Algonquin Hotel in New York City - 'The Round Table'

Built in 1902 in Manhattan, located near Times Square and Broadway, the prestigious Algonquin Hotel was frequented by many famous New Yorkers and also those from Hollywood and the business world.  Just after World War I ended, a group of famous writers met daily at the hotel to discuss their trade.  They met at the same spot, at the same round table everyday for lunch.  They became known as members of "The Round Table", however, they referred to themselves as "The Vicious Circle".  Members of this group included Robert Benchley, Heywood Broun, Marc Connelly, Edna Ferber, George S. Kaufman, Harpo Marx, Dorothy Parker, Franklin Pierce, Herold Ross, Robert Sherwood, and Alexander Woollcott.

The Algonquin Hotel in New York City

The Algonquin Hotel at night

In 1994 a film called "Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle" was created about the "Algonquin Round Table" and starred Jennifer Jason Leigh who played Dorothy Parker. The film was made portraying the exploits this group which started out as a few friends having lunch together and eventually grew to the star studded group it ended up being.

A scene from "Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle"

That was fine back then, however some hotel guests have said they have spotted some of these people in The Algonquin to this day.  They have been seen standing, walking through, or sitting in the lobby area around lunch time where the round table used to be located.  Apparently, these people have so much fun, good company, and are faithful to their daily luncheon meeting through eternity.

The Round Table room at the Algonquin Hotel

Rockwood mansion in Wilmington Delaware - Vortex of Souls

Quaker banker Joseph Shipley built at Gothic style retirement home in Wilmingon Delaware, Rockwood Mansion in 1854.  After building his wealth and spending most of his life in England, Shipley moved to Wilmington Delaware to retire along with his gardner and house keeper.

Rockwood Mansion, Wilmington DE

Joseph Shipley

When Shipley passed away in 1891 the property was passed on to Edward Bringhurst who was his nephew.  He moved there the following year with his wife Anna and three of their children.  Nancy Hargraves a descendant of the Bringhurst family, was the last person to use the mansion as a residence.  In 1973, it along with the grounds was turned into a park.

Mary Bringhurst, daughter of Edward Bringhurst

It is said the the mansion is haunted by it's former inhabitants and servants including the chilren.  When photographs are taken inside, plasma orbs and faces of the former family that lived there will appear in the photos including Mary Bringhurst.  

The Gothic architecture of Rockwood Mansion sometimes yields a strange vortex above it at night

Keystone College Hauntings (formerly Keystone Academy/Keystone Junior College)

Keystone Academy was originally established in 1868 as a high school.  The only one serving a large area in the north east corner of the state of Pennsylvania, it was located in La Plume.  In 1934, it became a private 2 year college and was eventually renamed Keystone Junior College.  Today it is a 4 year institution and was renamed Keystone College.  It was originally built on the site of an old Indian burial ground.  It is believed that the disturbed spirits buried there are responsible for some paranormal activities that have occurred there over the years.

Harris Hall at Keystone College

The Ghost of the Female Stranger - Gadsby's Tavern Alexandria, VA

On their travels, a man and his companion wife of which no one knew her name, stopped at a hotel in Alexandria, Virginia.  Their ship diverted course and put into harbor close to Alexandria so the two could row to shore because she was feeling very ill.  She passed away some time later in room 8 of the hotel which is now known as Gadsby's Tavern.  She was buried in St. Paul's Cemetery with an tombstone shaped like a table with the inscription: "In memory of the female stranger, died October 14, 1816 age 23 years 8 months".

Gadsby's Tavern Alexandria, Virginia

The man could not pay for the costs incurred for the female stranger's funeral expenses.  One night, he slipped away never to be seen again.  Folks in town, even though they were left unpaid, never revealed the true identity of the female stranger.

Table shaped tombstone of the "Female Stranger"

Inscription on the "Female Stranger's" tombstone

She has been known to return to the hotel.  Occasionally seen in the upstairs window of room 8 holding a lighted candle.  Some say they have heard the sound of someone walking around the upstairs, only to find there is no one there.

Window of room 8 of Gadsby's Tavern

One evening during a dance that was held there, a young man spotted the female stranger across the room flirting with him.  He looked again and she was not there.  There was only one place she could have gone that quickly and that was a nearby bedroom.  The room happened to be the room where the female stranger died.  As the man entered the room, he spotted a candle lit on the night stand.  Thinking this was a bad idea to have a candle lit in an unattended room, he went downstairs to complain to the hotel manager.  After the two returned to the room, they found the candle as if it had never been lit, the wick still white with wax.

Baleroy mansion - The death chair - Philadelphia, PA

In Chestnut Hill, PA stands a mansion that has had inhabitants that go back to before the Civil War years.  The house was contructed in 1911 by the family of Civil War General George Meade.  The latest owner and descentant in the historic family line, George Gordon Meade Easby, passed away recently at the age of 87.

Ghosts of Fort Mifflin

Almost a ghost itself, Fort Mifflin still stands along the banks of the Delaware River on the outskirts of Philadelphia as if watching for a phantom enemy from the past.  Built in 1771, the fort was the scene of a large naval bombardment by the British during the Revolutionary War.  The fort held off the British assault on Philadelphia until General George Washington and his troops could retreat to Valley Forge.  The fort was active through the Civil War up until 1952 when it was abandoned as a military installation.  It is now home to many ghosts from various eras.

Entrance to Fort Mifflin

A ghostly image of a lamplighter can be seen strolling near the soldier's barracks.  During the days of yesteryear, he must have fulfilled his duties nightly by walking around lighting the lanterns and light fixtures around the fort.  Not wanting to relinquish these duties, he still wanders the grounds.

A captain from the civil war era can also be seen inspecting the gun emplacements, making sure all is ready for the next ethereal assault.

Near the powder magazine, a revolutionary era soldier can be seen sitting cleaning his gun.  Many folks have returned from their tour and complimented the staff on the revolutionary re-inactor, only to be told that there was no re-in actors at the fort.  They have nicknamed him "Amos".

Fort Mifflin powder magazine

At one point during the active lifetime of the fort, a blacksmith named Jason liked to keep the doors to his shop open all of the time.  The commander of the fort wished them to be closed for obvious reasons.  Today the doors to the blacksmith shop seem to open all by themselves.

Blacksmith shop at Fort Mifflin

The outer casements seem to be the site of a concentration of civil war phantoms. What appears to be a confederate prisoner of war can be seen in this area.  The fort was used to house confederate prisoners during the Civil War. Just outside the casements a Federal soldier has been spotted sitting. When a closer approach is taken, it becomes apparent that the man does not have a face.

View of the Delaware River from Fort Mifflin's walls

Perkasie Tunnel Ghost Train - Perkasie, PA

The Perkasie railroad tunnel in Perkasie, PA apparently handles more than just your average train passing through. The tunnel was constructed from 1853 through 1858 to bridge the railroad gap between Fort Washington, PA and Bethlehem, PA. 

Perkasie Railway Tunnel circa 1912

Perkasie Tunnel Today

In it's early days the tunnel handled two tracks and was a very narrow squeeze for trains.  As the story goes, long ago during the steam era in the 1940's, an engineer stuck his head out of the side of the locomotive at the wrong time.  He was decapitated by a passing train.

It is said that late at night,if you travel to the north side of the tunnel and hold your ear to the rail and wait long enough, you can hear a train coming.  The longer you wait, the louder the sound will get as the ghost train approaches, manned by the headless engineer.  Legend has it that you start running toward the south side of the tunnel to try and out run the train.  If you don't make it to the end of tunnel before the train reaches you, the engineer will cut off your head!  This could be quite the challenge since the tunnel is a half mile long!

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Pennhurst State School and Hospital

In Spring City, Pennsylvania, Chester County atop of what is locally known as "Crab Hill". This institution originally opened in 1908 under the name Eastern State Institution for the Feeble-Minded and Epileptic. It was also referred to as the Pennhurst State School as it was intended to be a school for the mentally retarded and physically handicapped.  It also doubled as a hospital.  The institution was a miniature city which housed industry that residents were assigned to and included shoe making and repair, mattress making, farming, butchering, painting, and even included stores on site.  It is said that over ten thousand souls passed through Pennhurst through the years.

The Administration Building at Pennhurst State Hospital

Over time the institution became over crowded and underfunded.  Eventually things got out of hand and many of the patients were abused both physically and sexually.  Some were neglected by allowing them to remain in their steel cribs in their rooms for days at a time.  Many of the patients died there. The building has stood abandoned since it was forced to close in 1986. The grounds and buildings on it have stood abandoned for over 20 years. It is said that the screams of the patients can be heard inside.  There also have been reports of poltergeist activity such and desks and chairs moving about on their own.  It is said to be one of the most haunted places in America.

 View of Pennhurst State Hospital from the air taken during it's hay day

Abandoned guerney at Pennhurst

Pennhurst Today:  The Pennsylvania Railroad used to service the institution via Pennhurst Station.  What used to be the tracks that ran behind Devon Hall are now part of the Schuylkill River Trail.  The institution just opened this past week as a haunted attraction named "Pennhust Assylum".  This was over a hot debate due to the past nature of the school and a court ruling allowed the haunted attraction to go on as planned.

 Administration building from the top

 Philadelphia Hall

Aerial view of Pennhurst as it is today.  Very overgrown in parts.

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