much pressure on the base of the monument.

Not long after, the stone tipped over again. Each time it was replaced, it would stand in place for a few weeks or months, but would eventually topple over again. Eventually local stone workers began refusing to return to the cemetery. Locals began saying that this was Rowan expressing his displeasure at the monument. Some even claimed that he had threatened his family prior to his death at what would happen if his wishes were not followed.

Though it has been 150 years since the monument was first placed in the cemetery, it still continues to regularly follow over today. I visited the cemetery once when I was living in Louisville, Kentucky and I have to say that I didn't experience anything unusual. The monument is not as grand as some that I have seen in the past, but it is easy to find. It was standing when I was there, but maybe the next time I visit, it will have toppled over again.

Colorado Ghost Towns: Haunted St. Elmo

St. Elmo no longer remains as an actual town, but many people believe that the ghosts of former residents haunt this little ghost town in Colorado. St. Elmo was located near where 285 runs today, right at the base of Chalk Creek.

In 1878 the small town was formed as Forrest City. Before long the name was changed to St. Elmo, but this little town still perseveres. Stepping into the town today, you get the feeling that time has stood still. While other similar towns have disappeared over the years, this one is still in fantastic condition. Some people believe this is because the town's founders and residents still keep an eye on things.

The town already had a fairly large population when a man named Anton Stark arrived there in 1881. Stark and his wife Anna immediately set to work making themselves known in St. Elmo. Anna maintained the local general store, as well as a small hotel that served the nearby railroad.

Anna was known for being cold and ignoring the locals. The family had some money, and she seemed to believe that made them better than the others in town. She even prohibited her children from spending time with local children. Despite that she also held high hopes for the town. When the local mines closed and people began moving away, Anna firmly believed that things would change and even bought up local properties for extremely small prices. By the 1920's though the town of St. Elmo was all but dead.

The Stark family held on for a number of years, but finally it became clear that things were not going to change. Finally Anna allowed her daughter Annabelle to work in a nearby town, though she wasn't happy at the decision.

Not long after moving to the new town Annabelle met a young man and the two decided to get married. Ward was a fairly good man, but for some reason the marriage never materialized. Annabelle eventually moved back to St. Elmo where she would stay this time. After her mother and older brother died in 1934, Annabelle and her brother Tony were the last two people remaining in the little ghost town of St. Elmo.

The conditions the two of them lived in were deplorable, and many people thought the two were suffering from mental problems as well. There was no running water, and no electricity in the hotel where the two lived. The two would wear the same clothing for days or weeks at a time, and took to hoarding everything they could find. Annabelle even took to carrying her gun with her at all times, for protection.

Finally friends of the family had the two admitted to a mental institution. Though the two probably should have spent more time there, they were released after less than three weeks. After her brother's death, Annabelle went to a nursing home where she eventually passed away. The buildings they owned in St. Elmo, which amounted to nearly everything, was left to a friend.

That friend was the first to notice something strange about St. Elmo. While visiting the hotel, she was stunned to see the doors shut on their own, and the room turn icy cold. The woman brought along her grandchildren, and they refused to ever step inside the hotel again.

Another of the grandchildren set about cleaning up the hotel with some friends. No matter where they left things the night before, they would always return the next morning to find them stacked in the middle of the room. This happened every morning without fail. Some people would have stopped all together, but the girl didn't seem to mind. She, and her friends, began to think that it was Anna, trying to offer a helping hand, even in death.

After several years people began noticing a young woman in one of the windows along the second floor of the hotel. Several people have spotted her there over the years, and many are convinced this is the ghost of Annabelle.

Today there are a handful of people who still live in St. Elmo a few months out of the year, though there seem to be far more ghosts than there are actual residents.

Ghosts and Haunted Places in Arizona

Arizona is probably best know as a hot and humid state full of sand or at least that's what those outside the state think. Those inside the state know that they have more ghost stories than many people would think.

Let's start with the town of Jerome, Arizona. Today the area is known for its large abundance of artists, but once upon a time it was a copper mining town and many of the ghosts are believed to date from that time period. Many people have spotted the ghost of a younger woman standing near the Community Center and walking down the street. The building she's walking to was oddly enough once used as a meeting spot for ladies of the night.

There's also the Inn at Jerome where the prostitutes used to take their clients. The former madam of the brothel is rumored to haunt the hotel as does her cat. Also haunted is the Jerome Grand Hotel, which was once used as a hospital. There are stories of strange lights, elevator sounds and of course people moaning in pain and coughing. Oddly enough a man did once die in the hospital's elevator. The town also has a haunted mine where people hear someone walking around when no one is there.

There's also the haunted Fort Huachuca. This Fort was used during the Indian War and was inhabited from 1877 to the early 1900s. Carleton House located on Fort Huachuca is supposedly haunted and those who have stayed there claimed to hear some strange things. Things have a habit of moving on their own, the lights switch off and the house has cold spots. Many believe these ghosts date back to the time when the house was used as a hospital.

Or you can visit Holbrook, Arizona and see the haunted Navajo County Courthouse. Today the building isn't used as a courthouse, but that hasn't stopped the ghosts. One ghost is that of George Smiley who was hanged at the courthouse during the 1890s. He generally likes to make a nuisance of himself by playing with the doors, lights and even moving things around or walking on the stairs. Legend also claims that the courthouse is haunted by a female spirit who died in the building.

Then you can check out the Yuma Territorial Prison. This prison opened in 1876 and closed in 1909-1910, but by that time a number of people had died there. People report seeing dark, shadowy figures inside the remains of the old prison. Others claim to feel just plain uncomfortable there, as if someone was standing over their shoulder.

You'll also find a number of haunted sites and locations in Tucson, Arizona. The Velasco House is haunted by the ghost of its former owner, Carlos Ygnacio. Some have actually seen the man in the house, while others have spotted the man standing with a female ghost, though no one's quite sure who she might be.

Flagstaff is where you'll find the haunted Museum Club. People report hearing strange noises as if someone is walking up and down the stairs or hearing and seeing chairs move as if someone's sitting there. One woman who owned the house died there and her husband later committed suicide and many believe they are the source of the haunting.

Tucson is also home to Catalina High School where a former custodian still makes his rounds. The man actually died there and now sometimes shows up to help with the cleaning. The University of Arizona in town is also haunted. The Modern Languages Building is haunted by the ghost of a woman who was murdered on the spot years ago before the building existed.

Lake Havasu has the haunted London Bridge, the same bridge that was moved to the city in 1971, over a century after it first went up in London. Many people over the years have reported seeing a couple in old fashioned looking clothing walking across the bridge, looking decidedly out of place.

No discussion of haunted places in Arizona would be complete without a look at the ghost of the Grand Canyon. Supposedly the ghost is that of a woman who killed herself near the Canyon after her family was killed. Now she wanders down the road, looking for her family. Meanwhile there's another ghost there, that of a child who likes to play on a playground.

The Ghosts of Madame Lalaurie and the Haunted Laurlie House

Dr. Louis Lalaurie and his wife Delphine were one of the most famous and well known couples in New Orleans society. When the two moved into their home in 1832, their fame only grew. The two threw elaborate parties that many people only dreamed of attending.

The Lalaurie House was almost as famous as the family. During parties guests were greeted by furnishings and accessories from around the world. The family also spared no expense when it came to the food they served and they hoped that every guest would experience the best of the best. Few people were ever disappointed.

Though the good doctor was famous, it was his wife who many people loved. The woman delighted and excited people with her stories and demeanor. By all accounts she was something special; men loved just being in her company and women longed to be one of her close friends. Those that did know the woman closely though, had a different impression. While Madame Lalaurie had a gracious demeanor on the outside, on the inside she was a cruel and sadistic woman.

At the time it wasn't unusual for an upper class family to use a number of slaves and the Lalaurie family was no exception. Guests knew that the elaborate dinners and well maintained home were the result of slave labor. They may have even suspected that the slaves were unhappy, but they had no idea exactly what those men and women experienced.

Madame Lalaurie ran her home with an iron fist and treated her slaves even worse that most people did. The cook was kept inside on the kitchen, tethered to the fireplace by a short length of chain to prevent the person from moving. Other slaves would arrive at the home, only to mysteriously disappear a few short weeks later. People began talking and stories slowly spread throughout the city, but no one knew the truth.

The house of cards came collapsing down on Madame Lalaurie quickly or at least it should have. The woman was spotted beating one of her servants with a leather whip. The servant ran, Lalaurie have chase, and rather than face her master, the girl jumped off the roof. The same person who saw this happen also saw the servant being buried.

The individual went to the authorities and the slaves were taken from the house and supposedly sold off. Lalaurie paid others to buy the slaves and once again she had her "family" back in place. By then though word had already spread and rumors swirled around the house. People slowly took a step back from the Lalaurie family and they began to lose their place in society.

The real breaking point came in 1834 when the truth about Madame Lalaurie came out. A huge fire spread throughout the house and the local fire station was called in for help. They managed to get the fire controlled, only to find a gruesome site in the attic.

A number of slaves were kept locked inside a small room in the attic and all were in various states of dying. They were all chained to the floor or kept in small cramped cages. They also found a variety of instruments used to torture the salves and several body parts, presumably from those missing slaves.

There were a number of different stories spreading around town about what people saw in that room and what the slaves had experienced. Feces was placed in one slave's mouth before someone sewed her mouth closed. There were other slaves left chained to the wall, with their intestines still spilling out of their body from crude incisions. Others had their genitals removed or their eyes ripped from their face.

Those who saw the site in that room were never the same again. They noted that this wasn't something that Lalaurie had done in a few short hours, but something that had taken her years. The slaves hadn't experienced quick deaths either, but rather painful ones that lasted for days of weeks. They found a number of dead people and others who only wished they were dead. Doctors did what they could for those still alive, but there wasn't much they could do.

Rumors swirled around the home and those stories only increased when the family fled in the middle of the night from a mob that gathered outside their home. There were dozens of rumors and stories about where the family went and what happened to them, but they were never seen again.

Anything of value was removed from the house by the same mob that had waited outside the home. One family attempted to live inside, but after they left the house ended up sitting abandoned and neglected. That was when the stories started to spread.

Those who ventured into the area late at night claimed to hear the sounds of people screaming and see the ghosts of the slaves walking around the property. Owners who tried to use the house usually stayed only a short period of time before they left and all had the same stories to tell. They told stories of people crying and moaning after dark, sounds that no one should hear.

The Lalaurie house served as a high school for girls and a school for black children over the years as well as a music conservatory. When the head professor was accused of carrying on illicit relationships with students, the house was once again closed. This time a wealthy man hid inside the room for over a decade until his body was discovered in the basement. Locals whispered that he had socked away his fortune in the house and once again the building was empty.

Then the house was turned into a boarding house and cut into smaller apartments. People living there often heard the strange noises and even saw some disturbing specters. These figures moved through the building late at night and were known to chase those living there. Eventually the residents left and the house became a saloon and a store.

The Lalaurie House was purchased yet again in the 1960s and turned into apartments. The doctor who owned the home didn't experience anything unusual, however he did find something gruesome. During a renovation of the home they found dozens of bodies buried beneath the floorboards of the house. Though Nicholas Cage purchased the private home for his own use, he sold the mansion in later years.

According to some the discovery of the bodies was enough to stop the ghostly activity, but some believe it's still there for those who look.

Haunted Battlegrounds in Tennesse

Battlefields are an important part of Tennessee history because this state was right in the middle of Northern and Southern troops during the Civil War. It shouldn't be surprising then that several of these battlefields are haunted.

The Chickamauga Battlefield is located near Chattanooga, Tennessee. I've been there myself during the daylight of course, though I have to say that I didn't experience anything myself. However, there are a number of people who have seen, heard or felt something unusual at the battlefield.

During the Civil War a battle on this site ended with thousands of Confederate troops taken prisoner and a victory for the Federals. So many men died on the battlefield that their spouses and families had to go through the bodies by lantern to identify their missing loved ones. Today people report seeing odd lights and hearing women crying in the area.

The same battlefield saw scores of men die during the Spanish-American War and there are a number of deaths reported there ranging from murder to suicide. Today the battlefield is partly used as a park, but that hasn't stopped the ghost stories. There are sounds of people crying, horses running loose and what sounds like many men crying in pain. There are also stories of someone in the woods watching visitors and a headless horseback rider. The Chickamauga Battlefield also has a Lady in White who is looking for her husband.

One of the more famous stories told involves the ghost known as Old Green Eyes. This ghost is a Confederate soldier who died on the battlefield. The man lost his head during the battle and now walks the area, trying to find his head. Oddly enough, no one has ever thought to connect this spirit with the headless horseback rider reported. Supposedly you can see two glowing green eyes in the woods and hearing someone crying in pain.

There is also another story told about Old Green Eyes that involves a huge beast that lives near the battlefield. The creature has some human characteristics, though it also has large fangs and a deformed face. Supposedly this creature has been seen for years, since at least the mid-1800s.

The Chickamauga Battlefield also has a stone tower on the property. This tower is supposedly haunted by the ghost of a screaming woman. The Wilder Tower was built during the late 1800s/early 1900s, but there are no known stories of anyone dying there. A number of people have heard the screams late at night.

If you plan to visit the Chickamauga Battlefield, keep one eye out for the ghosts of the park because you never know what you might find.

In Murfreesboro, Tennessee you'll find the haunted Stone River Battlefield. During the Civil War the battle at this spot was almost too close to call. It lasted for several weeks and by the time it was done, thousands of men lay dead on both sides. The Confederates won, but it was barely a victory and had either side given up, less deaths would have occurred.

One area of the battlefield is known as the Slaughter Pen and people note that the place has a different feel and that it seems more quiet there than anywhere else. In addition people say that even the animals won't come near the place.

There is also a story of a ghostly soldier that often comes around when Civil War re-enactors are in town. The man simply walks around with other people, as if checking things out and then disappears before their very eyes.

Maybe these ghostly soldiers aren't able to move onto the afterlife, or maybe they just prefer to stay where they took their last breaths.

The Ghostly Tale of Harrodsburg, Kentucky

Harrodsburg Spring Park in Harrodsburg, Kentucky is a placed haunted by a sad and lonely ghost. The story itself is sad enough that it might bring a tear to your eye. However, after hearing the story you might notice a few flaws. According to the legends, a beautiful woman came to Harrodsburg and immediately booked a room at the Harrodsburg Springs Hotel. During the late 19th century, the hotel often held dances for locals and the girl became the belle of the ball. She danced with man after man, and seemed to be having the time of the night. As the music grew louder, she continued to dance and no one noticed any problems.

As her dance partner continued to sweep her around the floor, he noticed that she didn't seem as lively and excited as she had earlier in the night. He glanced down at her face and discovered that the gorgeous young woman was dead.

Police were called to the scene, but there was nothing they could do. After looking into the woman's background, they discovered that she gave a fake name when checking in. Despite trying to local the woman's family, without a proper name they ran into a dead end.

Finally the hotel owners decided that they would pay for the woman's burial, and had her interred on the property. When the hotel burned down in the 1950's, only her grave survived. Today the site of the former hotel is a small city park. Other cities would have moved the woman to another cemetery, but Harrodsburg left here there.

Though the hotel is gone, some claim the strange young woman's ghost still haunts the area. Locals claim to see the woman standing in the shadows, and dancing slowly by herself. Others say that they can still hear a hint of music in the air.

The only problem with the story is that it is a pure bit of Kentucky folklore. The grave itself is there, but no one seems to know exactly when the woman died in the hotel. Despite numerous stories, no one has ever been able to give the woman a name either, even the fake name she used.

This is a story that has been passed down for years in the town, since the hotel was still standing. Once the hotel was gone, the story changed from people seeing the woman in the hotel to seeing her dancing where the hotel once was. This seems to be a case of a legend passed down from one generation to the next, and changed a little with each telling.

Chicago's Most Haunted: The Ghosts of the Saint Valentine's Day Massacre

The St. Valentine's Day Massacre was one of the darkest days in Chicago, yet few people today seem to remember the event. For someone like me, who views the roaring 1920s as an exciting and interesting part of our past, that is a shame. The story of the St. Valentine's Day massacre is quite interesting, made even more so by the ghosts still rumored to haunt the area.

The 1920's were a strange time in Chicago's history. The city was caught in the terrifying grip of the mobsters who ruled the area with an iron first. This so-called war was made even worse by mobsters on either side of the city fighting to gain control. Al Capone was one of the leaders of the South side, while a man named O'Banion ruled the North side.

Each side was running bootleg alcohol, and each side wanted to gain control of Chicago. This eventually led to several near death experiences for all parties involved. After some time, two new leaders emerged: All Capone on the South side, and George Moran on the North side. These two men fought constantly, and things turned even darker. After Moran helped kill one of Capone's top men, Capone vowed vengeance would come on February 14.

Capone set about planning his revenge by setting in motion an elaborate hoax. One of his men called Moran to sell a large delivery of illegal whiskey. Moran agreed to the deal, unaware that Capone was behind the plan. Moran gathered a large group of his men together, and on February 14, they patiently awaited the delivery.

Oddly enough Moran skipped the meeting because he was running late. By the time he arrived at the warehouse where they planned to meet, a police car was sitting at the curb. Unwilling to take the chance of being caught, he headed to a diner down the street. What he didn't know was that the police car held five of Capone's men. The five men calmly walked inside, and opened fire.

Police arrived to find a gruesome site. The seven men had been forced to stand in a line against a wall before having machine guns turned on them. Six men were already dead, and the one man still breathing died before the end of the day. This man, Frank Gusenberg refused to give any names as to the assailants, and refused to even admit that he had been shot. Police also found one of the men's dogs, still tied to the car where his owner left him.

Capone and Moran continued to point the finger at each other for years to come. Police officials refused to blame Capone, stating repeatedly that he was out of the state at the time and could not have ordered the hit. No men were ever tried for the killings, and it served mainly to strengthen Capone's hold on Chicago.

Capone would eventually spend time in Eastern State Penitentiary where some claim he was haunted by the ghost of Jimmy Clark, one of the men killed in the St. Valentine's Day massacre. The same ghost followed him when he came back to Chicago. While staying at the Lexington Hotel, Capone often claimed to see Clark's ghost. One of his men also saw Clark's ghost, once again in Capone's room.

The building where the massacre occurred was later used for several different businesses. However, it continued to be a favorite tourist spot for people visiting the city. People were known to steal bricks and other pieces of the building, just to have something to take home with them. The building was eventually torn down, though one man salvaged some of the bricks. He later used those in the men's room of a nightclub he opened downtown.

Once the nightclub closed, the man decided to sell the bricks for $1,000 a piece. While that may seem like a lot of money, especially in the 1970's, he had a number of takers. Before long people began returning the bricks to him, without even asking for a refund. He kept hearing the same stories from his customers. They all claimed that the bricks were cursed, and that they had experienced terrible luck ever since one entered their life. No one knows exactly what happened to those bricks.

The building where the massacre occurred may be gone now, but some claim the spirits still remain. Late at night visitors claim to hear the rapid fire of old-fashioned machine guns, and the sounds of men screaming. The city planted five trees to commemorate the location of that wall. Those who walk by the place claim to experience an intense sense of dread, and sometimes fear. Dogs too are know to react negatively to the area, running in fear or barking loudly at something that isn't there.

I've been to the location myself, and I can safely say that I experienced nothing. It was interesting to see the spot for the first time, but I certainly didn't feel anything unsettling or dreadful. Then again, I've never had one of those bricks either.