Lindenwald Haus has been housing aged and destitute men, women and orphans for 140 years.

As the need to house civil war widows waned the owner entered into an agreement with the city of Elmira to provide housing and shelter for local residents. The original charter for the building was to “furnish relief and safety” to those in need, but what it became was a place for the elderly to live out their final days, most suffering from the afflictions and sickness brought about by old age. Residents came in through the front door alive with hopes and dreams, and left by hearse out the back. Many never left at all.

Deceased residents without local family, or money set aside for burial, rode the elevator down to the “crematorium” located in the basement of the building.

Lindenwald Haus received payment from the city for every destitute deceased that was incinerated and kept from being buried at government expense.

All in all countless unfortunate souls finally perished within the walls of Lindenwald Haus, where their presence can still be felt, heard and even seen.

Over a century of suffering at such a high level leaves behind enormous negative energy, and Lindenwald Haus has had more than a few paranormal episodes. Past residents and guests have recounted tales of evil apparitions that dwell in the structure. Even the Elmira Jackals hockey team broke their lease to get away from what players said were weird goings on in the Haus. To this day tools and items go missing only to reappear later. Workers have left suddenly, refusing to return because they saw something that they won’t even talk about. Recently the renown paranormal investigation team, Ghost Haunters spent the night in Lindenwald Haus. Afterward the team described the building as the most haunted structure they had ever investigated.

(Submitted by Tom Freeman)

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