Fort Stanwix is a historical museum including an authentically restored 1758 fort. It is said to be haunted by apparitions and paranormal occirrences night or day. Witnesses say doorknobs turn, doors open and close, lights go on and off, alarms are tripped, footsteps, voices and a woman’s crying are heard, and apparitions of soldiers and a little boy have been seen throughout the grounds. One of the ghosts seen most often is that of a one-legged man who sits on a bed in the barracks. Visitors should also listen for the phantom sound of a fife and drum corps.
Fort Stanwix
Landmark Theatre
The 1920s Landmark Theatre is haunted by three ghosts. Witnesses have reported apparitions, a blue light, voices, and eerie things that show up in photos. The known haunted areas are the back of the auditorium, the Red Room, the Walnut Room, and the basement (called the catacombs). One of the ghosts is believed to be a former actress named Clarissa who died when she fell from the balcony. Her apparitions has been seen and she also manifests by a phantom lilac scent. A stagehand named Oscar who was accidentally electrocuted here also haunts the theater; his ghost has been seen tinkering with the lighting board backstage. The third ghost is Charlie, a former janitor and caretaker who died of natural causes in the building. His ghost has been seen taking care of the theater as he did when he was alive.
Old Washoe Club
The Old Washoe Club, built in the 1870s and once called the Millionaire’s Club, was a bar hangout for wealthy men. The upstairs area was a brothel. The ghosts here are believed to be a teenage girl who was killed in the basement, a blonde prostitute (her ghost is nicknamed Lena) who was murdered in the an third-floor room, and the prostitute’s killer, who committed suicide on the second floor. Many of the ghosts have been seen on the spiral staircase.
Old Homestead Police Department
The former Homestead Police Department building is said to be haunted by something that taps folks on the shoulder, slams doors, turns on appliances and created unexplained footsteps. Ghost investigators caught slams and screams and video of ghostly activity.
Mission Santa Barbara
Mission Santa Barbara, established in 1786, has a graveyard that is the burial site of over 5,000 pioneers and Native Americans. Various apparitions have been seen roaming here.
Mission San Antonio De Padua
Mission San Antonio De Padua was built in 1771 and is believed to be haunted by many ghosts. One is a monk whose apparition holds a candle and walks in the courtyard; another is a 7-year-old girl with cancer who got permission to be buried under the Mission’s arch (her grave is said to mysteriously grow violets). A third ghostly legend here explains the apparition of a headless Native American woman: She was beheaded by her prospector husband for being unfaithful. And once, a ghostly cloud was seen floating throughout the Mission. It is believed to have been the spirit of Father John Baptist, as had just died the night before.
Fairport Harbor Marine Museum and Lighthouse
Legend has it that an 1870s lighthouse keeper, Captain Joseph Babcock, gave his wife many cats to keep her company when she was bedridden. Today, one of those cats remains behind, a ghostly gray cat that does that playful cat-skitter across the kitchen floor in the second-floor living quarters. The cat is also said to jump on the bed of recent owners. The reason may have been discovered when a/c was installed in the museum: Back in a dark crawl space, workers found a mummified gray cat.
Lee-Fendall House
The Lee-Fendall House museum, once used as a Revolutionary War hospital, is said to be haunted by female apparition in period clothing, a woman and child who appear on the back stairs, and the sound of an antique telephone. The site has been featured on an episode of TV’s Ghost Hunters.
Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity House
The Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity House is said to be haunted by a little girl named Abigail who died by falling down the stairs here. Legend has it that the words “Help Me” appear on the wall no matter how many times they paint over it. Also said to be haunted is Room 7, where a woman’s apparition has appeared, covers have been pulled off of the bed, doors slam, and “welcome” was spelled out in steam on a bathroom mirror.
La Palazza Mansion
La Palazza Mansion was featured on TV’s Ghost Adventures. According to stories, the mansion was a former mob house more recently owned by a man who challenged its resident ghost, and ended up almost being choked to death by the entity.
