Haunting Through HoustonOctober 1, 2009
Contact Information: The Old Spaghetti Warehouse & Its Ghosts The upstairs elevator inside the kitchen is reported to be haunted. According to the staff at Spaghetti Warehouse, a pharmaceutical company used to occupy their building. In 1930, a male employee, possibly the owner, was killed after he fell down the elevator shaft to the basement. The restaurant still uses the basement to store the restaurant’s supplies. Today, members of the wait staff sometimes hear their names being called even though no one is nearby. They also report chairs, place mats, and utensils being moved—again when no one is around. And, even when they are sure they have turned off all the lights in the building, the lights have been mysteriously turned back on when they return to work the next day. Sandra McMasters, the Spaghetti Warehouse’s manager, reports that when she was closing the restaurant one night, she saw four translucent spirits float by in front her. Since then, no one has ever worked alone in the building, especially at night. When the Spaghetti Warehouse did some remodeling after Tropical Storm Allison in 2001, a construction worker was so frightened when he saw a ghost that he rushed off, leaving his tools behind him. He refused to come back to the restaurant to get them. Federal Court Building The 10th floor believed to be haunted by the spirit of U.S. District Judge Woodrow Seals, who died after surgery in October 1990. The judge's former chambers are said to always be colder than the rest of the floor and the smell of smoke from his cigars still lingers in the air late at night. Janitors and security guards report being touched and hearing voices and doors rattling when no one else is around. La Carafe La Carafe, Houston’s oldest bar, is located in a pre-Civil War building on Houston's historical Market Square. The second floor seems to be the seat of the haunting. Employees have reported hearing footsteps and the sound of heavy objects being dragged across the unoccupied second floor. It's said a former bartender and the woman depicted in the large portrait on the first floor - both no longer among the living - can sometimes be seen in the establishment's windows. The Brewery Tap The Brewery Tap is an English-style tavern below the Magnolia Ballroom in Downtown Houston. The original owner was killed by the mafia during prohibition for refusing to brew alcohol. Now, visitors to the brewery tap who take photos have seen a man sitting in a chair—exactly where the owner used to sit watching his staff brew beer. Every night at closing time, the ghost plays a song on the jukebox for Kathy, the bartender…Kathy’s Waltz. Jeff Davis Hospital and Crematorium The Jeff Davis Hospital, which was erected in 1924, was built on top of the city’s second public cemetery with approximately 3,000 people buried under the hospital. The site of the hospital is now occupied by apartment buildings, although the crematorium remains. There have been reports of ghostly doctors, nurses and patients in the old building. There have also been reports of ghostly activity and whispers from Confederate soldiers buried in the cemetary. An apparition of a man has been seen on the third floor, and most people avoid going down to the basement. Julia Ideson Building at the Houston Public Library There are reports that the Julia Ideson Building, which now houses the Texas Archives at the Houston Public Library downtown, is haunted by the building’s former caretaker, who is said to play music after hours. Battleship Texas State Historic Site Some visitors to this state park attraction claim to have seen the ghost of an unidentified sailor on the second deck. Esperson Building - Downtown Legend has it that Mellie Esperson's spirit still roams the building's halls and elevators (which are said to manifest cold spots). The elevator has been known to malfunction, and employees report feeling watched. Treebeards Restaurant (downtown) Located in the Travis building (the second oldest in Houston), some staff have reported ghost sightings and other unexplained activity. Ghostly Tours For Houston visitors and residents who want to experience these locations and more for themselves, there are several groups that offer tours through Houston’s haunted locations. www.highspiritstours.com Discover Houston Tours presents Ghost Walks every October in the Downtown Historic District where ghostly tales abound. www.discoverhoustontours.com ### Houston is a space of infinite possibilities. As a top convention and tourism destination you’ll enjoy the very best hotels, convention facilities, sports, entertainment, dining, outdoor recreation and attractions. The Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau and its partner, Continental Airlines, encourage you to make Houston your choice for business or pleasure. For more information on Houston attractions, log on to www.visithoustontexas.com or call 1-800-4HOUSTON. |
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