Grandpa’s Ghost

There are many stories of how people have used creative ways to get rid of a ghost haunting their home but the following story from Hobart, Indiana is one of the most unique.

After Mary Anderson’s father died her 6-year old son Collin began to act differently. He would follow his mother from room to room—apparently now afraid of his own home.

Anderson family with their grandfather.

He appeared terrified and refused to even go to the bathroom alone. Mary discovered that Collin believed his deceased grandfather's ghost was haunting their home.

He told his mother he had seen his grandpa's figure on several occasions—he explained to her he stayed close to her afraid he would see his grandpa's ghost again.

Collin would even sit outside the bathroom door the whole time his mother bathed. Mary perplexed, wondered what she could do to alleviate his fears.

She tried to convince her son at one point that he should not worry for his grandfather would eventually just leave their home.

As it turned out Collin himself came up with the solution to his problem. One day he innocently suggested to his mother she should sell his grandfather on eBay.

Mary did some research and found that eBay does not allow people to sell intangible items where delivery cannot be confirmed. This is when she came up with an unique idea.

She possessed her father’s cane. While alive he had never been separated from his favorite walking stick.

In order to ease Collin’s fears Mary proceeded to post her father’s cane on eBay in a 7-day sale. Her only request was that the buyer should send a letter to Collin stating that they had received the cane as well as his grandfather and that both were doing well.

To Mary’s surprise the cane with her father’s ghost connected to it generated 137 bids. 

The various responses she received from bidders ranged from concern for Collin to one man wondering if she would offer a guarantee stating that he had other ghosts go bad before and he would not purchase without a warranty.

An online casino called the Golden Palace offered the winning bid for $65,000 on December 4, 2004.

This casino based out of Antigua wanted the cane with a ghost attached to it for they specialize in oddities. Another purchase they made in recent years is $25,000 for a grilled cheese sandwich displaying the image of the Virgin Mary.

When the requested letter was sent from the casino Mary framed it and hung it in Collin’s bedroom.

This creative solution worked, after this purchase Collin no longer saw his deceased grandfather.

Haunted Hannah House

“The House that reeks of death . . .”

Hannah House

This old house is located on the southern part of Madison Avenue in Indianapolis, Indiana. Witnesses state the home’s history has left it haunted.

Alexander Hannah built this grand 24-room house in 1858.

Hannah was born a Quaker and the son of the president of the Indiana Central Railroad first trained as a harness maker. He left this business to seek his fortune as a prospector in the Californian gold fields. He earned enough money to become part owner of a ranch.

He returned to Indianapolis in 1850. He worked for his father, Samuel Hannah and bought 240 acres south of the city where he began construction on his dream home at the age of 37.

The Hannah House is a 2-story redbrick structure designed in the fashionable Italianate style with Greek revival influences.

Hannah became a progressive farmer who used all the latest scientific techniques. His community involvement included: being a sheriff, postmaster, and a member of the Indiana General Assembly.

In 1872, Hannah a confirmed bachelor for many years married Elizabeth Jackson. 

Upstairs bedroom.

Alexander and Elizabeth sadly were unable to have children. At one point Elizabeth miscarried. This baby is buried near the couple at their family plot. One legend states this stillborn baby haunts an upstairs room in the Hannah House where she was born.

Despite this tragedy the Hannah’s often entertained and kept busy with public events. He and his wife are believed to haunt their home.

One legend states Alexander Hannah’s most passionate activity was one he had to keep secret. He used Hannah house and its surrounding acreage as a stop on the Underground Railroad before the Civil War.

Records of this activity were obviously not kept but in more recent years partially collapsed tunnels have been discovered on the Hannah property—these could have been used to help escaping southern slaves made their way to Canada.

One story passed down through the family involved a rainy evening when a group of slaves were hidden in the home’s cellar. One of these slaves accidentally tripped over an oil land and set the room ablaze.

These slaves, unable to flee succumbed to the smoke and flames. Hannah’s servants buried their bodies in the dirt of the cellar floor so it would not be discovered the house was used as a “stop.”

Cellar's dirt floor.

Years later, many witnesses reported smelling burning flesh and decomposing bodies in the Hannah House.

Hannah Family marker.

Alexander Hannah died in 1895, and after Elizabeth died in 1888, the house lay empty for 4 years. A German immigrant, Roman Oehler, a jeweler, purchased the home along with 21 acres in 1899. His daughter’s family--named Elder-- lived in the house until 1962. The home still is owned by this family today.

During their time in the house, Mr. Elder heard a shelf containing canned fruit jars in the cellar crash down--till this day he cannot explain what caused the rack to fall.

For the next thirty years, the property lay mostly unused. A family by the name O’Brien rented the property in 1972 and ran an antique business for 10 years. They lived in the house upstairs for one year--but were then driven out by the activity--even though they kept the store open.

This family claimed to have experienced a variety of paranormal activity. They reported feeling cold spots and seeing fleeting apparitions.

They smelled foul smells including rotting corpses--in the bedroom upstairs where the Hannah baby was born. Despite attempts to clean this room the smell always returned.

The witnesses saw doors, and wall hangings move on their own. They saw a spoon fly off a coffee tray and hit the wall. These witnesses also stated they heard disembodied voices—which included whispering.

In 1978, the Hannah House was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. 

In 1980, the Southport Jaycees used the old house as a Haunted House for several years. Members of this group were often stumped by the fact that one chandelier downstairs would sway without any explainable reason. 

Several members stated that one afternoon before the Haunted attraction opened their sound system with their spooky music turned on, and then they heard footsteps enter the house, but no one was there.

One woman who drives into Indianapolis on her way to work passes the Hannah House--she states that she often sees an old man in period clothing standing on the lawn by the house waving at her.

Today Hannah House can be rented for special events--this is to raise funds to preserve it.

Paranormal groups and psychics that have investigated the home state having similar experiences to those listed above as well as hearing unexplained scratching sounds.

Indiana: Cry Baby Bridge

This story is told about an old bridge located on County Road 675 near Anderson, Indiana. Anderson is located in the middle of Indiana in Madison County.

Crybaby Bridge near
Anderson, Indiana.

It is said that at midnight, people for years have heard the sounds of a baby crying below this bridge. Some witnesses state that they hear the sounds of water splashing after the baby's cries.

One familiar backstory states a baby was thrown from the backseat after a car accident on this bridge. The impact killed it, and ever since, people have claimed to hear this baby crying.

Another story told in the late 1950s, states that a teenage unwed mother delivered her baby in the backseat of a car—she then threw it over the railing of this bridge.

This story becomes even darker when it mentions this baby did not land in the water but instead landed on a bank, where it was severely injured at impact.

Its cries horrified the mother, and she left in a panic. Several other cars passed, and they heard the screams, but they did not stop to investigate.

This baby finally died several hours later, from exposure and its injuries. When the body was found, the authorities could not identify it.

The mother's guilt drove her to return to the bridge several more times—each time she heard her baby’s cries.

This legend then caught on, and others began to claim they heard the baby crying as well.

This backstory has drawn many people to this bridge—be forewarned, the residents call the police if there is activity on this bridge late at night. This is because there has been considerable vandalism in the area.

Cry Baby Bridge stories are common in America. South Carolina has a bridge with a similar tale connected to it, like the one above.

On this blog, there are two other Cry Baby Bridge stories shared here and here. 

The Gypsies’ Cemetery

South East Grove Cemetery

South East Grove Cemetery is located in Indiana near the town of Crown Point. This old cemetery sits near a country road. 

There is a legend connected to this cemetery that has been told since the late 1800s.

It is said there was an injustice done here over 180 years ago, which resulted in the area being cursed. Others feel the strange activity experienced at South East Grove is because this small cemetery is haunted.

The most common story told involves a band of gypsies that were passing through the area in the 1820s. They stopped and camped on the land that was later used for the town cemetery.

Some of the townsfolk found the gypsies fortune-telling, and the jewelry they sold fascinating, but most of the locals were not welcoming. They were suspicious and felt these strangers were there to rob them.

The leader of the band was approached and ordered to gather his group and move on. But it was late fall, and before the band could pack up, several members were stricken by influenza.

When several members died, the gypsy leader approached the local doctor. But the residents were afraid the disease would spread, so the doctor refused his assistance.

Now angry, the gypsies did pack up, but it is said before they left the area they buried their dead on the land, and then cursed the town for being so unwelcoming.

Two Crown Point men checked out the Gypsy campsite after they left. They noticed several freshly dug graves. When they returned to town, they found blood on their shoes and on the bottom of their pants.

After this, a rumor began that the Gypsies cursed the area. This belief persisted, for when this small plot of land was later used for the local cemetery many nicknamed South East Grove-- The Gypsies’ Cemetery.

This rumor was kept alive in part because more witnesses claimed they found a sticky red substance on their shoes that appeared to be blood, after visiting this area.

Most residents of Crown Point today dismiss this old curse, but others feel regardless of whether there was a curse or not this cemetery is haunted.

One prevalent report is that strange lights are seen. It is said that a giant ball of light has followed cars after they left the cemetery. Other reports state this light also follows cars that just pass by.

Witnesses report feeling extreme cold spots while in this cemetery--even on warm days. People say that dogs will not enter the area--often barking incessantly.

One modern-day Gypsy family visited South East Grove, at night, recently. The father walked to the back of the cemetery, where the Gypsy graves are located. He then rushed back to the rest of his family and announced he wanted to leave.

He told them he had gotten the feeling something evil was watching him. He sat in their car until the rest of his family was ready to leave.

Mist forming a face, click to enlarge.

Others have backed up his statement. While visiting the cemetery, they felt as if someone was watching them the entire time they were there.

Witnesses have also reported seeing mists that slowly take on human forms.

Willard Library: The Grey Lady

Willard Library located in Evansville, Indiana is the oldest library in the state—as of this month it has been a continuous running library for 127 years. 

Willard Carpenter founded the library in 1885. The portrait of Willard’s daughter, Louise Carpenter, hangs in the library. It is her ghost some state, known as ‘The Grey Lady’, which haunts this old Victorian Gothic style building.

The first sighting of this ghost was recorded in the late 1930s. A custodian who worked in the building went to the basement around 3:00 a.m. to stoke the coal furnace. What he saw there startled him so that he dropped his flashlight. 

He stated he saw a lady dressed all in grey—from her shoes to her veil—as he entered the basement. Shocked, he saw her just “dissolve into the shadows.” Shortly after this, he quit.

Since this initial encounter, there have been numerous sightings of the Grey Lady. She is seen in the Children’s Room, and hallway in the basement, and on the second floor in the Special Collections/Archive department.

As well as witness accounts of this apparition, there are countless unexplained occurrences that have happened in the library. 

Many employees and patrons, over the years, have seen books fly off the shelves without cause. The Grey Lady announces her presence with cold spots, and with a distinct perfume aroma. She is known to be a prankster.

She likes to pull chairs out from under tables. An elevator either doesn’t move for passengers or moves up and down when no one is using it. Water taps in the basement restroom turn on and off, and footsteps are heard when no one is around. 

On many occasions visitors or staff, have felt their hair and earrings touched by an unseen hand. Items are moved around overnight, and other items appear the next morning that shouldn’t be in the library.

One newly hired employee sat in a chair during one packed staff meeting on the second floor, the area was so cold she had to get up and leave the room to warm up. 

When she returned she wondered why no one had taken her seat—only to discover later that day the chair was no longer in the room. She asked the director where the chair was and described it, he told her a chair of that description had never been in the library.

A group of visiting lecturers from the University of Southern Indiana State, saw the ghost as she “peered into the water.” 

A local news meteorologist while waiting for his camera crew to set up saw several books fly off the shelves near him on the second floor. 

A ghost investigator upon seeing the portrait of Louise commented that she wasn’t very attractive. This investigator felt so uncomfortable after this she had to leave the building.

One late night two police officers responded to a call that the library alarm was sounding. When they arrived one officer went into the building with the male director of the library, that had responded as well. As these two went inside, the younger cop stayed outside to inspect the grounds. When he looked up at a second-floor window he saw a woman standing inside, with a man standing behind her. 

When his partner and the director came back outside this officer asked if they had caught them. The two replied that no one was in the building. At which point they told the young officer that he must have seen the ghost. This officer admitted he had never heard of The Grey Lady.

When the Children’s Library was being renovated the librarian, Miss Margaret as she was affectionately known,* stated that the ghost of The Grey Lady followed her home on several occasions during this period. 

Because of all this activity the Willard Library has even set up 24/7 ghost cameras in several hot spots. The public can view the Children’s Room, basement hallway, and the Research Room. Just click on the links below.

* Miss Margaret has passed away. You can see a photo of Miss Margaret in an oval frame on the wall when you view the Children's Room.

The library has a new set up for their ghost cameras. Here is the link to where there are three different spots in the library that can be viewed. If you see something click on the video and you will capture a picture that you can then submit to have it shown on their web site.

This short video captured the "The Grey Lady". Look straight back between stacks on right, where the lady in grey standing--then as library visitor in front moves this tall lady bends down. The figure is bending down to the lower book shelf--as if looking for a book...