Screams | Haunted Places

Brazil, IN

Legend says that if visitors count the steps on a climb to the top on a completely dark night, they will meet the groundskeeper’s ghost. He will reveal your death to you. Then climb down to the bottom, counting the steps again. If you get a different number, the caretaker’s revelation will be untrue. But don’t skip any stairs, or you will be burned by the hand of Satan.

Hymera, IN

Local legend has it that those who visit the monument and grave of Nathan Hinkle, local Revolutionary War soldier, walk around it and say his name three times, he’ll speak to you.

Putnam County, IN

Erected in 1922 over Little Walnut Creek, visitors are said to see the ghost of a small girl on the bridge who will try to get into your vehicles. They’ve also reported small handprints left on their vehicles and hearing a little girl giggle.

Brazil, IN

Legend says there are seven gates to Hell located throughout the Wabash Valley area. All but one gate has been destroyed, the tunnel in Brazil. Visitors say things will appear if you flash your lights three times in the tunnel. Others report blood on the walls and screaming and pounding on their cars.

Terre Haute, IN

Stiffy Green was a small bulldog who was the constant companion of a man named John Heinl. When Heinl died and was entombed at the cemetery, Stiffy Green would regularly disappear from his new home and be found watching over his former master’s tomb. The dog was eventually allowed to take up residence there and died a short time later. Stiffy was stuffed by a local taxidermist and left to guard over his master’s remains. A century later there are still reports of a small dog barking near the mausoleum. And occasionally, an elderly apparition is seen strolling through the cemetery with a stiff-legged bulldog featuring Stiffy’s trademark green eyes.

Terre Haute, IN

Martin Sheets was a businessman in the early 1900s who had a serious fear of being buried alive. Because of this, he decided to have a custom-designed casket with latches on the inside so no such thing could ever happen to him. When he passed, he was entombed in his mausoleum. Although nothing eventful happened, Sheets had paid for the phone to remain in service for years. Years later, his wife was found dead of a stroke, clutching the phone, possibly trying to call for help. When she was entombed, they noticed that the telephone inside the locked mausoleum was off the hook.

Terre Haute, IN

A student died of alcohol poisoning at Burford Hall. Today, the ghost named Barb haunts the place as witnesses claim hearing vomiting and crying in the bathroom. Cromwell Hall also had an incident of a man jumping from a window to his death on the west side at room 1221. People have reported incidents of unexplainable footsteps and noises.

Rockville, IN

This building dates back to 1879 and was once a courthouse. It now operates as a bed and breakfast inn with a twist, it still maintains a lot of its original features from when it was the town jailhouse. Visitors have reported hearing disembodied footsteps, a foreboding male voice and have seen the spirit of a male inmate wandering the corridors during the night.

Terre Haute, IN

Markle Mill was the longest operating gristmill east of the Mississippi, and is rumored to have been part of the Underground Railroad, but all that remains of the original 1816 structure are the dam and parts of the foundation. The ghost girl who has been seen here is believed to have been someone who passed away while using the now-closed underground tunnels.

Terre Haute, IN

The old Preston House at the corner of Poplar and 13 1/2 streets in Terre Haute (1824 or 1832 to 1987) was surrounded by many tales, one of which is that it was haunted. The builder of the house was named Major George Dewees, who came to Terre Haute from New Orleans. He was known as a man with a violent temper. He didn’t like people visiting him and let everyone know it. His wife, Matilda, was just the opposite. She loved to have her friends visit, as her husband didn’t like her to leave the house. Matilda eventually filed for divorce, but disappeared before it became final. The stories at the time were that Dewees killed his wife and bricked her up in a space in the side of the fireplace, but no one could ever prove it. Dewees eventually moved away from the area. The next owners of the house never tore the fireplace apart to find out if the rumors were true, but reported cold spots near the fireplace and unearthly blue lights seeping through closed windows. The house was also rumored to be part of the Underground Railroad during the Civil War. Tunnels were said to lead away from the basement and were a hiding place for slaves. One night, the tunnels had a cave-in, killing a group of slaves. On warm, summer nights, it’s said you can hear the hymns of freedom coming from the ground where the slaves are trapped for eternity. After several fires and years of neglect, the house collapsed in late 1987 and had to be torn down. Unfortunately the room where the fireplace was located was the portion that collapsed. The structure was too unsafe for a through search, but no body was seen as the home was demolished. There was also no evidence of a tunnel. Much of the stone of the Preston House, and some of the woodwork, was taken to be used in the grist mill at Pioneer Village in Fowler Park.

West Terre Haute, IN

It is said that there was once a nun who resided at St. Mary of the Woods who had an eerie feature - no face. People say this is an apparition of a Sister who was painting a self portrait and unfortunately passed before she could finish the face on the canvas. Many have said to have heard weeping in Lefer Hall assuming it is the nun who passed. She weeps because she did not get to finish her work of art. Many, including custodians of the grounds, have claimed to have seen this apparition slowly walking around Lefer.

Terre Haute, IN

North of Terre Haute is a stretch of railroad tracks that many say is haunted. One day, following years of safe travel, a freight train was speeding its way south toward Evansville. Hitting a loose rail the train went careening wildly off the track, killing the train’s conductor and its brakeman. When the twisted wreckage was cleared, the conductor was found whole but the brakeman’s body was found badly twisted and missing its head. Now, if you walk that stretch of track late at night, it’s said you will see a figure walking south along those tracks. The figure is said to hold an old railroad lantern, which it moves back and forth across the tracks. People in the area say it is the brakeman, still looking in vain for his missing head.

Terre Haute, IN

This museum was once used as a halfway house and was formerly known as the Sage Mansion. The front staircase is known to be a hot spot for orbs and there is a small mist that has been seen as well. There has also been reports of a crib that is located upstairs in an area that is closed to visitors, has moved on its own.