Ready for more spooky spots? In our first post, readers visited Myrtles Plantation in Louisiana, the scene of the 1912 Villisca ax murders in Iowa, the Waverly Hills Sanatorium in Kentucky, and the Eastern State Penitentiary in Pennsylvania. In the second part of our series, readers, be prepared for even more spine-chilling tales of haunted places through newspapers of the past.
R.M.S. Queen Mary – Long Beach, California
The R.M.S. Queen Mary, a British ocean liner owned by the Cunard White Star Line, launched in 1936 to much fanfare. The Abilene Morning News included a photo with stats of the 80 thousand ton liner, and the article “Thousands to Cheer Sailing,” which outlined the details of the launch. The 2,650 passengers were scheduled to make the trip to New York in four days.
In 2020, during the height of COVID-19, the “world’s most haunted ghost ship” provided a unique experience to people worldwide. They offered a livestream event of every haunted area on the ocean liner.
Lizzie Borden House – Fall River, Massachusetts
In early August of 1892, Lizzie Borden became a household name, and not in a good way. Her father and stepmother were brutally murdered in broad daylight in their home. And Lizzie was there. Newspapers across the nation captured the gruesome details of the story. The Boston Daily Globe hooked readers with “Both Dead. Fiendish Murder in Fall River,” which graphically laid out the scene of the crime.
The day following the heinous crime, newspapers were already speculating about Lizzie’s involvement. The headlines read “Discovery! Strange Story Told by Lizzie Borden. Stepmother the Cause of Trouble.” Further details of the unraveling case were splayed across pages of the Boston Daily Globe.
Lizzie Borden was eventually found not guilty, but the stain of the murders would haunt her in the small Massachusetts town for the rest of her life. The Lizzie Borden House, as it is now called, operates as a bed and breakfast for those brave enough to spend the night. Would you have the nerve to sleep in the room where Abby Borden was killed?
The Stanley Hotel – Estes Park, Colorado
Close to the Rocky Mountain National Park entrance sits a historic hotel built by Freelan Stanley of Stanley Steamer fame. The grand opening of the hotel in 1909 was highlighted in a local newspaper article, “Improvements in Estes Park.”
The hotel gained notoriety when it became the basis for the Overlook Hotel in Stephen King’s book and subsequent movie The Shining, starring Jack Nicholson, which debuted in 1980.
The Stanley leans into its haunted reputation with daily ghost tours and famously “active” rooms—217, 401, 407, 418, and 1302—often booking up fast. Guests can request mountain-view rooms, unwind at the on-site spa, and even catch The Shining on late-night loops for a thematic nightcap.
Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum – Weston, West Virginia
The Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum first opened as Weston State Hospital in 1864 and was intended to be the home for 250 “souls.” By 1950, the asylum, initially supposed to house a couple of hundred, was grossly overcrowded with more than 2,000 patients.
After its closure in 1994, the asylum became a popular destination for ghost hunters and paranormal investigators everywhere. The disturbing tactics and “treatments” the asylum instituted during its operation are still evident today.
Whaley House – San Diego, California
Thought to be cursed from the beginning, the Whaley House was built in 1857 on the site of a public hanging. Yankee Jim Robinson, a local “pirate,” was hanged for trying to steal a boat. Bad luck ensued for the poor Whaley family.
“Historic Building Ghostly,” published in 1965, provides historical background on the house and its occupants—living and not. The last resident of the house, Lillian Whaley, closed off the second floor during her last few years there. When asked why, the old woman supposedly replied with, “I’m afraid to go there.”
Along with haunting orbs and apparitions, the phantom smell of Cuban cigars and the wafting fragrance of a woman’s perfume are regular occurrences at the Whaley House. In the 1960s, the home even received distinction from the U.S. Commerce Department as “haunted.”
Winchester Mystery House – San Jose, California
Haunted by the untimely death of her husband and young daughter, Sarah Winchester began building the renowned Winchester Mystery House in 1886 after advice from a medium. The continual construction would not cease until her death in 1922.
The Port Arthur News in Texas ran an intriguing article titled “Spirits Build $3,000,000 Mansion” after Mrs. Winchester’s death.” Stairs that end at ceilings, doors that open onto walls, and windows looking into rooms—Sarah Winchester’s mansion was engineered for ghosts, not people. A 30-year build produced a 161-room maze of secret passages, inaccessible towers, and design dead ends unlike any other home.
To this day, the Winchester Mystery House is a popular attraction for ghost hunters and lovers of the eccentric. “Spirits Stir in San Jose” regales readers with the infamous past of the odd home and its current use for “curious tourists” with a guided tour.
Can’t venture out for Halloween?
With COVID-19 putting the damper on Halloween festivities in 2020, the Daily Herald published a list of online activities. Visit these 7 virtual events from the comfort of your own home!
The list of haunted places around the globe could go on and on. Try a 7-Day Free Trial at NewspaperArchive.com to investigate your favorite haunt and its ghostly inhabitants.
