Reports say Sam’s Joint Restaurant is no longer operating and is up for sale, ghosts included. Witnesses have heard footsteps and disembodied voices talking for hours at a time, and they’ve seen moving objects and other ghostly phenomena.
Sam’s Joint Restaurant
McMorran Place Theater
McMorran Place Theater, built in 1960, is haunted by ghostly eyes, orbs, and the apparition of a woman and others. Many ghosts have been spotted in the balcony. Paranormal investigators even caught an EVP of a woman saying “I don’t belong here!”
Thunder Bay Island Lighthouse
Thunder Bay Island Lighthouse was built in the 1830s and was automated in 1983. The ghost of a former keeper named Morgan is said to reside here. His apparition has been seen walking along the shore and has been felt by lighthouse visitors.
Riverside Osteopathic Hospital
The abandoned Riverside Osteopathic Hospital grounds are private property and trespassers will be punished. It was built in the 1800s as the Church Family’s home, until Henry Ford bought it and made it into a hospital in 1944. The legends here revolve around the Churches. One young daughter fell off a horse and broke her arm, and the angry father killed the horse and buried it near the house. The little girl was very upset and spent most of the rest of the time in her room, singing and rocking in a chair. Her ghost is said to appear in the window in a white dress, still singing.
Oakland Community College
At Oakland Community College, formerly a hospital, there is allegedly a tunnel that connects Highland Hall to High Oak Hall. It’s said to begin in the basement of Highland Hall, which was once a morgue. The basement and the tunnel are said to be haunted. Witnesses have described apparitions of an older man, cold spots, disembodied screams and other strange sounds.
Hawks Head Cemetery - McDowell Cemetery
Hawks Head Cemetery is allegedly the burial site for Flora, Al Capone’s mistress. Her ghost has been reported, wearing a white gauzy dress. Chimes are said to herald her appearance. A dim red light also has been spotted near the middle driveway.
Fox Tower Cemetery
At Fox Tower Cemetery, witnesses have described many unexplained things: Cool air, footsteps, and strange sightings.
Halmich Park
At Halmich Park, reports say a visitor was driving at night, and suddenly their car hit something they never saw in the road. They got out to look and there was nothing there, but then a huge black figure raced toward them, screaming. As they drove away they heard it leap to the top of their car, pounding. They saw a car up ahead, but suddenly that car disappeared, along with the black figure.
Nankin Mill Tavern
Nankin Mills Tavern is no longer in operation and reports say the building stands empty–except for its ghost, that is. The friendly spirit is said to make noises like banging in the kitchen or slamming doors in the basement. Locals suppose he’s a miller who was killed here near sometime around 1900.
Newton Daily News
The Daily News building was built in 1921 specifically for the town newspaper. Over the years, rumors and jokes have been heard from the newsroom to the press room about ghosts haunting the old building. Since inviting members of the Jasper County Paranormal Idealist to investigate the building on Oct. 20, Daily News workers have complained of papers disappearing from their desks and clocks being turned back. Whether the ghosts have been stirred into action or paranoia is sweeping through the creaky halls remains to be seen.
(Submitted by Mike T.)
