#haunted pennsylania

[scared-aquarius]

signs as haunted places in Pennsylvania

(This post is part of a series where I assign haunted places from each state to the signs)

Aries: Fort Mifflin, Philadelphia PA- Built by the British in 1771 to protect the city of Philadelphia, it was in American hands during the Revolutionary War. In 1777, the British basically destroyed their own handiwork as they blasted cannonballs though the fort walls, an estimated 1000 rounds every 20 minutes. About 250 men were killed at the fort. However, the fort never surrendered. It was rebuilt 20 years after the war and served as a garrison during the War of 1812 and a prison during the Civil War. Nowadays, it is used as a site for war reenactments. There is supposedly a ghost who resides on the second floor on the fort, known as the lamplighter. This is the spirit of the man who would light the oil lamps every evening. People who claim to see him describe him as a pale and barely discernible figure carrying an oil lamp. There is also the spirit of a woman known as “The Screaming Woman”, who is often heard in the Officer’s Quarters. Heard countless times with such volume, the Philadelphia police have even been called out on numerous occasions only to find no woman on the grounds. Many believe the woman is screaming at the loss of her husband during the war. The woman is often identified as Elizabeth Pratt. In Casement 5, there have been reports of seeing a faceless man. One of the stranger encounters people have had is an entity known as the “tour guide”, who while dressed in period clothing, has been mistaken for an actual tour guide. This spirit supposedly has given tours to unsuspecting guests when no actual guides had been scheduled to be present. In addition to these apparitions, there have been accounts of people smelling burning wood and bread baking as well as hearing disembodied voices and feeling like they are being pushed or touched.

Taurus: Black Powder Tavern, Wayne PA- This historic inn was founded in 1746 and served as a respite for stagecoach travelers heading westward as well as a rendezvous point for some famous American leaders such as Marquis de Lafayette and even George Washington himself. It is believed that during the infamous winter of 1777, military figure Friedrich Von Steuben used the tavern to hide secret stashes of gunpowder (black powder) for army messengers. Throughout the Revolutionary War, it provided soldiers with food, shelter and cheer. Today, the building still stands as a functioning restaurant and houses many unknown spirits- perhaps soldiers who died and found comfort in the place they felt safe and happy. Some are believed to be the spirits of those who died in the Duffy’s Cut massacre in 1832. Duffy’s Cut is a stretch of railroad tracks that run near the tavern where the bodies of 57 Irish immigrant railroad workers were found. Many died due to a cholera outbreak however forensic evidence shows that some may have been murdered due to fear of the cholera spreading. Both customers and workers alike claim to hear disembodied footsteps as well as seeing unexplained flashes of light and feeling sudden cold spots. There is a ghost of an innkeeper named Mary from the Victorian era who sometimes messes up newly set tables as well as the ghost of a teenage girl and her cat who have been seen at the top of the stairs and is known to haunt the second floor. Workers claim they cannot leave running clocks upstairs because she drains the batteries and often times she will leave pennies lying around even after the workers claim they had just cleaned the area. One woman even claims that she heard someone run down the stairs after closing, and thinking it was her coworker, thought nothing of it- however she later found out her coworker had left 20 minutes earlier and she was the last person in the building.

Gemini: Woodfield Manor, Cresco PA- This building, founded in 1808 and located in the Pocono Mountains, was originally an exclusive hunting club and a stage stop for the wealthy. It was expanded into a resort under new ownership in the 1950s, with a swimming pool and tennis courts being added. Although this may seem like a romantic and relaxing getaway resort, for decades guests and employees alike have experienced strange happenings inside the hotel. Many claim there is a spirit of a woman who haunts to building. Employees have said they have seen an apparition of her in the reception hall. One specific worker says that he believes the woman is the previous owner as he had seen an old photograph of her and was shocked to find out that woman he had seen in the reception hall had the same face as the woman in the photograph. The spirit, however, is a benevolent one. She is actually known to be helpful. One employee claims that when she went to a room to put up curtains, she realized she didn’t have any. However, she felt drawn to room 27, and when she got there, there were curtains laying out on top of the bed ready for use. However, not all of the spirits are friendly. One of the first owners of the building was a woman who drowned her two children in the bathtub. Room 13 is supposedly the most haunted room, where objects will suddenly move or shift, electronic devices malfunction and the sound of running water can be heard when the room is unoccupied.

Cancer: Farnsworth House Inn, Gettysburg PA- Although the exact date is unclear, this building is thought to be built around 1810. During the Civil War, it was used as a makeshift hospital as well as a resting place for Confederate soldiers. During the war, the building was caught in crossfire and the walls still contain about 135 bullet holes. Today, although the inn is still functional as a bed and breakfast, there is a room called the Garrett which is closed off to visitors as it is supposedly too spiritually active. The room was apparently a post for three Confederate sharpshooters during the war and one was shot and killed there. There are claims that the bathroom can sometimes be found full of blood splatters. The lock on the door is known to rattle on its own. Another room upstairs holds a spirit of a man who is constantly is sobbing uncontrollably and can be seen wandering the halls as he holds a child wrapped in a blanket. The cellar is known to hold an apparition of a soldier trying to help a wounded comrade walk. Sometimes a soft singing voice can be heard from the cellar, as well. Other rooms contain strange occurrences as well, such as the McFarland Room which guests claim to contain unusually heavy breathing in their ear. The Schultz Room is known to have a spirit of a nurse who tries to tuck you in at night as well as a spirit of a young boy named Jeremy. The room also supposedly sometimes smells strongly of cigars. There are many online reviews of former guests who claim to have felt being touched during the night and multiple even say they’ve captured reflections of apparitions of the nurse from the Schultz Room after taking a photo. Some skeptics say their beliefs have really been challenged after staying at the Farnsworth house Inn.

Leo: Devil’s Den on Gettysburg Battlefield, Gettysburg PA- The Battle of Gettysburg in 1863 began July 1st and ended on July 3rd. After it was over, approximately 45,515 people were either dead, wounded or missing. The second day of fighting was the bloodiest. It is estimated that during the battle, casualties came at a rate of about 1 per second. One of the areas on the battlefield, nicknamed Devil’s Den, was a ridge with large boulders strewn about. Throughout the 19th century, many people believed that in the crevices of the rocks lived a 15 foot long snake. The snake became known as “The Devil”, and thus the area became known as ”Devil’s Den”. On the second day of battle, approximately 3,235 people were killed or wounded there. The valley surrounding Devil’s Den then became known as the Valley of Death and a creek that ran near Devil’s Den became known as Bloody Run because the creek literally ran red with blood. On July 4th, the heavy rain caused the creek to flood and drowned wounded soldiers who were left behind. Today, Devil’s Den is known as being one of the most active paranormal hotspots in Gettysburg. A frequent sighting in the area is that of a disheveled man. He’s said to be wearing shabby clothing, a floppy hat and also be barefoot. He will walk up to people and say “What you’re looking for is over there,” and he’ll point to Plum Run (Bloody Run). He then promptly disappears, leaving those who have encountered him completely bewildered. People have nicknamed him the “Helpful Hippy”. Another encounter with the spirits of dead soldiers occurred in 1939 and even made its way into the Harrisburg Telegraph newspaper. Someone reported seeing two men walking along the side of the road and they appeared to be injured. The person stopped their car to see if they needed help and noticed that they were carrying rifles and were dressed in stained and bloody old-fashioned military uniforms. The men told the driver that their friend was propped up on a nearby tree and needed help. He walked with the men to the tree and saw a man with a bloody wound to the chest. He told them he’d drive to the nearest gas station and get help. When he got to the gas station, the attendant said don’t bother going back to help; they won’t be there; they are the restless dead of Gettysburg. Apparently this person wasn’t the first who had experienced this strange encounter.

Virgo: Easton Area Public Library, Easton PA- This library was constructed in 1903. When construction started at the site, it was discovered that the thickly wooded and overgrown area they were building upon was actually an old german reformed cemetery with 514 graves. In order for construction to continue, they had to move the graves- and while many family members were able to claim the corpses, about 30 remained unclaimed. The remains of the 30 unknown bodies were unceremoniously dumped into a large cement vault which basically became a large unmarked mass grave. As additions were added onto the library, the mass grave was paved over in order to create the parking lot. Even today, you can see an indentation in the pavement which shows where the grave lies. A prominent figure however had her grave moved to a more respectable plot on the  grounds. Elizabeth Bell Morgan, known as “Mammy” Morgan, was a Quaker from Philadelphia who married a physician who also specialized in law. After her husband’s death, she inherited his law books and many would travel to her for legal advice until her own death in 1839. For decades, workers claim to see her wandering the library grounds. The second floor is supposedly the most haunted where filing cabinets can be heard violently rattling as well as doors slamming in the early morning as employees enter to open for the day. Workers also claim that sometimes while stacking books, they feel someone touching and playing with their hair. One even claims she witnessed a doorknob turn and open right in front of her yet no one else was in the room. However, none of them say they feel threatened by the supposed ghosts, despite the spirits having a reason to be angry as their remains were disturbed and highly disrespected.

Libra: Welles House, Wilkes Barre PA- Built by industrialist Augustus Laning in 1846, this house has seen plenty of death throughout the years. During the time Laning was still the owner, the street the house resided on had a number of odd deaths occur. After building the house, tragedy began to strike Laning. His factories burned to the ground in 1850 and his nephew was killed after a lightning bolt hit the barn he was in. He perished as he was trapped under the carcass of a horse who had been killed in the fire. There was also a report of a man dropping dead in front of the house in the 1850s. From the late 19th century to the mid 20th century, the house had been the location of 2 suicides and 4 other deaths. Over its 160 year history, the house had been rented out over 50 times. For years it was believed to be haunted, however locals didn’t think so until the 1970s when the Bennetts moved in and their reports were brought to light. The family reported there being unexplained bangs and scurrying noises from one end of the house to the other as well as unexplained sudden illnesses and depression. They claimed they would sometimes see the apparition of a well-dressed man and a young girl walking through the doorway and then vanishing. The attic seemed to house an entity that would shriek, moan and cry. They also claimed they would sometimes get scratch marks and they could sometimes hear the sound of heavy footsteps, as if someone wearing heavy boots were walking up and down the upstairs hallway when everyone was downstairs. The house is believed to be the site of a demonic presence.

Scorpio: Carbon County Jail, Jim Thorpe PA- This two-story, fortress-like jail was built in 1869 and was in use up until 1994. This building is home to one of the most famous ghost stories in Pennsylvania. In 1877, a day known as “Black Thursday”, ten men were hanged because they were suspected of being “Molly Maguires”- a 19th century Irish secret society which fought for better treatment and working conditions for Irish immigrant coal miners. Many Irish coal miners had been working in the area and due to the poor conditions, many died from black lung. One of these men, Alexander Campbell, was executed, however he always proclaimed his innocence. Before he was led to the gallows, he left a dirty handprint on his cell (Cell 17) and said it would always remain there as a sign of his innocence- and remain it did. His handprint is still there to this day and people from all over visit the jail to see it for themselves. Despite many attempts to remove it, including trying to wash it off, paint over it, and even build an entirely new wall, the handprint always comes back. A former inmate, Walter “Mountain Main” Rodriguez, was placed in cell 17 by himself after his arrest in connection for the murder of a teenage girl. The inmate had supposedly begged to be moved to different cell out of fear. People who have visited the jail report having their hair being touched and feeling hands on their shoulders.

Sagittarius: Hill View Manor, New Castle PA- Built in 1925, Hill View Manor was originally known as The Lawrence County Home for the Aged, which housed the mentally ill, the poverty-stricken, orphaned children and the elderly whose families had abandoned them. It was practically a dumping ground for society’s outcasts. The heads of the institution, the Snyders, were accused of incompetence at the home in 1944 and resigned. Under new management, in the late 1960s, the building went under renovations and was converted into a skilled nursing facility. However, by 1970 the building was facing severe overcrowding issues. It finally closed in 2004 due to financial problems. Throughout the years that it housed people, many of the inmates died within the walls, most likely due to poor treatment and living conditions, yet some under questionable circumstances. There have also been numerous suicides that occurred on the grounds. There are numerous reports of shadow people being seen peeking around corners. Many claim they have also encountered full-bodied apparitions, flickering lights, mysterious screams and bangs, slamming doors and disembodied voices. In the chapel, an apparition of a doctor dressed in white has been reported. The pedals on the organ there supposedly move on their own and can be heard squeaking as if someone is pressing down on them. On the second floor, there is a stairwell by the women’s cafeteria where an inmate by the name of Angel hung himself. There are reports of extremely cold spots as well as the sound of something dragging across the floor. There are many other rooms in the building said to be haunted, such as Joe Miller’s Room, where people say cigar smoke can often be smelled and a shadow person can be seen. There is also John Robinson’s Room, where an inmate jumped out of the window and died. Loud banging can be heard from this room, some believing it is the sound of the window flying open or shut. There is also an old boiler room which is said to be haunted by a man named Eli Sorry, who became inebriated and passed out. Other inmates dragged him into the boiler room and shoved him under the stairs where he later died from either intoxication or exposure. Some claim they hear moaning and coughing in this area as well as feeling suddenly cold. Flashlights also apparently turn on and off in this area. These are just a few accounts of hauntings within the building. The structure currently sits abandoned at the top of a grassy hill above highway 65.

Capricorn: Moravian College, Bethlehem PA- Moravian College was founded in 1742 and is the sixth oldest college in the United States. Before being known as the liberal-arts college that it is today, it’s gone through its periods of transitions. There is a building on campus called the Brethren’s House, which currently serves as the music and art building, however it was converted into a hospital during the Revolutionary War and supposedly has its fair share of ghostly residents. One encounter happened in 2016 where a girl took her boyfriend (a non-believer of the supernatural) to Brethren’s House to do some ghost hunting. She did not expect much to happen and figured he would stay skeptical. After exploring the second floor with not much luck, they decided to head back down to the first floor. As they headed down the first floor hallway, they both heard an extremely loud rumbling noise coming from above them; so loud that they couldn’t hear each other speak. She claims it sounded as if 50 people were running up and down the upstairs hallway. They both ran out the door into the Main Hall. After confiding in a friend about the experience, she told her that she had the same experience and so had others. The sound was known on campus as the nurses from the Revolutionary War desperately running up and down the hallways with gurneys. Another haunted building on campus is Comenius Hall, where a nurse is said to haunt it and is aggressive towards anyone who is on her territory. There are often technological malfunctions and unexplained scratching and banging can frequently be heard. One incident happened during a Halloween haunted tour where a worker was in the basement to turn off the lights for a group that was coming up. He made three attempts to turn off the lights however they kept flipping back on. He gave up and headed back upstairs. As the tour guide led the party towards the basement, a guide dog within the group started signaling danger and seemed to be desperately trying to keep its owner from going forward. Although there was no visible danger, it simply refused to enter the basement. Afterwards however, no one on the tour claimed to notice anything suspicious. These are just two examples of paranormal experiences that have happened on campus. There are other buildings known to be haunted, one called Rau Dormitory, where 3 people hung themselves in the 1960s. The music building, a sorority as well as a couple other dormitories are known to be haunted as well. Endless amounts of detailed paranormal experiences from students and visitors alike can be found online. There is no doubt that there is something more to Moravian College than meets the eye.

Aquarius: Mishler Theatre, Altoona PA- This theatre was built in 1906 and was named after its owner, Isaac Charles Mishler. Not even a year later, the neighboring building caught fire which quickly spread to the theatre and destroyed the interior. It was rebuilt and reopened in 1907. Over the past few decades, it has gained attention due to the supposed hauntings. Many claim they have seen the ghost of the late Isaac Mishler wandering the building as well as walking through a wall where the door to his office used to be, all while leaving a trail of cigar smoke. Some claim you can sometimes see a trail of smoke rising up from one of the seats in the audience even whole no one else is in the theatre. One specific testimony comes from a now 12 year old girl, whose encounter happened when she was only 2 years old. Her mother used to work at the theatre and would sometimes bring her along to work. She recalls sharing fun times with a man in “funny hats” while her mother set up lights and sound equipment. She said sometimes he would show up in a floppy hat and other times a tall black hat. He would talk to her about his love of theatre and they’d go for walks around the set. When she described what the man had looked like, the description matched Isaac Mishler. Perhaps his love for theatre was so strong that he decided to stay, even after death. Two other supposed spirits are that of a woman who haunts the restroom and a dog who can be heard howling throughout the day and night. 

Pisces: Providence Quaker Cemetery and Chapel, Perryopolis PA- Dating back to 1789, this cemetery was founded by Quaker pioneers and today is known to be associated with strange occurrences and curses. It was once a spot used to execute those believed to be witches as well as a place to practice black magic. Dark spirits are now said to haunt the grounds as a result. In the center of the cemetery is a small stone church where a spirit is said to reside. People who have entered report feeling extremely cold, hearing disembodied footsteps and getting a heavy feeling in their chest when they are inside. The cemetery also has its share of spirits. There are two unknown entities who haunt the yard and will push people down if they dare disrespect the graves. One of the gravestones in the cemetery supposedly holds a curse. The gravestone is that of Ella Mae Lynch, whose inscription reads “Remember youth as you go by, as you are now, so once was I, as I am now, so you shall be, beware for death and follow me.” Many believe the inscription indicates that reading it curses you to die in the same manner as Lynch herself. In 1980, a man reported driving past the cemetery and having his car chased by a large black dog. However, once he passed the grounds the dog had completely vanished.

New Jersey

(Let me know what state I should research next...)

[usgsbiml]

Yo, Triepeolus people you are darn sharp looking bees.  Here is T. donatus. Collected near State College in Pennsylvania by Laura Russo.  Its host is going to be a Melissodes, in this case M. desponsus, (a thistle specialist) but it also has been seen going into the nest of Melitoma taurea ...so perhaps there is more to the story, difficult to say since it is rarely collected and rarely seen..  Picture by the fab Kelly Graninger.

All original pictures completely public domain and available at our Flickr site:https://www.flickr.com/photos/usgsbiml/

Photography Information: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-_yvIsucOY

Follow us on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/usgsbiml/

sam droege, public bee servant