Lake Bomoseen’s Phantom Rowboat

Even the simplest unexplained activity can cause terror *, especially when the same sight is seen for over a century and a half.

Abandoned industrial site.

In the mid-1800s Castleton, Vermont was a booming mining town with several mills and a quarry.

By the early 1900s, the town had slid into a financial decline. Castleton by the early 1920s was abandoned.

In 1929, the area became Lake Bomoseen State Park. Years before this, the lake already had a firm reputation for being haunted.

Lake Bomoseen at sunset.

The cause for this was connected to three Irish quarry workers that lived in the area during its boom years.

One night, these three men rowed across the lake to visit a local tavern to celebrate and drink.

After they left this bar drunk, they were never seen again. It was believed they must have drowned in the lake, on their way home.

Their bodies were never found. But their rowboat was discovered several days later when it drifted ashore.

This incident would not be remembered today—except for the strange sight it caused.

One artist's depiction of the phantom rowboat.

Ever since the loss of these three men, witnesses have claimed to see a strange rowboat gliding across the lake—especially if there is a full moon.

The boat is described as empty and completely quiet.

People report seeing the oars rowing, but what is creepy, is they don’t see anyone in the boat. Even scarier is none of these witnesses heard a splash as the oars hit the water.

Also strange is there is no ripple on the surface of the water as the rowboat passes.

So are these three men doomed to row this boat for eternity?

*  People don’t need to experience a lot of activity for it to be frightening. 

When I was in high school, every time I was alone at home, a lamp in our den would turn on by itself. It never happened when others were there.

My family had it checked. There was not an electrical short etc. But this pattern of it happening when I was alone in the house—freaked me out.

London’s Phantom Bus

In 1934, witnesses one night saw just after midnight a car mysteriously swerve off a London street and hit a wall head-on. The car broke into flames and the driver was killed.

At a later inquest, witnesses expressed puzzlement as to why this car did this. They stated the driver appeared to be trying to avoid hitting something but they did not know what.

Other witnesses came forward with an odd explanation. They also saw the car swerve off the road just past the intersection but they saw the reason why.

They claimed to see a red double-decker bus with the number “7” on its side careening straight for the car at which point the car then swerved into the building. They said as this bus continued down the street it just mysteriously vanished.

Besides the odd fact this bus just vanished, the fact witnesses saw it at this hour was strange for London buses do not run this late. It was also pointed out that no buses in the city in 1934 were labeled with just the number 7.

After this first sighting, others came forward to state they saw this bus at the same intersection for the next 56 years.

This red double-decker was seen causing road accidents around 1:15 a.m. in the morning. It was always seen traveling in the middle of the street heading toward the intersection at a break neck speed.

Witnesses reported seeing the number 7 on its side as well as the word “General,” the name of a bus line that stopped running in 1933 the year before the first accident.

The witnesses all reported seeing cars desperately trying to avoid being hit by this mysterious bus. They reported the drivers often just barely missed hitting the sides of buildings or lampposts as they swerved out of the way. Several drivers sustained minor injuries in these accidents.

Most of these reports included the fact these witnesses saw the buses' interior lights shining brightly on both levels but there were no passengers on this bus. Even more strange drivers in the cars that had to avoid hitting this bus mentioned that as this out of control bus passed it then just disappeared.

The last report of this phantom bus was given in 1990. In this same year the decision was made to straighten the deadly curve that led up to this intersection. Since then there have been no more unusual sightings reported.

Derbyshire’s Mysterious Planes

Wreckage on one peak.

England’s Peak District in Derbyshire is often compared to the Bermuda Triangle. The reason for this is that 50 planes have crashed in the area killing over 100 people.

The Peak District has a reputation for being haunted. For it is here where witnesses have seen phantom planes—especially since World War ll.

These sightings still occur. In August of last year (2015) several witnesses spotted an historical WW2 bomber flying over the area. These witnesses all agreed one of the more unusual aspects of their encounter with this aircraft was despite the fact it was near by-- it made no sound.

On the day these witnesses saw this WW2 bomber there were no air shows in the area and there were no flight paths registered for historical planes flying that day.

Many point out these sightings as well as others in Derbyshire are odd because there are so few bomber aircrafts from WWll that are still flight worthy.

On August 3^rd Richard and Helen Jephson were driving on the A6 in Rowsley when they saw a mysterious plane. Their car windows were down and this plane was flying so low to the ground the Jephson’s reported they could have reached out and touched it.

Yet they heard no sound despite the plane had 4 engines. They watched wondering if this plane was about to crash only to see it disappear into thin air.

Lancaster

The Jephson’s stated this plane reminded them of a Lancaster, a 4-engine bomber aircraft commonly flown by the RAF during WW2.

On the same day a former Lancaster crewmember spotted this unusual aircraft out of his bedroom window. George Furnace like Richard Jephson stated this plane had four engines and was flying low. He also reported it made no sound.

Liberator

But he stated it was too small to be a Lancaster. Instead, he said it was a Liberator, an American B24 bomber.

Yet another witness, Richard Burley was golfing when he spotted this bomber flying low over some trees. He like Furnace stated this plane was too small to be a Lancaster. He like the others heard no sound and watched as this plane disappeared.

So was this plane a phantom flight crew still out defending England? With the large number of witness reports over the years similar to the reports above one has to wonder.

Here is an article that reports other recent Derbyshire sightings.

Oak Alley Plantation

Jacques T. Roman had a stately mansion on this southeast Louisiana sugarcane plantation built between 1837-39, using all slave labor. This mansion is a beautiful example of Greek Revival architecture.

Oak Alley
Click to enlarge 

Oak Alley is known for its almost 300-year-old 28 oak trees that evenly line the entrance to the home. This home and its surrounding grounds are a National Historic Landmark.

Today this plantation is a popular destination for both American and European tourists. It is one of the few plantation homes in Vacherie in St. James Parish that has been restored to its original splendor.

It is also known to be haunted.

Some attribute this ghostly activity to Jacques and Celina Roman’s first daughter, Louise Josephine Roman. She became the caregiver for her mother for many years after her father died.

Louise never married. When a drunken sailor visited the mansion unannounced, Louise, a young woman at the time, was home alone. She was forced to attend him. This sailor tried to kiss her at which point Louisa fled. In her hasty retreat, she tripped over her iron-framed hoop skirt.

Her leg was severely cut and later gangrene set in. Her leg had to be amputated. Louise then became a nun.

Widow's Walk
on roof.

An apparition that has been spotted by many is seen on the mansion’s widow walk on the roof—where the Roman women watched boats return from New Orleans. This ghost is believed to be Jacques’ wife, Celine.

The Oak Alley web site has a page devoted to the ghostly sightings that have occurred at this plantation. Several staff and visitors have noticed mysterious activity over the years.

The plantations assistant house manager, Denise Becnel was leaving the plantation one evening with her daughter and two tour guides, Connie Donadieu, and Billie Jo Bourgeois when they noticed a light on in the Lavender room.

Lavender Room

Mrs. Stewart at the plantation.

They were surprised for they had checked to make sure all the lights were out. As they looked up at this window, they spotted a figure of a woman. She looked like Mrs. Stewart, who was the last resident of the mansion.

The lights blinked, and they all rushed to their cars. Looking back, Becnel saw all the windows were now dark.

A maintenance worker, Mitchell Boone had his arm touched when he was the only one in the mansion, and an office assistant, Louise Boone found items mysteriously moved.

Another tour guide, Juliette Temple saw a female figure sitting on one bed in the Lavender room, and on another occasion she saw the apparition of a man wearing dark clothing and boots fade away in the kitchen area.

Witnesses over the years, including tour guides Helen Dumas and Theresa Harrison, have heard the sounds of a horse-drawn carriage traveling up the plantation’s graveled road. These two guides had also seen dust billow in this area when they heard this carriage.

Yet another tour guide, Peggy Rodrigue has heard this carriage as well as a baby crying in the mansion.

Thirty-five Grey Line bus passengers while touring the home saw a candlestick fly across the room.

Oak Alley after the Civil War, like many southern plantations, fell into disrepair. A series of owners tried to restore it but failed.

Slave quarters at Oak Alley

In the mid-1920s a couple, Mr. and Mrs. Stewart succeeded in restoring the mansion and its' surrounding buildings, slave quarters, etc. to their former condition.

When Mrs. Stewart died in 1972 she endowed the plantation as a non-profit to maintain the home and the 25 surrounding acres. Tours are offered year-round.

The Cleveland Museum of Art

Two ghosts have been seen at this art museum when a portrait of them was on display in this building.

Cleveland Museum of Art
1916 Building

The Cleveland Museum of Art opened its doors in 1916. It has been expanded and renovated over the years. It sits in northeastern Ohio in in the town of Cleveland. It is by the city’s Wade Lagoon and Fine Arts Park.

Claude Monet, the forefather of French Impressionism had a distinct appearance while alive. His salt and pepper beard and favorite bowler hats made him easily recognizable.

When this Cleveland art museum installed a show in 2011 entitled: Painting the Modern Garden, Monet to Matisse, staff at the museum saw Monet’s ghost.

Monet's Water Lilies displayed in museum.

Jeffrey Strean, the museum’s director of design and architecture saw Monet standing on a balcony overlooking the space used for this new show. Monet stood and watched directly above where a vintage photo of him was being hung.

Ghost or Monet look-alike.

In a gallery located in the original space in the museum known as the 1916 Building, one of the original directors of the museum has been seen.

William Milliken

William Mathewson Milliken has been seen wandering through this space. He began work in the museum in 1919 and by 1930 he became the museum’s second director. In all, he worked at the museum for 38 years. He retired in 1958 and passed away in 1978.

Under his guidance the museum gained an international reputation.

He is seen wearing his favorite tweed jacket with elbow patches. He appears to clutch a folder under one arm. It was not until the staff went through the museum’s photograph collection that this connection was made.

Renovated haunted gallery at museum.

In this gallery, night watchmen report their flashlights malfunction. When they enter the room their lights extinguish, once they leave the room their lights turn back on.

During one renovation workmen wearing hardhats reported something similar. The lights on their hats would go out in this gallery only to turn back on once they left the room.

Jean-Gabriel du Theil
at signing of
Treaty of Vienna.

Another haunting involves an oil portrait entitled, Portrait of Jean-Gabriel du Theil at the Signing of the Treaty of Vienna done by Jacques André Joseph Arel. The ghost of Jean-Gabriel du Theil has been seen observing his image.

Water leaks and electrical shorts plagued the corner where their picture once hung. When this oil painting was put in storage the issues stopped.

The above stories where first written down by Carolyn Ivanye the museums protection services operations manager.

Wade Lagoon above and more renovated space below.

This museum celebrates its Centennial anniversary this year.

Seneca Hill Ghost

In the spring of 1898, William Cooper returned to his home in Fulton village late one night after drinking. 

He and his young wife argued over their farm property. Cooper picked up his gun and shot at his wife.

His wife now terrified, grabbed their young daughter, and ran panic-stricken to a neighbor’s farm. 

Cooper tracked her down and cruelly shot the neighbors, Charles Smedley and his wife but failed to kill his wife.

He then committed suicide.

This tragedy was reported in the New York Times on June 25, 1898.

Some believe this tragedy is the reason why for over a century multiple witnesses have seen a frightened female apparition running in the vicinity of Seneca Hill near Oswego, New York.

Seneca Hill is a small community that sits between Oswego and Fulton.

Witnesses state this ghost appears terrified as they watched her fleeing with a girl around the age of 6 in tow.

They describe her and the little girl as barefoot, both wearing white 19th-century nightgowns. Others state she wears a white cap—possibly a nightcap. 

What they have seen fits the tragic Cooper scene for his wife and daughter were terrified as they fled for their lives.

One male witness states as he was driving along this road, a barefoot woman, came out of nowhere and stopped right in front of his car. She was wearing a nightgown, and she appeared to be in a panic.

He watched as this woman ran up on the porch of a nearby house, she then vanished right through the door. He asked his wife, who sat next to him if she had seen that? She stated she had not.

Sightings of this frightened woman most often occur in July, October, and November. Many occur during November.

Railroad tracks.

Her ghost has been seen along Kingdom road and Dutch Ridge road. Her apparition has also been spotted on Route 481, along the railroad tracks, Route 57, along the shore and Route 45 near Minetto.

These sightings are so prolific that people who have never seen this ghost believe in her.

China’s Haunted Subway Station

The Caobao Road Subway Station is on the original Number One Line in Shanghai, China. 

Subways are the most inexpensive and convenient form of transportation in Shanghai so many people use and pass through the Caobao station.

According to several popular local legends this station is haunted. For this reason, it has been nicknamed the “Ghost Station.”

Trains often break down here, when maintenance crews pull them out of the station they then find these trains work fine.

Riders that use this station often report that doors will not open when trains are stopped at Caobao.

One gruesome and scary story is told about a male passenger that was waiting for a subway at Caobao when a train hit and killed him.

Witnesses afterwards stated they saw something odd push this man off the platform. Yet others reported they saw this strange figure drag him to the tracks.

Caobao Subway Road Station

Workers that clean the station after it is closed report hearing the eerie sounds of a woman’s laughter. They head down the tracks to a dark secluded spot where these sounds come from but once they arrive, no one is there.

One young girl that committed suicide at Caobao was spotted for several nights right after her death in the station. She was always seen wearing a red dress and sitting on one specific station bench.

The Shanghai manager of this subway line admits he has never visited this station--all the stories make him nervous. He believes the strange activity reported at Caobao might be related to the fact that the local mortuary is located near this station.

Others point to the fact that eight mysterious deaths have occurred in this station since the 1990s.

The Orpheum Theatre’s Mary

This theatre was once the Grand Opera House in downtown Memphis, Tennessee. It was built in 1890.

Since the late 1970s, it has hosted Broadway productions and acts. In 1982, it underwent significant renovations.

The Orpheum has been haunted for over 90 years. Its resident ghost is a 12-year old girl named Mary.

Mary’s presence disturbed --one New York touring company's performance of Fiddler on the Roof in 1977--to the point where they requested a séance.

People rarely agree on why Mary haunts this theatre. One legend states she died in a fire in 1921. Others argue she was injured in 1923 when a streetcar hit her on Beale Street outside the Orpheum.

She was then brought into the theatre, where she died.

Her ghost is known to be playful. She is heard playing the Orpheum’s organ or singing. She has been seen running up and down the aisles in the theatre.

On several occasions she has been spotted sitting in seat C-5 on the Mezzanine level.

Witnesses’ state she has braided brown hair, wears an old-fashioned white dress and black stockings. Several reports state she has no shoes.

It is reported Mary can be helpful. When the theatre’s organ broke down, Harlan Judkins was called in to fix it. He took a coffee break only to find the organ was working correctly when he returned.

Many feel this was Mary’s handiwork.

One young performer that was on stage, playing the lead, in a production of Annie, stated one night as she was carried off stage in the big basket in which her character escapes the orphanage, she heard another little girl's voice talking to her within the basket.

It is believed this was Mary.

In Michael Norman and Beth Scott’s book, Haunted America, they share a witness account given by Teresa Spoone.

Spoone and two friends were visiting the Orpheum to hear an organ concert. As the song “Never, Never Land.” was played from the musical Peter Pan, they felt the theatre become cold instantly.

The women saw a light dart into the theatre from the lobby. They watched as this light disappeared behind a row of seats. These three then saw a little girl with brownish hair dancing in an aisle.

Spoone reported she got a cold chill as this little girl stopped, looked in her direction and called out her name.