Blood Stained Crypt

St. Luke's and
Craigmile's crypt.

Behind St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Cleveland, Tennessee, sits the Craigmiles family mausoleum.

This crypt is known because mysterious red streaks appear on its white Italian marble surface.

These stains have often been cleaned, but they continue to appear. This has attracted quite a bit of attention over the years.

John Henderson Craigmiles made his fortune in the shipping business—he sold food and other materials to both sides during the Civil War.

In 1860, he married Adelia Thompson, the daughter of a local doctor. In August of 1864, the couple’s first daughter, Nina, was born.

Nina was a beloved child, spoiled by all. She was Dr. Thompson’s favorite grandchild. The two were often seen rapidly traveling around in the doctor’s buggy as he did his medical rounds.

The doctor even let the seven-year-old Nina sometimes take the reins—they both liked to whip the horse to go faster.

Tragically, on St. Luke’s Day-August 18, 1871-the doctor steered his buggy in front of an oncoming train. He was thrown clear, but little Nina was killed.

The family still grief-stricken by their loss-- 3 years later had St. Luke’s church built downtown to honor Nina’s memory—this building was completed on the anniversary of her death.

The family then had a beautiful white Italian marble mausoleum built behind this church.

This crypt has four feet thick walls and a spire that is topped by a cross that is thirty-seven feet off the ground. Nina’s remains were moved to a marble sarcophagus in the center. Six shelves were built along the walls to await other deceased family members.

Soon after Nina was placed in this crypt the bloodstains first appeared.

John and Adelia experienced another loss—their newborn infant son died. He was placed in the family crypt. The stain darkened in color.

Nina's sarcophagus.

Soon after, in 1899, John died of blood poisoning—a euphemism for a bad infection that enters the blood—after he fell on an icy street. The stain on the arch darkened once more.

In 1928, while crossing Cleveland Street Adelia was struck by a car and killed. Locals by now had washed off these stains on the mausoleum wall repeatedly, but they appeared again—even darker.

It has been determined that vandalism is not the cause for these stains. A more recent chemical analysis—defied the experts--it did not show what these stains are or why they appear—so they remain an intriguing mystery.

Bloodstains on the crypt.
Click to enlarge,

A legend states they appear because Nina is “crying tears of blood over the deaths of those she loves.”

The Craigmiles family also commissioned a sculpted bust of Nina out of white Italian marble. They intended to place this bust in an alcove in St. Luke’s called Nina’s Niche.

But the sculptor shipped this bust on the HMS Titanic so this alcove is traditionally filled with flowers instead.

This church also has a connection to Tennessee Williams. His grandfather was a rector at St. Luke’s, and the playwright spend his childhood summers there.

The town of Cleveland is located in southeastern Tennessee. It is just north of Chattanooga.

Cleveland’s Grays Armory

Grays Armory

It is said this huge sandstone castle located in downtown Cleveland, Ohio has some friendly ghosts.

Cleveland like many cities in the mid 1800s had their own militia. They were known as the “Cleveland Grays” after the gray uniforms they wore.

This unit was the first group from Cleveland to fight in the Civil War. They also fought in the Spanish American War and during the First World War with the 145^th Infantry in 1916.

Grays Amory is an impressive fortress that is located across from the Erie Street Cemetery. It is not known if this cemetery has something to do with the hauntings.

The armory has a 10,000 square foot ballroom, a library and a shooting range in its basement. It is used for both military and community functions.

Photo by Ron Skinner

My stepmother lived in Shaker Heights for many years. She attended several concerts held at the armory. She mentioned that once she got an overwhelming sense of nausea while visiting this building.

On another occasion she became uneasy. She told me that it felt like something was watching her.

Photo By Ron Skinner

Typical stories about the haunting in this fortress include phantom footsteps when the building is empty and lights acting up. 

Other reports state witnesses have seen the apparitions of Civil War soldiers at Grays.

Cleveland: The Flat Iron

The Flat Iron first served the
"Irish Ghetto" located along
the west bank.

The Flat Iron Café sits in the heart of the renovated Cleveland Flats area. It is northeast Ohio’s oldest Irish pub.

This cafe first opened in 1910. Its cliental were the Irish community that lived and worked along the Cuyahoga River.

Initially, the first floor in this building was a blacksmith’s shop, and most likely this is where the café got its name--Flat Iron. The second floor was used as lodging for sailors and longshoremen that worked on the various lakes.

Bending a flat iron.

This building opened its doors in the late 1800s. It originally had four stories, but a fire took the top two floors.

One legend states, “a lady of the evening” was smoking a cigarette on the 4^th floor when she fell asleep. Her cigarette started the fire, and she burned to death.

The Flat Iron Café still serves locals and tourists traditional Irish fare. They also present lively music on Fridays.

But many visit the pub for another reason--it is haunted.

A Blood-Curdling Scream

Irene is the name of the prostitute that caused the fire. Her spirit is believed to linger in the building.

Irene is heard occasionally. She lets out a chillin' scream. The manager at the pub listened to this blood-curdling sound recently as she worked upstairs.

When she went downstairs to investigate all she discovered was a barmaid sweeping.

A group that toured the building encountered Irene. One member of this group announced as they walked up the stairs, that she was “not feeling well.” The guide asked someone to take her hand.

She then announced someone was holding her hand, but no one was next to her. Another tourist snapped a photograph.

In this picture is a skeletal hand covering her hand--in a comforting gesture.

Dimes

Several Irish families over the years have owned this pub. When the latest owners took over, they were warned about the ghostly activity.

One staff member, who is often in the pub alone at night cleaning up has had several strange encounters.

He states when he is in the bar area, he often hears loud bangs coming from the kitchen. When he enters this room, he finds items strewn across the floor.

Another strange story about this pub involves dimes.

Piles of dimes are found around the pub. They are found on the counter, lying on the jukebox and on the restroom floors.

What is unusual is when they are found no other change--nickels, quarters and pennies are found with them.

At the end of every month, the staff has a pile of at least 40 dimes.