Alfred Hitchcock’s Haunted Schoolhouse

A scene from Alfred Hitchcock's', "The Birds."

In an iconic scene in the Alfred Hitchcock’s 1962 film, The Birds terrorized school children run away from their schoolhouse as crows chase and attack them.

The ominous building used in this scene, located in Bodega, California, was actually used as a schoolhouse for 86 years.

The Birds cast and crew, all felt there was something strange about this old building—several even refused to re-enter the old Potter Schoolhouse where they were filming in one of the classrooms. They felt something unseen had watched them.

As it turns out, their gut feelings were right. For this building is haunted by a variety of ghosts.

Bodega was a thriving mill town in 1873 when this school was constructed out of virgin redwood and named after Samuel Potter who donated the land. The school had two classrooms downstairs and a big community hall upstairs.

But as the years passed, the lumber mills closed down, and by 1959, the school closed.

Hitchcock rented the property in 1961, from a private owner who was about to have the abandoned school dismantled so he could sell its’ lumber for profit.

Potter schoolhouse today.

In 1966, Tom and Mary Taylor, both teachers bought the 6000-square–foot building, for $10,500. They and their children spent the next two years restoring the old school.

Today, the classrooms are a guest suite and a second family room. Upstairs is another living room, dining room, and bedrooms.

Leah Taylor, their daughter, states that as soon as they began work, the family experienced weird and frightening activity.

Leah Taylor in one classroom. She had crows
stenciled along the wall. Notice the film posters.

The first morning they spent in the house, they were all in sleeping bags on the second floor, when the whole family heard someone scream, ”it’s Sunday Morning.”

Over the months and years, they continued to hear strange sounds.

Sometimes it was a large group of people all talking at once. Other times, it is a crowd of people who sounded as if they were enjoying a rowdy party.

Renovated room.

The family also heard the sounds of children’s footsteps and laughter.

The Taylor's nicknamed one of the younger ghosts “Tricky Tom” for this spirit would stick its wet finger in their ears.

Leah Taylor and her husband, Rick Williams still live in the home. They both have seen apparitions.

She mentions that most of the spirits remind of her of “heat shimmering off the hot pavement in the summer.” They move quickly across the rooms, diminishing in size.

The ghost of a woman, dressed in Victorian clothing, has been photographed in the home.

Clavin Keithly stands in the
center with students, outside
schoolhouse.

A tourist taking pictures in front of the house captured the image of a man standing at one of the second story windows. The man in this picture looks just like Calvin Keithly, who was a teacher at the school in the early 1900s.

Taylor recounts one sighting that startled her. She spotted the apparition of a small girl levitating in the doorway that leads to the kitchen. This child offered her a resounding, “Hi.”

Taylor does open her home for special events, but the tourists that approach the house regularly often overwhelm her and her husband. Her son does not want to live in the home because of this.

They have had to build a fence around the property and they rarely go out in their front yard--to avoid tourist's questions.

The Office of Scientific Investigations and Research declared the Potter Schoolhouse an official haunted place in 1997.

Haunted NASA Launch Site

On the morning of January 27, 1967, three astronauts, Gus Grisson, Ed White, and Roger Chaffee, were sitting in the Apollo 1 capsule for a pre-launch flight test at Cape Canaveral, Florida.

Gus Grisson, right, Ed White center, Roger Chaffee left.
Science Society Picture Library via Getty Images

A faulty wire caught fire under Command Pilot’s Grisson’s seat. This fire, because of the “pure oxygen” in the cabin spread quickly. The crew was trapped and could not escape—killing all three men. It was just two weeks before they were scheduled to blast off.

This tragic accident led NASA to make significant design changes, which made Apollo spacecraft’s safer for future journeys to the moon.

Launch Complex-34 abandoned.

Launch Complex-34, near the Atlantic Ocean, where this accident happened was shut down a year after this accident in 1968.

All that remains at this site today, 52 years later, is a concrete launch platform and rusted steel—a grim reminder of this ill-fated day. 

But some believe that something else remains at this site--the spirits of these three astronauts.

NASA refuses to officially acknowledge this haunting but soon after this site was closed down they no longer allowed their tour buses to drive past this launch pad.

They also no longer allow people to visit Complex-34 because of what they state are “unusual occurrences.” There is one exception to this rule—they have let paranormal teams in to investigate the area.

The cause for all this secrecy is because visitors and space coast workers state the area is haunted.

Plaque to honor the three
lost astronauts.

Two plaques and three granite benches were placed at the launch site as a memorial to these fallen astronauts. It is here where people have heard agonizing screams.

A former security guard claims every time he patrolled the area at night, he would get an eerie feeling. He never mentioned this to his bosses feeling they would think he was crazy.

But countless others have also reported feelings of sadness, dread, and even fear overtook them while visiting Complex-34.

There are reports that witnesses have seen “floating apparitions” near the launch pad.

More specifics about this and paranormal team findings can be found in the book by Joanne Austin entitled, Weird Haunting: True Tales of Ghostly Places.

Fort Leavenworth

This fort is located in Leavenworth, Kansas near Kansas City’s airport. According to the military magazine Soldiers Fort Leavenworth is the Army’s most haunted base.

Fort Leavenworth, 1873

This fort was built in 1827. It was first used to protect travelers along the Santa Fe Trail. Its military units were involved in the Mexican-American war and the Indian wars.

The famous Buffalo Soldiers originated at Fort Leavenworth. But the fort became known for its notorious military prison—the old Disciplinary Barracks.

Disciplinary Barracks

Parts of this prison were torn down in 2004 but several buildings still stand including the guard towers.

A fort volunteer involved in haunted tours, Lessu Wojtkum states that almost every building on the base has a ghost story connected to it.

During World War ll a prison riot broke out. Afterwards, 14 men were hanged as punishment. The gallows didn’t have enough space so an elevator shaft in the prison administration building was also used.

Since, military police who patrol this area have heard screaming coming from this shaft when no on is close by.

Tower 8

An eerie story is told about one of the old watchtowers. Tower 8 was closed and never used again after a soldier killed himself with a shotgun there. Several witnesses have seen an apparition in this tower.

One sighting involves a soldier going through basic training in the late 1990s. He was assigned the swing shift in Tower 10. He saw a person moving about in Tower 8. Knowing no one was supposed to be in there he felt some one was playing a prank.

He called his command and stated, “Knock it off.” He was told the tower was abandoned and locked. Thinking his mind was playing tricks he eliminated several possibilities—it wasn’t a tree limb or a trick of the light—no it was definitely a person.

He called control again. This time the radio was handed to the commander of the new prison who happened to be there. The MP told him “I see someone in there. Who’s in Tower 8?” The commander told him firmly no one was there.

The soldier continued to see the figure moving about so he thought maybe it was Tower 7 playing the prank but he received a negative response. At the end of his shift his relief told him the story about the guard’s suicide.

This soldier told him in stride that what he saw was a ghost.

Leavenworth cemetery

The most famous ghost seen at Fort Leavenworth is Catherine Sutler. I tell this story here. Catherine’s ghost is seen at night wandering around with a lantern at the fort’s cemetery and on the adjacent golf course.

This story over the years has been embellished so much it has become legendary. Tragically, it is believed Catherine is still looking for her two lost children.

People are told if they encounter her ghost that they should tell her that her children are safe and she can rest.

The Rookery

The Rookery is the oldest occupied home on the base. Since the early 1900s it has been used as a family residence.

One ghost seen at this location is more aggressive. The story goes a lady was at the post while her husband was out on a cavalry patrol. Indians attacked the fort and this wife was tortured and killed.

She is known as the Lady in White since she wears a white dress. She has grey tangled hair. Witnesses who have encountered her state she screamed and then ran after them.

Carlos Munoz and his family once lived on one side of the Rookery duplex. One day while driving back from Fort Scott his wife startled him when she exclaimed, “Oh, my God.”

He looked around expecting to see something blocking their car. His wife was waving a book she had bought in his face. “This is who I saw in the basement.”

It was a picture of Major Ogden. He oversaw the construction of Fort Riley in 1853. While quartermaster he lived at the Rookery. He died during a cholera outbreak.

Mr. Munoz’s wife had seen his apparition. She stated he wore a western-style shirt and vest and rough cloth pants. Munoz and his children later saw this apparition as well.

While living at the Rookery the Munoz family also heard constant noises. Mr. Munoz was able to debunk some sounds others remained a mystery. By the time the family moved out he was convinced the building was haunted.

Before they left he called in a paranormal team that intended to stay the night. This team left after only 2 hours. They told Munoz that four ghosts were in residence and that Ogden had told them arrogantly to “get out.”

Abandoned Mortuary

In the town of Coventry, Rhode Island sits an abandoned building on Washington Street. This building has been empty for decades, but it is still rented out occasionally.

Old funeral home.

In recent years, Thomas D’Agontino’s band rented the building to use as a makeshift recording studio. Afterward, they regretted their decision.

The band knew the building’s history included the fact it was used for Gorton’s Funeral Home for several years, but they didn't give this a second thought. They did not expect to encounter anything unusual but what they experienced shocked them.

At first, they noticed loud banging sounds, this was disturbing enough on its own, but before long they began to see things that frightened them.

Every band member witnessed several apparitions. One of these ghosts was a tall man wearing traditional baggy clothing. They saw this ghost walk right through walls.

Another ghost they saw on several occasions was a small man that wore glasses. They identified this man from a portrait that was left in the building. He was an undertaker when the building had been a funeral home.

This ghost would close the double doors in a room they used for rehearsals. They realized this space must have been used at one time as an embalming room.

Once this small man ushered them in, he would just vanish into thin air.

D’Agostina states that the creepiest activity they encountered was a woman’s mournful cries. As the band entered the studio one day, they heard the doors boom shut behind them. Then as they recorded a song they heard these booms again.

Curious to see if they picked up these sounds on their recording they played it back. Sure enough, they heard the booms, but then they also listened to a woman's moans. She then began to scream and shriek.

D’Agaostina admits these sounds sent shivers up his spine.

One night as three of the band members were in the basement they heard a female’s screams again. They seemed to be coming from the top floor. They were so loud the band members could hear them throughout the building.

Mustering their courage, they went up to the 3^rd floor to investigate. When the band members switched on the lights to the large room on this floor, the noises immediately stopped.

It is said the locals stay clear of this abandoned funeral home. Witnesses state they have seen lights flicker on and off and several have seen dark entities moving around the building. 

The Crescent Hotel’s Ghosts Part ll

In The Crescent Hotel’s Quack Doctor Part I, I share the history of this hotel and the story of the quack doctor who bilked cancer patients out of millions of dollars. 

Sightings of this fake doctor's ghost and a nurse that worked for him are both seen at this fully restored hotel located in Eureka Springs, Arkansas.

There are many other ghosts seen at this hotel.

One apparition seen is that of a red-haired stonemason that the staff at the hotel calls, Michael. This ghost is said to be one of the original craftsmen who built the hotel in 1885. While working on the roof, Michael lost his footing and slipped. He fell to the second floor and was instantly killed.

Today the spot where he fell is Room# 218. This room is one of the active areas in the hotel. Michael is known to turn the room’s lights and television on and off, he also opens and closes the door. Loud knocks are also heard in this area.

One guest saw hands come out of the bathroom mirror, while others have heard the sounds of cries and someone falling from above. Other guests have been shaken awake by unseen hands. A frightened guest was seen running from the room quickly when he was later questioned he stated that he had seen blood on the walls in the room.

The Crystal Dining Room, a large 500-seat room in the hotel is very active. Over the years, many guests and staff have spotted ghosts wearing Victorian style clothing. These apparitions are seen dancing and socializing with others.

One 19^th century man is seen sitting at a table near a window. He has told witnesses that have approached him, “I saw the most beautiful woman here last night, and I am waiting for her to return.” This man is believed to be the ghost of a Dr. John Freemont Ellis who visited the hotel often during its glory days in the late 1800s.

One waitress working in this dining room spotted the image of a bride and groom in the room’s large mirror. When she turned, they were not there. She stated that the groom made eye contact with her, but when she looked again, his image just faded away.

The ghosts in the Crystal Room, like to move items. One Christmas, the staff, returned to the dining room to find that the Christmas Tree and wrapped packages that were placed under it had been moved to the other side of the room. Many of the chairs in the dining room had also been moved. They were found placed in a circle around this Christmas tree.

Yet another time the staff discovered all the dinner menus that had been left neatly stacked, the previous night were now scattered throughout the room.

In the dining room’s kitchen, a ghost of a young boy is seen skipping around. Pots and pans in this area are often found off their hooks without explanation.

Between 1908-1924, the old hotel was used for a woman’s college. One young student either was pushed or jumped to her death off a balcony.  Guests at the hotel today state they have heard her screams as she falls.

Another Victorian dressed gentleman is seen wearing a top hat near the bottom of the stairs in the hotel lobby. He has a full beard and mustache. His ghost is also seen sitting in the hotel’s bar area. When people attempt to talk to him, he doesn’t respond--instead, he just fades away.

One last ghost sighting is a waiter who is seen by guests carrying a tray of butter as he walks through the hotel’s hallways.

The Syfy show Ghost Hunters did an investigation of this hotel in 2005. They caught an image of a man on their thermal imaging camera. Here is one frame of what they captured.

New Mexico: The Ghosts of Glorieta Pass

The Pigeon Ranch, once a stage stop on the Santa Fe Trail, can be found nestled in a circular valley surrounded by steep mountains. The Spanish conquistadors named these mountains Sangre de Cristo, Spanish for “blood of Christ.” 

In the spring of 1862, these mountains and valley were the site for a decisive Civil War battle. Blood was shed as Americans fought Americans near this Ranch.

Historians have called the Battle of Glorieta Pass the “The Gettysburg of the West.” This battle represented the high water mark for a bold Confederate offensive into Union Territory on the western frontier. 

Here determined volunteers from Colorado clashed with tough Texans intent upon conquering New Mexico Territory. Victory for the Confederacy would mean the prelude to detaching the western states from the Union and expanding the Confederacy all the way to the Pacific Ocean.

This running battle was fought in Apache Canyon, Glorieta Pass, and at the Pigeon Ranch. It lasted for three days, from March 26-28. It culminated in the retreat back to Texas of the invading Confederate forces. 

Glorieta Pass was a turning point in the Civil War because it shattered the Confederates’ dream of expanding to the west. Many died in this valley and along the ridges that overlook it. Today Civil War re-enactors often report seeing apparitions at Pigeon’s Ranch and in Apache Canyon.

One ghost legend connected to the Battle of Glorieta Pass is about a man named Johnny “Ranger” McCoy. He and two other Confederate soldiers were sent to kill three Union lookout sentries, at crucial points along the rugged terrain, which would assist a planned Confederate ambush the next day. 

The first two Confederates killed their sentries but Johnny, an abolitionist at heart, crossed enemy lines and alerted the Union sentry of the Confederate’s position and plans. The Union thwarted the ambush at dawn and demolished the Confederate forces.

Upon discovering McCoy’s betrayal, supposedly the Confederacy sent a posse out to hang him. But it was too late. They found him swinging from a rope dead. It is speculated that a Union patrol got there first and did their job for them. Other stories state he hung himself having seen all his fellow soldiers die because of his betrayal.

It is said Johnny appears once a year on the mountain where he was found. Some say he returns to beg forgiveness, others state he is seeking revenge. Over the years, mysterious disappearances and suicides have occurred in this area--some feel they are somehow connected to this haunting.