MIDWEST & GREAT LAKES STATES
The Blue Belle Inn, Saint Ansgar, IA: The original floor plans to the house were mistakenly taken to the dump, only to reappear later in the attic. A room was mysteriously locked – but no one was inside to have locked it. Every possible key was tried to no avail; finally, in desperation, the innkeeper called out: “Will whoever is in there please open the door?” whereupon the door immediately popped open.
Inn at 835, Springfield, IL: One guest reported hearing a warm and friendly voice saying “Well, hello there.” No one was around. Another event included a single book being placed in the middle of the room multiple times. Each time it was removed from a tightly packed shelf and placed in the middle of the room. Another time, wallpaper peeled off the wall, only to be perfectly repaired by the next morning. And every now and then, there are reports of the sound of a lid being removed from a crystal candy dish and then replaced, even though no one is around. The elevator delivers guests to random floors regardless of which button is pushed. Repeated inspections and servicing proves it to be in perfect working order; does it have a mind of its own, or is there an unseen passenger? Reportedly Bell Miller, the former owner, was so proud of her 1909 dream home that she apparently never left.
Old Bridge Inn, Jeffersonville, IN: Recently, a candleholder lost four years earlier reappeared in the middle of a guest room. Guests have reported seeing floating objects, canes being picked up and twirled around, tea cups floating across the room and several candles being raised up then down on their own. Two women reported seeing a welcoming bearded gentleman in the dining room. From photos, they determined that he may have been the son of the property’s longtime owner, Dr. Hancock. A small dog named Buttons has also been seen.
The Inn at Aberdeen, Valparaiso, IN: Featured in the book Haunted Hoosier Trails, guests report seeing a little girl ghost, often observed late at night on the master staircase. She has been noted to “mess with the guests’ stuff” or turn on the fireplace in their rooms. The Indiana Ghost Trackers investigated the inn and reported that Sarah Ritter, an original inhabitant, and her two children died in the home. The Ghost Trackers detected the presence of a young girl and a male with high EMF (electromagnetic field) meter readings and positive EVP (Electronic Voice Phenomena) recordings. A door repeatedly opened behind them when the girl’s presence was felt during the Ghost Trackers’ stay.
Classic Rosewood – A Thorwood Property, Hastings, MN: The sound of cackling laughter coming from under the bed then wild vibrations from a guest room headboard and a strange light shining on the ceiling had one guest thinking the inn was haunted. It turned out that a former guest left a cell phone under the bed and decided to call herself in the middle of the night in an attempt to locate it. Still, you never know! Ghosts have been known to carry cell phones.
Beyer Haus, New Ulm, MN: This former funeral parlor is home to a number of spirits. When the innkeepers moved in, they felt taps on the shoulders and heard footsteps, even when no one else was there. A local psychic medium and paranormal investigator was able to shed light on six different spirits: Charlie is a little boy who died in his bed of scarlet fever, yet still runs through the hallways and teases the dog. Another spirit is the former caretaker, still checking on the house. The housekeeper, Claire, keeps things neat and tidy in Maggie’s Room and, and another spirit lives in the basement. A small boy resides primarily in the closet on the third floor, and has been known to hold hands with guests. All spirits love to appear when least expected.
Bingham Hall B&B, New Ulm, MN: A man named Jake has been seen by innkeepers standing in the doorway, never going in or out. Additionally, guests say that the doors open by themselves, and they hear noises and feel a presence of someone watching them.
Grand Avenue B&B, Carthage, MO: While the “no smoking” rule is in effect for all guests, the former owner is exempt. A ghostly whiff of his trademark cigar smoke wafts through the rooms from time to time when he visits his 1893 Victorian mansion.
Hannibal Garden House B&B, Hannibal, MO: Hannibal, the boyhood home of Mark Twain and his fictitious characters Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer, is also home to playful spirits. One resides at the Garden House, where a male presence is most commonly felt in the stone basement playing music, talking, and sawing wood. Recently one “ghost busting” guest who returns often in search of sightings, saw an apparition cross in front of the TV, and disappear into the closet. This Halloween, take the “Haunted Historic Hannibal Trolley Tour;” stops include the cemetery where Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn played and the Old Jail Museum, home to many spirits of its own.
Are you hardy enough to make it to the third floor as the children did at this haunted house on the cliff? Photo courtesy Marti Mayne
Hannibal Bed and Breakfast at Rockcliffe Mansion, Hannibal, MO: Built in 1898 and described as the “finest home in Missouri,” this mansion was boarded up for 43 years after its owner, John J. Cruikshank Jr., died in 1924. During the years of the vacancy, local children would run through the home, under the dare of making it all the way up to the third floor classroom, tear off a piece of the schoolroom map, and return outside to prove they had made it through Hannibal’s most “haunted house.” Caretakers who watched over the vacant house would often be forced to leave their living quarters due to the strong smell of cigarette smoke that would sometimes appear at midnight. Now restored as a B&B, the housekeepers at Rockcliffe Mansion have to straighten the bed in the former owner’s room, even when no one has been sleeping there, as it mysteriously retains the form of a 5’4″ body. Mr. Cruikshank, who stood 5’4″ while alive, died in that very bed! From time to time, guests have witnessed Mrs. Cruikshank floating through her grand music room.
Rivercene Mansion B&B, Boonville, MO: This 1869 mansion was the home of riverboat captain Joseph Kinney and was owned by the Kinney family until the 1990s. Captain Kinney’s son Noble met an untimely death at the age of 26, when he fell down the grand staircase. The heirs, along with guests, have reported very strange encounters with Noble. Not quite ready to leave, Noble is still hanging around playing pranks on guests and innkeepers.
Colonel Taylor Inn B&B, Cambridge, OH: Named for the former Civil War soldier and four-term U.S. Congressman, the Colonel still roams the household, the smoke from his pipe lingering in this non-smoking inn. His entire family also inhabits the inn, from the mischievous little boy to both wives of the Colonel, plus assorted adult children. Footsteps are often heard at night, images of former servants falling down the stairs are seen, and even the tabby cat has been spotted. Beds rock without reason, and toys move on their own, but the innkeepers are confident that these friendly spirits are glad that the house is being restored to its original Victorian opulence.
Mill House B&B, Grand Rapids, OH: From time to time, guests have claimed that the inn is haunted. After hearing a noise in the attic, the son of the innkeepers checked it out and created a video for the Internet about his spooky adventure..
C.M. Spitzer House B&B, Medina, OH: A story is told about a nosy female apparition who appeared with limited facial features except a heavy jaw. She was a short, stout woman, in her 20s, wearing what the Edwardians called a “wrapper” or housedress. She fired off questions, asking her surprised witness about the family, and then disappeared as quickly as she came.
Stone Lion Inn, Guthrie, OK: If you’re lucky, a gentlemanly ghost may just doff his derby hat to you. Guests have seen a ghost dressed in formal attire; he’s recognized by the scent of his cigar smoke. Besides the unknown gentleman, the original owners’ daughter also haunts the inn. At eight, she was ill with whooping cough; the family’s maid supposedly overmedicated her with cough syrup, which included common ingredients of codeine and opium. The ghost girl will creep into guest rooms between 2 and 2:30 a.m. to pat inhabitants on the cheek. She disappears soon after they awake.
Honeybee Inn B&B, Horicon, WI: It’s believed that a lumber baron named Coton is still hanging around with his female companions. His beloved rocking chair, where he died, rocks by itself, and the innkeeper’s family has spotted a woman in a long skirt with an apron. Investigators of the paranormal explain that stairs squeaking at night and the unexplained ringing of bells are evidence of an active spirit in residence.
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