The Ghost Stories Children Tell to Other Children

Death is never neat and tidy even in our modern world. Children seem to have an innate sense of this fact. I spent many years teaching young children—I love stories and storytelling—so when my students told stories to each other, I paid close, attention. 

The ghost stories I heard that were shared on the playground and in the classroom have nothing to do with the ghost stories that are told by adults in books, in films or on television.

What struck me as most fascinating is the way these tales were told had a more significant impact on these children than the stories themselves. Young children tell ghost stories to delight in terror, but they very carefully control—“control” being the key word here---how much terror is allowed in these stories. 

Within children’s oral traditions, they do not need adult censure—they are very conscious of how much of a fright they can handle. This knowledge empowers them to a much higher degree, then most adults would suspect.

One trick children use in telling these stories is they never address directly the monster, ghost, or whatever the cause of their fear is. In fact, in many of their stories, this source of fear is never even mentioned. 

Another primary device they use is humor—this humor is placed strategically at the end of their stories and allows them to address their fears with a built-in safety valve or release. 

But foremost in their minds is to entertain and be entertained. Young children adore surprise or unexpected endings, so at the end of these stories, they always break out in peals of laughter. 

Several of the children’s ghost stories I have shared in the past use these tricks. “Bloody Fingers” with its surprise humorous ending. “The Golden Arm” with its gotcha moment at the end. Mark Twain's’ ghost story with him loudly stomping, which startles the audience into laughter at the end and the various “jump stories” I have shared all reflect how young children tell ghost stories.

Young children keep the ghost stories, they tell simple, but when adults consider them more carefully, it becomes apparent that children’s ghost stories just like adult ghost stories impart in-depth lessons. 

So children are not only safely addressing their fears they, just like adults when they tell ghost stories, are passing on societal norms to their peer group. 

A classic example of this is a children’s ghost story that originated in Poland entitled “The Stolen Liver.”  A more modern version of this tale that I heard my own students tell is a simplified version of this original tale. 

There are just two main characters in the story, the mother and a son. This story teaches norms about listening to parents, and I imagine its original intent was to teach children to avoid cannibalism and grave robbing. It has a surprise ending for my students told it as a “Jump Story.”

A mother sent her son to the store to buy liver. 

"Now go there and come right back. I am making your father’s friend a special meal tonight. His favorite is liver, so ask the butcher for the best he has." 

The son jumped on his bike and headed for the store. Halfway there, his friend called out his name. “Hey, Tommy come play with us, we need a good pitcher.”

Forgetting his errand, he played several innings with his friends. As the sun went down, he realized what he had forgotten, he quickly jumped on his bike and headed to the store. But when he got there, it had already closed. 

He reluctantly headed home. His mother was going to be mad. 

As he passed the neighborhood cemetery, he had an idea. He went to the fresh grave of his Uncle Henry. He thought--he doesn’t need his liver anymore. He found a shovel in the cemeteries shed and started digging. He then quickly headed home.

His mother cooked the liver, and his father and his friend enjoyed the meal. Tommy relieved went upstairs to bed. He fell asleep quickly. Later, a booming voice woke him up.

“Where’s my liver?”

Tommy lay still as he heard loud footsteps come up the stairs.

Thump, thump, thump.

The footsteps stopped outside his door.

“Where is my liver?”

“Who’s got my liver?”

The door slammed open, and he saw his uncle’s face floating above his bed.

"Where is my liver?"

He screamed back, “We ate it.”

At this point, the child telling the story would always lunge at or grab another child nearby. The group listening would then laugh, giggle, or shout out in loud delight—showing their approval.

Haunted New Mexico: The PERA Building

The PERA (Public Employees Retirement Administration) building in Santa Fe, New Mexico was constructed in 1966. 

It was built on land that was initially St. Michaels High School * a Catholic boarding and day school for boys. 

PERA building.

Near this school, surrounded by an adobe wall, was an old Spanish-Indian Cemetery that dated from the early 1800s. ** 

With the PERA building was constructed, the school’s buildings were torn down. The old potter's field cemetery presented a more significant problem that some considered at best to be just a nuisance.

The PERA Building has five floors. Two of these floors were built underground. So the building has a basement and sub-basement. 

At the time of construction it is said because of financial and time constraints some bodies were removed to make way for the basements but others where left. 

So a large portion of this cemetery was just graded over and paved for the PERA parking lot. Considering this, it is not surprising that this area is haunted. ***

People flatly refuse to spend time in the PERA building's basements after dark. Unseen hands are said to reach out and trip people, as they walk down the staircases that lead to the basements. Loud cries and moans are also heard in this area. 

One janitor in the 1970s quit after he spotted a tall, thin woman appear in front of him, in the middle of the night. **** Even today many local residents will not walk past the PERA building at night. *****

Another active ghost is a woman dressed all in black. She has been seen on the property for many years. Old-timers in the area believe that this land was actually haunted before the PERA building was constructed. 

In the 1800s wealthy families from all over the Southwest and Mexico sent their sons to be educated at St. Michaels. 

It is stated that a tragedy struck two of these students in 1867 when they drank tainted water and died. Some accounts of their deaths mention they contracted cholera and died others state they actually died of smallpox.

In both versions of this legend, it is stated these boys were buried quickly in the old pauper’s graveyard in unmarked graves. 

This was done at the request of the city authorities. To avoid panic from spreading among the citizens of Santa Fe. 

The mother of one of these boys, Dona Maria Sanchez, heard the news and traveled to the city. When she arrived, she was disturbed to find that the authorities would not let her take her son’s remains home. They would not even tell her where he was buried in the cemetery. 

Mrs. Sanchez heart-broken with grief, remained in Santa Fe. For years she was seen every day walking to the adobe-walled cemetery with her rosary in her hand.

Unfortunately, it appears Dona Maria cannot rest in peace. Some state she is still looking for her son. 

Her ghost, a short woman, dressed all in black clutching her mantilla tightly to her face, is seen walking in the corridors of the PERA building. She is often seen walking through walls. 

But most witnesses, employees at PERA, state they see her walking quickly through the parking lot toward the area where the graves remain underneath. She appears so real, many of these witnesses have spoken to her, but she never acknowledges their greetings.

*   St. Michael’s High School, first known as El Colegio de San Miguel, was conceived by Jean-Baptiste Lamy, the first bishop of Santa Fe. He brought four Christian Brothers from France to run the school in 1859. 

**  Written records were not kept for this cemetery, so it is not clear when it was first and last used.

***  To disturb these bodies is bad enough, but since it was done--all the bodies should have been removed with respect and given proper burials somewhere else. 

****  It is stated that another famous ghost in New Mexico La Llorona--The Weeping Woman-- also haunts this area, for the Santa Fe River runs by the building. 

*****  As recent as 2010 a Santa Fe utility crew digging near the PERA building unearthed some of these unsettled bones.

Haunted U.S. Capitol

This building located in Washington D.C. holds the U. S. Senate and House of Representatives. It was first built in 1800, and ever since several non-famous and famous ghosts haunt it. 

In another post entitled Harbinger Spirits I wrote about the Demon Cat who scares people in the basement of this building, a variety of other activity that has been observed occurs in and around this same area. 

Many of the witnesses to this strange activity are Capitol guards, who patrol this massive building’s rooms and corridors on the nightshift.

These guards report that late at night as they cross Statuary Hall they hear footsteps following closely behind them. 

This disturbed one guard so much he decided to investigate further. For several nights in a row, he wore soft-soled boots that he knew would not make noise, but he still heard the footsteps follow him. 

Ruling out the possibility that what he heard was his own steps echoing, he then tried to pinpoint the footsteps he did hear. At one point, he felt he had cornered them, but then to his surprise he heard them in another part of the hall.

Lifesize statues of famous statesmen from American history line Statuary Hall. Originally this area was the chamber for the House of Representatives. 

A brass tablet set in stone marks the spot where the sixth president of the United States, John Quincy Adams desk was located. 

It was at this desk that Adams suffered a stroke in 1848 while giving an impassioned speech against honoring the generals who won the Mexican War. He was removed to his office where he died. Adams’ ghost has been seen doing what he loved most—giving speeches. *

Yet another phenomenon that has been witnessed in Statuary Hall is not true for the guard that reported it was fired later for drinking on the job. I place it here because it is amusing and it is a well-known legend that has been past down for many years. 

This guard stated that at midnight he would see the statues in Statuary Hall leave their pedestals and float around. He said that they seemed to enjoy doing this particularly on New Year’s Eve.

One ghost that is seen often roaming the Capitol corridors is that of a French engineer and architect, Charles L’Enfant who was commissioned by President George Washington to design the then Washington City. L’Enfant bucked heads often with Congress over his plans. Not willing to compromise he was eventually fired. 

Sadly, in 1825 he died a pauper his work mostly unpaid for and under appreciated. Ironically, in 1889 Congress changed their minds. They took his work from the archives and used them. 

Witnesses that have seen L’Enfant’s ghost state he appears depressed. He is described as small in statue and is seen carrying a roll of parchment under one arm. He is observed in the Capitol's basement pacing the floor and shaking his head.

Another well-known ghost is that of President Ulysses S. Grant’s vice president Henry Wilson. 

Spas or baths were imported from Italy and installed in the Capitol’s basement for the congressmen to use. It is said that Wilson was overly fond of these tubs. 

In November of 1875 Wilson caught a respiratory infection after bathing. His ghost is heard coughing and sneezing in the corridor that heads to the vice president’s office. He is also seen returning from the basement spa wrapped in towels.

One guard reported that one night as he guarded the coffin of a Tennessee Senator that was laying in state that he was shocked to see Vice President Wilson approach him and then just vanish. 

Yet another ghost that vanishes is a man that several guards have seen late at night beneath the hall of the House of Representatives. This figure stands erect, has a large mustache and always has his hands clasped behind its back. Guards have even approached this figure thinking he was an intruder only to see him quickly fade away.

The list continues. 

Another ghost that is seen is of a man who while working on top of a scaffolding in 1860 fell off and was killed. He is seen walking the corridor near where he died. 

In 1881 President James Garfield was shot and killed. His assassin, Charles Guiteau is seen on a stairway leading to the basement. 

One more late night ghost that is observed on a regular basis at 12:30 P. M. is General Logan. The guards recognize his long hair, military stance, and the hat he always wore while alive. He is seen silently opening the door to the room that once housed the Committee on Military and Militia on the senate side of the building.

On the marble stairs that lead to the House Gallery there is a stain that will not come out—even though it has been cleaned countless times. 

This stain is the blood of William Taulbee, a former congressman from Kentucky who in 1890 got in a fight with a newspaper reporter, Charles Kincaid. It is said the two argued over some negative articles that Kincaid had published about Taulbee. Kincaid pulled out a gun and shot and killed Taulbee. 

Legend states that whenever a reporter trips on these stairs it is the ghost of William Taulbee taking revenge.

*  John Quincy Adams is unique in that he served eight terms in the U.S. House of Representatives after he was president.

Screaming Skulls

The myths surrounding Screaming Skulls are almost always connected to stately homes in England. These skulls, which are believed to contain a spirit, are still kept within these homes because it is believed that if they are removed it will result in a relentless haunting. 

Over the years not many investigations have been done because most of the homes that own these skulls are privately owned and are not open to the public. So separation of truth from myth has not been established but nonetheless these haunted skulls and the folklore that surrounds them is intriguing.

Most Screaming Skull stories have several elements in common. 

It is often stated that these skulls were discovered somewhere hidden in these homes and that they are the remains of a person who directly wished to be buried there. But it is these last wishes that cause the hauntings—for if these skulls are removed from the home and given a proper burial chaos ensues. 

This chaos includes strange noises, hauntings and even poltergeist activity if this deceased person’s last wishes are ignored. Early on, the people who encountered this activity tried to rid themselves of these skulls in a variety of ways. Some threw these skulls into lakes and rivers others tried to grind them up to get rid of them, others tried to burn them but it is stated that these skulls would reappear regardless of the method of destruction that was attempted.

Once these skulls were removed-- terrifying screams were heard along with other unnatural loud grunts and groans until finally these skulls were physically retrieved and placed back within the house. 

Because of this many of these skulls are kept in a prominent place in these homes—at the top of the stairs, on a ceiling beam or on a centrally located table. Some are even kept in glass cases. All in an attempt to show these spirits that their last wishes have been respected.

These stories often recount that these homes experienced bad luck when these skulls were removed. It is stated that terrible storms occurred, crops failed, livestock died or even family members died as a result of these skulls being removed. 

In contrast it is believed that if these skulls are left alone they actually bring good luck to the home and the family that resides within. Hence the prominent position they are given in most of these homes so they can rest in peace.

Screaming Skull stories are all relatively recent in English history. Most date from the middle of the 16^th century. One famous story surrounds the Bettiscombe Manor located in the village of Bettiscombe in Dorset, England.

This story involves a man, Azaniah Pinney whose involvement in the English Civil War, he supported the Duke of Monmouth, caused his banishment to the West Indies in 1685. 

While in the West Indies he became a successful businessman so when he returned to Bettiscombe Manor in England he was a wealthy man. He brought back with him an African slave. This slaves’ existence was one of misery and the legend states he died as a result of foul play. It is not known if he murdered someone or someone murdered him.

As this slave lay dying he announced that his spirit would not rest in peace until his body was taken back to his homeland. Pinney, contrary to his slave’s last wish had his body buried in a local churchyard. Soon after his spirit started to haunt in protest. Screams were heard coming from the grave and strange noises were heard within the house.

This continued until Pinney was forced to have the corpse dug up at which point it is said that he stored the body within the manor's attic. When several more attempts were made to rebury the body the screaming would always start up again. 

At some point during this process the body was lost and only the skull remained. The skull was then thrown into a nearby pond but the noises became so unbearable the skull was retrieved and it has been at Bettiscombe Manor ever since.

This story has been debunked in more recent times. It was discovered that this skull probably is that of a female and is much older than what was originally thought. Despite this the Bettiscombe Skull is still kept for good luck. It is kept in a box in a bureau drawer. In future posts I will share other Screaming Skull stories.

The Toys ‘R’ Us Ghost

This haunted toy store is located in Sunnyvale, California. I investigated it briefly in the early1980s when I visited my aunt, who lived in, Sunnyvale. 

The activity in this store, for the most part, is humorous. But some of the former employees who had never experienced a haunting before, found it to be terrifying. Most of the activity seen in this store, involves toys being manipulated.

Several people who have investigated the history of the land, that this store sits upon, believe the ghost that causes all the uproar is a farmhand, who worked on the Martin Murphy farm in the early 1880s. 

This farmhand, Jon or Johan Johnson, had the misfortune to fall in love with Murphy’s daughter, Elizabeth. But Beth loved another man, an eastern lawyer, who she ran off with. 

It seems Johnson, who was distraught at losing his love, became distracted as he chopped down a tree, on the farm. According to newspaper accounts written about this accident, his ax slipped and either cut into his leg or neck—at which point he bled to death.

The activity in this store occurs --on the main floor, in the stockroom, and in the upstairs offices. 

The activity occurs regularly, and this location has a history of losing many managers—they either quit or request transfers. Other employees stay for short periods and then leave. 

But this ghost has never hurt anyone and is actually considered fun-loving by several of the witnesses. It appears he enjoys playing tricks.

Several employees mentioned that he likes to call out people’s names as they work in the stockroom—when they look around, they discover they are alone. 

Other workers state that their hair was touched, or that they felt an icy breeze go by. 

One long-time employee described the day she saw this ghost.

“He was in his 20s or 30s, he wore boots, a long-sleeved white shirt, and on his head was an old-fashioned grey snap-brim cap. He walked right past me.”

She went on to state that later that same day, she heard what sounded like horses galloping past her. It is known that one of Johnson’s jobs, on the farm, was to exercise the horses.

This is reported as being
an IR photo of Johnson
taken in the store.

Witnesses state he likes to play with them. Late one evening after the store had closed two men were waxing the floors. 

To their consternation, a large teddy bear would appear on the floor each time they started on a new aisle. They stated that this was the same teddy bear that they had moved out of the way several times. 

One aisle on the main floor is known to have the scent of fresh-picked flowers. No one has ever discovered the reason for this. 

Contracted employees have also reported that they saw random toys leap off the shelves, without cause. After this, they refused to work at this location again.

Lights flicker on and off, and female customers and employees, state they refuse to use the women’s restroom. They report hearing someone enter and turn on all the faucets, but when they left the stalls, no one was in the restroom with them. 

Cash registers in the store have also acted strange. Sometimes when only one item is rung up, the total amount on the screen is several hundred dollars.

After I visited this store, it was publicized that several people were bought in to help get rid of the ghost because the store was having trouble retaining employees. But in the late 1990s, activity was still being reported.

The following video highlights this story. When part one ends just click on title of part two and it will start. At the end of this story, the real witnesses are interviewed.

Note: This store closed several years ago.

Crisis Apparitions

I have heard many stories about people who feel that they have experienced a crisis apparition. * 

Crisis apparitions are when recently deceased spirits come back to say goodbye to someone they had a close emotional tie with. 

Sometimes these encounters are described as disturbing or even chilling. But more often, they provide comfort to the grieving person who is left behind. 

Some people believe that Crisis Apparitions are actually guardian angels sent back to comfort the grieving.

Bonnie McEneaney wrote a book entitled Messages, where she tells the stories of many people who lost loved ones on September 11^th. 

Many of these accounts are good examples of how people experience crisis apparitions. McEneaney’s book is fascinating.

Here is one of her stories that reflects an encounter with a crisis apparition.

Deidra had bought a small Mom and Pop shop on the main street of the small Midwestern town where she grew up. She loved the rural community, where she knew her customers well.

She and Sam had known each other since first grade. In recent months Sam had been visiting her shop more often. Deidra lent a sympatric ear as Sam let off steam about his divorce and the custody battle for his kids.

Sam’s wife had left him the year before--leaving town with their children and Sam’s younger brother, to the delight of the town’s vicious gossips. He had gotten in the habit of swinging by her shop after work. 

The two old friends would often grab a bite to eat before Deidra headed home. One chilly winter afternoon, as Deidra was closing the shop, she spotted Sam standing outside.

As she approached, he turned to her with a broad grin, it was the smile she remembered from their childhood. Deidra was relieved because Sam had learned recently that he had lost his custody battle, and she was concerned about his mental state. 

As she locked the shop’s front door, Sam stated that he could not stay long. “I just wanted to thank you for all the support you have given me recently. I really do appreciate it.” 

He then shooed her home stating it was too cold for such a good friend to be outside.

The following morning Deidra received an alarming phone call from her minister. It seems that Sam’s body had been found early the day before at his farm. He had committed suicide. 

Deidra dropped the phone in shock. How could that be? She had seen and talked to him eight hours later, at the entrance to her shop. When she had time to adjust, she realized that Sam had come back to say goodbye.

Not all crisis apparition encounters involve the appearance of a deceased person. The following story is one example.

It was the early 1970s, Clara was in love with a great guy. Tom had a wonderful sense of humor, and he was such a friendly person, people naturally gravitated to him. 

He also was generous to a fault, but to Clara’s frustration, this meant that sometimes people took advantage of him. The two became engaged and decided to move in together.

Clara wanted to tell her mother the good news in person, so she left for a long weekend to visit her parent's home. 

The phone rang well after midnight waking the household up. 

Her mother answered and then passed the phone to Clara. There was so much static on the line Clara could barely hear, she realized it was Tom’s voice. She listened carefully to catch his words,

“Sweetheart, I just wanted you to know that I will always love you. Take care of…”

The rest of his words were lost in the static, that took over the line, and then the phone went dead. Worried, Clara tried several times to call him back, but he didn’t answer. When she woke up the next morning, she couldn’t shake a strong sense of dread. 

She tried calling Tom again, but still there was no answer. Later that afternoon, she was so concerned that she announced to her mom that she was leaving.

Her mom caught her as she was getting into her car. There was a phone call for her. She rushed into the house, thinking it must be Tom. 

But it was Tom’s mother. She told Clara that he had been murdered the night before around midnight. The police believed he had given a stranger a lift, had been shot in the head and died instantly. 

For many years Clara tried to rationalize Tom's phone call, but today she states that it was Tom's way of letting her know how much he cared.

*  Crisis Apparition is one category ghosts are grouped within.

Encounters with Deceased Loved Ones

There are countless stories that reflect the fact that people experience a loved one or friend that returns after death, in a variety of ways, to reassure or comfort the people they have left behind. These experiences happen more often then is acknowledged. Each of these stories is unique but they all have one thing in common—the people who have experienced this phenomenon believe they were real and not imagined.

Skeptics on the other hand are quick to debunk these experiences stating they are just wishful thinking. Another ‘theory' put forth is that the real cause of these experiences is just people's brains tricking them. In other words when humans grieve they are in such a heightened emotional state they are not thinking rationally. Another theory along this same line is that this heightened mournful state causes people to associate everyday things with their lost loved ones-- so they interpret what they see, hear etc. incorrectly. An example of this is when people smell a deceased ones favorite scent and then conclude their deceased loved one visited them.

The reasons I listed above and the countless others put forth by skeptics have not been scientifically proven. The reason for this is these instances of paranormal activity are as hard to debunk, as they are to prove. I stated in another post that the scientific method and the paranormal realm do not have much in common therefore to use the one (scientific) to disprove the other (paranormal) is ludicrous. It must be noted here that a large majority of people who report these encounters with a deceased loved one state they did not believe in ghosts beforehand.

Celtic Triple Spiral
symbol of afterlife.

Another controversy that always arises when these stories are shared is centered on this question-- do these encounters mean that there really is an afterlife. There is no definitive answer for this question but despite this fact many people around the world believe there is an afterlife and they also believe in the following—that the bond between loved ones and their deceased relatives or friends is not erased at death. I believe this as well. In future posts I will share a variety of these stories—they are all compelling. One thing I do know for sure is this kind of encounter does provide comfort. The following story is mine.

I lost my mother to breast cancer when I was young. I was the youngest child in my family and I still lived at home when my mother passed. My father, a very strong man to his credit took over the maternal role in my life. Knowing I had his unconditional love during this period in my life helped me adjust to my mother’s death. For years after this I naively felt that since I had survived my mother’s death at a young age that when my father passed it would be easier for me to deal with.

Many years later my father took ill and slowly went downhill. My family had a hospital bed placed in his bedroom because his wish was to die at home. One evening I stood at my father’s side and held his hand. After months of struggle and suffering I watched as he drifted in and out of consciousness. Knowing he was a fighter and would continue to struggle I summoned the strength within myself to reassure my father that everyone in the family was fine and that it was okay for him to let go.

The following morning around 3:00 a.m., I received a call from my stepmom informing me my father had passed. I spent the next hour calling my siblings. By the time I got off the phone I was numb. I laid down knowing I would need the rest for the following days. I stared at the ceiling trying to keep my thoughts on the joyous times I had spent with my father. 

I turned on my side and flung my arm out to the edge of the bed. From the time I was little I had always loved my fathers large strong hands—they brushed my hair and put it up in ponytails, they built my favorite bookshelves, they cooked the best meals I have ever eaten. Now I was stunned to see these familiar hands reach out and take my hand. I felt my father’s hands squeeze mine and then they slowly faded away. A great sense of peace came over me and I was able to fall asleep.