Haunted Midwest America

People travel far and wide in search of spiritual phenomenon. The endless search for proof of life beyond the grave can lead ghost hunters to far away countries on other continents. But...the search for roaming spirits can be satisfied as close as our own back yard, or even in our own homes. In fact some of the most well known haunted places are located in the midwestern United States.

The midwest may not have as many widely advertised haunted places to visit as the old west or the battlefields and streets of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania...but the region still has a lot to offer when it comes to spooks and spirits. In fact some of the most haunted places in the world are located in the midwestern states. Indiana, for example is a hot bed of parnormal activity and has a long history of tragic events that created these haunted locations.

The Harrodsburg Haunted House- Harrodsburg Indiana is a small town in Southern Indiana that is home to haunted lands with a grim history. What is now know as the Harrodsburg haunted house was originally built as a stage coaching area in the late 1800's and then was converted later into a stage coach inn. The Harrodsburg Inn was owned by the McCree family, Jonathan and Abigail McCree. The family was warned of the dangerous and unholy grounds by local townspeople but ignored the rumors. Native Indians built stone piles warning them of the unholy ground. Not long after the family obtained the land and built their stage coach inn, their oldest daughter fell to her death in a freshly dug open well. From that time on the grounds were tainted and ridden with evil. Abigail McCree was crushed by the death of her daughter and her husband struggled to keep the Inn from going under. Abigail McCree eventually lost her mind and in a moment of rage killed six innocent people staying at the Inn with an axe. To cover up his wifes heinous acts, Jonathan McCree burned down the Inn. The McCrees then dissapeared without a trace. What they left behind was a curse that plagued the grounds.

The Harrodsburg House was converted some time later into a mortuary school by one Dr. William Bothart Frigid. He was an eccentric individual who eventually turned over the business to an even more eccentric and very evil apprentice- Maxamillion Gore. Max was known to be withdrawn and very committed to his work. Shortly after he took over the business, Max began adding rooms and purchasing electrical equipment. He withdrew even further from society, hiding behind the walls of the mortuary. Townspeople began to question his motives and methods after his "pauper" graves turned up empty. The town had alloted him plots for puapers at his request but when the area was investigated, no bodies were found in the graves. As the officials became more suspicious of Max Gore's lifestyle...he soon dissapeared. Some say he retreated within the walls hidden in secret parlors continuing his work. The home was eventually investigated on a full scale and secret rooms were found with half mutilated bodies still bound in chains. Maxamillion Gore was never found.

Every October the Harrodsburg House opens to the public as a full fledged haunted house. Although its scares are intentional during the Halloween season, the haunted history still remains. The grounds are still marked as unholy and visitors should tread lightly. It is possible to uncover the spirit of Maxamillion Gore hiding on the grounds, or hear the calls of a little girl crying from a well. The Harrodsburg Haunted House property is one midwestern location that would be a great spot for a paranormal investigation.

Another haunted location is The Willard Library- Located in Evansville Indiana, the infamous lady in grey haunts the aisles of the working library. This haunting is widely known in the state of Indiana. Many visitors and library staff have claimed to see the lady in grey with their own eyes, floating just inches above the floor between the aisles of books. No one knows who the lingering spirit is. Some say that she is a former librarian who is attatched to the place she loved the most in life. The lady in grey has been caught on video footage surveillance of the library. Some would say it is a hoax, but others believe that the evidence is undeniable. The Willard Library is definitely an active paranormal site and is one of the favorite places in the midwest for ghost hunters to visit.

A prison in Mansfield Ohio was used for filming the Shawshank Redemption and happens to be a very haunted location. The Mansfield Reformatory is now vacant but is home to many lingering spirits left behind after torturous deaths. Some of the most haunted areas include the chapel, the infirmary, library, basement and administration wing. One of the most interesting spirits is that of Helen, a secretary who worked in the adminstration wing of the prison. Supposedly she was killed by accident when a box she was moving along a top shelf tipped over, spilling a gun out that discharged, shooting her in the chest. Helen was killed instantly. It is rumored however that the warden at the time was directly responsible for her death. Ten years later the warden died of a heart attack at his desk. Resident spirits have been seen passing as black shadows, appearing as glowing red orbs, or white orbs floating throughout the hallways in and out of cells. Mysterious banging and clanging sounds can be heard on the cell doors and footsteps can even be heard echoing down the hall. The Mansfield Reformatory is a wonderful paranormal investigation hot spot.

The Midwest has many locations that are marked as paranormal hot beds. The legends have been passed down for decades. Countless eyewitnesses can attest to the truth behind the stories. These are just a few of the locations that are perfect for ghost hunting in the midwest. But these...are only the tip of the paranormal iceberg.