One ghost story at Seamon Hall on the University of Texas at El Paso campus tells of a ghostly janitor who passed away after stashing his money somewhere in the building. Another tells of a female student who was murdered by her boyfriend at a tea party held by the dean in the 1930s or 1940s, and still another is about a professor who murdered a student he had impregnated to cover his deed. Some say that at 3 or 4 a.m., a phantom car drives up to the building and a ghost girl gets out and wanders about Seamon Hall, looking for her murderer.
University of Texas at El Paso - Seamon Hall
University of Texas El Paso
University of Texas El Paso, aka UTEP, has more than its share of haunted buildings. Folks say that at Old Main, Cotton Memorial, the Geology Building, Hudspeth Hall and Worrell Hall, there are sounds of footsteps, trash cans that open by themselves and flickering lights. And on the library’s fifth floor, a ghostly woman with red hair has been seen. A legend told about Seamon Hall is that it’s haunted by the ghost of a student who was killed by a professor who had impregnated her, and a cheeky ghost in the Fox Fine Arts building is said to have lifted up dancers’ skirts.
El Paso Museum of Art
El Paso Museum of Art is believed to be haunted by the spirit of an older woman, whose apparition has been seen looking at folks from an upper window. Witnesses also claim that the lights go on and off and doors open and close by themselves. Moaning sounds have been heard, seeming to come from the basement.
Chase Tower
Chase Tower, formerly the El Paso National Bank Tower and the Texas Commerce Bank Tower, is the site of many law and bank offices. Red lights and a ghostly woman in a red dress have been seen on the upper floor.
Sacred Heart Church
At the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, a ghostly woman in a turn-of-the-century bridal gown is said to weep in the side chapel. According to local lore, the young Mexican woman was left at the altar and shortly thereafter passed away. Her ghost is said to return to the church, hoping to find her beloved at the altar.
Insights El Paso Science Museum
Insights El Paso Science Museum is no more; according to reports, it was demolished in 2013. It was said to be haunted by the Native American spirits, including a chief, and a ghostly woman dressed in white.
Amador Hotel
The Amador Hotel, built in 1866, is popular among the area’s ghost tours. Witnesses describe apparitions, shadows, malfunctioning flashlights, and scratches that appeared on a man’s arm as he was touring the upstairs. That’s where Annie is said to reside, a playful spirit who has asked ghost investigators to bring her a purple toy.
Anson Lights
The Anson Ghost Lights are found by turning right at Alsupps toward the graveyard just outside of town. Turn right down a dirt road that travels along the cemetery. Then, at the crossroads, turn the car around so it faces the main road, turn off the engine, and flash the headlights three times. In a few minutes, the white light slowly begins to travel down the road toward you. It sometimes sways, dances, or changes size or color. The phenomenon only happens on clear nights in warm weather. Legend has it that the lights are a ghost of an 1800s woman who lived nearby with her three boys. She sent them out to chop wood, telling them to flash the lantern three times if they had any trouble. When she saw the three flashes, she ran out, but was too late–the boys had been murdered. Now, the flashing of the headlights three times is believed to bring the spirit, hoping to find her boys.
Northern Michigan University
Northern Michigan University has quite a few buildings that are rumored to have things that go bump in the night. For instance, in Room 102, the control room of the John X. Jamrich Building, a young woman’s face is said to appear in the window. She’s believed to be the ghost of a former nursing student. And in Room 304 of Halverson Hall, the ghost of a student who committed suicide has been seen. The haunt in the Music Building, or, some say the Forrest Roberts Theatre, is a former janitor named Perry who died from a heart attack in the 1960s. Perry is thought to haunt the Thomas Fine Arts Building as well.
Traverse City State Hospital
Traverse City State Hospital was almost completely remodeled in 2000s, but reports say that the original structure remains from 1885, when it was built as the Northern Michigan Asylum. Unlike some of the others at the time, this hospital was said to be a place of beauty, where patients were treated with respect and straitjackets were not allowed. It was in operation until 1989. According to witnesses, the building is haunted. While it was not in use, lights would come on even though the electricity wasn’t hooked up. Ghostly children are said to run in the halls, and screams and voices echo in the rooms. There is said to be a ghost priest who killed himself in the chapel, and a monster in the basement area.
