Haunted Places: Walton County Emergency Operations Center, Defuniak Springs, Florida

The Walton County Emergency Operations Center (EOC), located in DeFuniak Springs, Florida, is said to be haunted by many of its workers. I worked there myself for two years and I must say, the place is defiantly haunted! The haunting dates back from the early 1900's and the ghost is called Sally Mae.

While many stories have emerged about why the EOC is haunted, one dispatcher took the time to do extensive research to find out just what happened to make Sally Mae haunt the EOC. Research of records show that in the 1940's, there was a horrific murder that had taken place on the same grounds that the EOC now stands. Records state that a young female in her mid teens was brutally murdered. Mind you this was way back before segregation took place so the records were not as thorough as they would be in case of this era.

The record states that a group of black males were walking along the railroad tracks, which were adjacent to the house of Sally Mae and now the EOC. Apparently Sally Mae was outside in her yard when the males approached her. They then beat her, raped her, and chained her to a large oak tree, which they caught on fire. As a result of the tree being on fire the house was also burnt down. Document show that all evidence was burnt and the subjects were never caught.

Due to the records not being very informative, and the victim's name not being on the records, the EOC employees nicknamed their ghost "Sally Mae" many years ago. Since then the many stories have emerged as to how the EOC is haunted. Many midnight dispatchers have reported strange noises in the halls and bathroom. Many dispatchers have reported being locked in the bathroom stall and unable to get out when the lock was not locked. Many dispatchers have also reported that the toilets have flushed in the stall next to them while it was not occupied. Many dispatchers have went into the bathroom because they heard the water running and as soon as they walk in the room the water shuts off.

One of the strangest reports of the haunting was of an older lady, who had just started. Her second day there she was sitting at her console and she stated to another dispatcher that she kept seeing something moving by the door. After asking the other dispatcher several times if she was seeing the same thing, the older lady started to get annoyed. A few minutes later she stood up and screamed. She got her belongings and after getting home, notified the supervisor that she had quit.

While there is no definite way to prove whether or not the EOC is haunted, if you ever speak to one of their dispatchers they will tell you that they truly, without a doubt haunted!