Ghosts, ghouls and things that go bump in the night aren’t just hiding in Halloween movies. Here in the Little Apple, some of Manhattan’s most familiar buildings come with stories of spirits, unexplained noises and a few questionable roommates.
3. The Purple Masque Theatre
The Purple Masque Theatre on Denison Ave. is best known for its showcases, workshops and stage readings. But for some, the goosebumps come not from stellar performances, but from something beyond the grave.
Local lore and Dennis William’s book, “Haunted Places, The National Directory,” say that a spirit named Nick, believed to be the ghost of a student-athlete who died in the 1950s, famously haunts the campus theater.
Although no one has ever spotted Nick, his voice has reportedly appeared in audio recordings. Staff and students alike have reported heavy footsteps, loud stomping and movements echoing across the stage, hallways and staircases.
So the next time the lights dim on this supernatural stage, keep your eyes peeled. You never know who — or what — might be watching the show with you.
2. The Wolf House Museum
Just a few blocks away on Fremont lies the Wolf House Museum, another spectral showcase for ghost lovers. In this limestone building, dating back to 1868, a malevolent spirit reportedly resides.
Local lore from kansashauntedhouses.com claims that the museum previously functioned as a brothel where a worker was murdered, and that a doctor who later lived in the residence committed suicide shortly after moving in. Caretakers and visitors have reported overhearing ghostly conversations, apparitions of men wearing top hats and seeing dishes violently thrown against walls or at people.
Whether you’re learning about county history or ghost-hunting, make sure you duck and cover next time you visit the Wolf House.
1. Delta Sigma Phi
Taking the top spot on Manhattan’s list of haunted hot spots is none other than the local frat house, Delta Sigma Phi. Originally built as a YMCA before becoming St. Mary’s Hospital in 1926, Manhattan residents know this house for a plethora of paranormal activity.
As a functioning hospital, it housed those with contagious diseases and is linked to two ghostly entities: The Night Nurse and George. Local legend says that the Night Nurse was a woman who tragically fell to her death down an elevator shaft while on duty. Previous residents say that at night, you can see and hear her walking the halls — checking in on those who live there.
For every nurse, there’s a patient. George, a former patient, was reportedly left behind during a hospital evacuation. He fell between his bed and the wall and suffocated, and according to local lore, his ghost haunts the third-floor hallway and turns televisions and lights on and off.
We’ve all seen some pretty scary stuff in frat houses, but between a former hospital, a ghostly nurse and a patient who supposedly never checked out, this fraternity house takes the cake.
Whether you’re a skeptic or a believer, Manhattan has no shortage of ghost stories. The real question is: Which of these spots would you dare to visit after dark?
