A Haunted Tour of Madison, Indiana

Madison is a quiet, sleepy little town in Indiana best known for the large number of historical buildings in the city limits. This little town also has the distinct honor of having nearly as many haunted places as the much larger city of Indianapolis.

Hanging Rock Hill in Madison is home to a haunted cemetery. Inside the cemetery is a large granite sculpture of an angel. According to local legend if you venture into the cemetery on Easter morning you'll see the angel cry blood. Others claim that anyone who kisses the statue's feet will see the angel come to life and chase them away. Another haunted cemetery in Madison is the one located on Little Doe Run Road. There's not a lot known about this ghost except that many people have felt uncomfortable while there. There are stories of glowing red eyes, a strange white mist and odd noises.

According to local legend Hanging Rock Hill has another ghostly spirit. When the Madison State Hospital was still in use, a patient walked off the grounds and tried to escape. A car came down the hill, struck the man head on and he was killed instantly. Today people claim that a strange man has tried to flag them down for a ride, only to disappear before their very eyes.

An odd haunted spot in Madison is the American Legion Post 9. Those who have spent time in the basement have sometimes claimed to see the ghost of a man and an elderly woman. There are also reports of someone knocking on the wall, footsteps in the empty hallways and cold spots.

Clifty Falls State Park might seem like a strange place to have a ghost, but many people believe this park really is haunted. According to stories, if you walk down the path towards the falls you'll pass a specific tree and hear someone moaning. Those who have gone to investigate have found nothing.

Madison also has a haunted library. The public library in town, also known as the Jefferson County Library was once a private residence. The owner had an elevator built inside the house to make things easier for his handicapped son. The boy would often ride in the elevator because it was difficult to get from room to room in his wheelchair. Apparently the boy likes to pinch and touch female workers and library patrons. The staff at the library have affectionately named the ghost Charlie.

The Lanier Mansion is one of the most famous haunted places in all of Madison, Indiana. The Lanier family owned the mansion for years and one of the male heirs died there when he drowned in the nearby Ohio River. People have reported seeing the ghost of the boy walking along the River and heading back towards the house. There are also stories about the strange ghost of a cat that likes to bother employees.

Madison also has the haunted Ohio Theater. People inside the theater have seen and experienced some strange things in the balcony area. According to local stories, lights seem to hang in the area and then disappear and at midnight you can hear someone screaming.

At the Ridge there are the ghosts of several children as well as a dog with white fur. People who venture there late at night claim to hear what sounds like kids giggling and running around. There are also stories of cold spots or areas where the temperature suddenly and unexpectedly plummets.

Also in Madison is the haunted Eggleston Elementary School. One legend claims that a little girl accidentally fell out of an open window and died. The other legend is that it was the principal or a teacher that died this way. Stories claim that the ghost of the person can be seen staring out of one of the windows on the top floor. Lastly there's the story of the private house that was once the Windrift Motel. When it was used as a hotel, people often claimed to see apparitions and dark, shadowy figures.

Madison may be a small Indiana town, but it has more than enough ghost stories to keep anyone entertained.

Sources:

http://www.angelfire.com/theforce/haunted/hauntedplacesofindiana.htm

http://theshadowlands.net/places/indiana.htm