Ghosthunting North Carolina

by Kala Ambrose

  There’s also a report that a child who was touring the home saw a man with a scar appear in front of him, only to see him quickly disappear near the Andrew Jackson house. Other visitors have reported seeing candlelight coming from the Jackson house, which disappears a few minutes later. Sounds of hoof beats and the rattling of carriages are also reported in the area. These appear to be time-loop recordings coming from the days when horse-drawn carriages traveled across planks laid down in the mud to help cross the rough and muddy roads of Raleigh.

  Because of the interaction between the Mordecai ghosts and visitors, this house goes on my list as being one that would be great for a séance. Communication would likely be achieved with the spirits in the house.

  CHAPTER 15

  Philosophical Debates from the Ghosts of the Horace Williams House

  CHAPEL HILL

  The Horace Williams House has reported paranormal activity including the sound of a young girl singing and footsteps of someone walking through the home when no one is in the building.

  “Art is magic…. But how is it magic? In its metaphysical development? Or does some final transformation culminate in a magic reality? In truth, the latter is impossible without the former. If creation is not magic, the outcome cannot be magic.”

  —Hans Hofmann

  WHEN BENJAMIN HEDRICK was hired to be a chemistry professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, he purchased property from the university in order to build a home near the school. Hedrick had elaborate plans for the home he wanted to build. Knowing that the style of construction he was interested in creating would take a serious undertaking and construction for several years, his wife, Ellen, persuaded him to first build a small two-room structure where they could live while he built the main home. Built in the 1850s, this portion of the home is now integrated into the larger home, complete with its original pine floors and fireplace.

  Hedrick built an octagonal house. I was looking forward to speaking with the preservation director of the Horace Williams house, Ernest Dollar, to find out more about the house and to learn why Hedrick had wanted an octagon design.

  According to Dollar, the house was built in three stages. Hedrick’s decision to create the octagonal shape for his home first began with his interest in phrenology. Phrenology was first used by Aristotle and has been studied by other philosophers and scientists throughout history. The theory of phrenology is basically that the brain is divided into separate sections and that each section represents a personality trait. The skull then follows the shape of the brain and by doing so highlights the sections of the brain that are more pronounced. An expert phrenologist examines the head to see which parts of the skull are more pronounced and which are underdeveloped, which then might explain moral deficiencies, distinct behaviors, and the strongest personality traits in each person. Once documented, the person can then be treated to overcome negative traits and further develop his or her character. The study of phrenology was quite popular in the nineteenth century and was studied by many people, including Thomas Edison, Horace Mann, and William James. Phrenology increased in popularity as busts of famous people were made; it was easy to run your hands over the heads of the busts to look for various traits that you may wish to emulate. It is believed that Hedrick’s interest in phrenology also introduced him to a popular book of his time titled A Home for All or the Gravel Wall and Octagon Mode of Building, written by Orson Fowler, who was a famous phrenologist. Fowler believed that octagon-shaped homes would lead to harmony in the home and in the marital relationship. It’s likely that Hedrick, with his natural curiosity as a scientist, desired to try this design to see what the results would yield. When discussing this with Dollar, I thought he explained the concept wonderfully as “Victorian-style feng shui.” Even with all of this good energy being created, Hedrick’s home wasn’t strong enough to protect him from outside influences, and he soon found himself in trouble as local newspapers reported that he supported John Freemont as the Republican Party’s presidential candidate in the 1856 race. It is recorded that the New York Times called him a “live Republican in North Carolina,” which was an unpopular choice at that time in this area. This bad press cost him his job. He was dismissed from the university ten days later and, under pressure, he left the state, selling the house to Hosea Smith, another professor at the University of North Carolina. Hosea Smith’s son grew up in the house and later became the Secretary of the Interior for President Grover Cleveland.

  Smith sold the house in 1879 to George Winston, who later became the president of the university. In 1897, Winston sold the house to Horace Williams, a professor of philosophy. Williams faced some heat as he moved into the home and settled into teaching at the university, as many locals did not care for philosophy to be taught in schools during this time. They considered philosophy to be the gateway to teaching evolution, which was close to being labeled heresy.

  Williams may have found a way around this problem by adopting the teaching style of asking questions, which led to the students discussing matters for themselves to make an educated decision, rather than relying on his direct lectures for information. Reports state that he was beloved by his students, including Thomas Wolfe. Williams was considered eccentric and fun loving. After teaching at the university for almost 50 years, he passed away in 1940. His will stated that the home and all of his belongings would go to the University of North Carolina.

  Shortly after Williams passed away, ghostly activities began to be reported. Things would move around the house, and an apparition of an older man appeared in several locations. Many feel that Williams loved the home so much that he never wanted to leave. There were also reports of toilets flushing by themselves frequently, and some feel that Williams’s wife was checking out the toilets, as Williams did not have plumbing installed in the house until after her death.

  Some of the ghosts in the house may be older than Williams. Native American artifacts have been found in the front yard, and records state that soldiers from the Civil War stayed at the house for a time. Paranormal investigators have been out to the home several times and recorded EVPs of a little girl singing in the backyard, and staff at the home report hearing footsteps and searching through the house only to find the place empty.

  The Horace Williams House hosts a Haunted Cemetery Tour each year. Ernest Dollar explains the spirit of the house in this way: “The Horace Williams House represents Chapel Hill in so many ways, with its unique architecture, the unique people, and it embodies the spirit and spirits of this town.”

  What did I feel at the Horace Williams House? I felt the love and charm of the men who built the home and who expanded and cared for it throughout the years. I’d love to see a Philosophy Club hold a meeting there, perhaps with students from the university, as I think the spirit of Professor Williams is nearby. He would love to chime in again with some of his famous questions, which encouraged students to ponder the great mysteries of the world and to think for themselves. We need his teaching style now more than ever.

  During your visit to Chapel Hill, also take time to drive past Gimghoul Castle on Gimghoul Road, where legend states that Peter Dromgoole, a student at the University of North Carolina, was challenged to a duel in 1832. According to local lore, Peter died during the duel, and his ghost is seen at Gimghoul Castle alongside a bloodstained rock. The castle is now private property and trespassing is not allowed, but perhaps as you drive past you’ll catch a glimpse of Peter.

  The Brown Lady of Chowan University

  Chowan University, in Murfreesboro, North Carolina, was founded in 1848 as the Chowan Baptist Female Institute, a four-year women’s college. Legend states that during the Civil War, a female student at Chowan was engaged to her beloved, who left to fight in the war. Reportedly he died in battle, and she later died of a broken heart.

  Since her death, her ghost has been seen walking through buildings and appearing in the halls around the university. She most often appears in a mist and is se
en wearing a brown dress, which has earned her the nickname “The Brown Lady.” Reports of her appearance began shortly after her death, and the staff noticed other strange occurrences, such as piles of leaves gathered in the hallways after the building had been locked and secured in the evening.

  The legend of the Brown Lady continued to grow, as did her appearances, which led to a yearly event at the college dubbed “The Brown Lady Festival” in the 1940s and 1950s. During the festival a student would be nominated to dress up as the Brown Lady. The celebration culminated with partygoers walking from the college campus to the nearby Wise Family Cemetery. No one knows the name of the Brown Lady or if she is buried in this nearby cemetery. Perhaps the students journeyed to the Wise Family Cemetery hoping to help the Brown Lady find a final resting place.

  Chowan University is a Christian school with approximately 1,000 students in attendance from more than 20 states and foreign countries. The Brown Lady continues to make an appearance at Chowan University, and the school acknowledges this fact. She is a well-known and recognized part of the university and its history. Chowan now states that she returned from the dead to “test the loyalty of the students.” Others feel that she visits to instill a sense of pride and eternal love.

  CHAPTER 16

  Civil War Governor Still Working at the State Capitol Building

  RALEIGH

  The State Capitol building in Raleigh is reported to be one of the most haunted capitols in the United States.

  “He was the Mount Mitchell of all our great men, and in the affections and love of the people, he towered above them all. As ages to come will not be able to mar the grandeur and greatness of Mount Mitchell, so they will not be able to efface from the hearts and minds of the people the name of their beloved Vance.”

  —T. J. Jarvis, North Carolina Governor from 1879 to 1885

  PARANORMAL ACTIVITY in the North Carolina state capitol has been reported since the late 1800s, and the city boasts that it has the most haunted capitol in the country. There are numerous reports by security officers investigating strange sounds of glass breaking and people walking and talking in the building after hours, only to find the rooms empty. The experiences don’t stop with security—several former governors and their staff members have reported encounters with spirits while working late nights in the building.

  Several years back, I spent the night in the state capitol with my investigative team, The Rowan Society, along with several other paranormal researchers and ghosthunters. The investigation was organized and led by Anne Poole, who has a paranormal research group of her own here in North Carolina. Anne is also involved in the research of the Lost Colony of Roanoke.

  Is the capitol haunted? I can answer with a resounding yes! After receiving special permission for an evening of research, all the alarms in the building were disconnected due to the large number of people involved in the ghost hunt. As we entered the library and looked around, I noticed the ghostly form of a man in the corner. As he moved closer toward me, the security alarms went off, although this was deemed impossible since they were disconnected.

  During the debriefing afterward with security and other investigative team members, it was determined that we had seen the ghost of Zebulon Vance, a former governor of North Carolina who is reputed to still haunt the building. Employees and visitors to the capitol continue to report new and recurring incidences with ghosts to this day, adding to this Raleigh landmark’s haunted reputation.

  Before meeting the ghost of Governor Vance in the library, we had also spent time downstairs in a room where we all smelled tobacco smoke. The capitol has a no-smoking policy, but the smell was as strong as if someone were standing next to us smoking. Several members of our research team spent time in the Geologist’s Office during the investigation, where they reported hearing voices in the room.

  After meeting with the historian who accompanied us and had organized the overnight research event, we learned that Governor Vance is regarded as the most popular governor that the state of North Carolina has ever had. Vance was a state legislator at 24, a congressman at 28, and a Confederate colonel at 31, with his own company called the Rough and Ready Guards. Vance was elected governor at the age of 32. He was elected governor of North Carolina three times and served as a United States senator for 15 years. He was originally an attorney and practiced law in Asheville before being elected solicitor for Buncombe County.

  The governor was known as a man who took care of his state and his people, regardless of what difficulties he faced. During the Civil War, supplies of food, clothing, medical necessities, and other goods were scarce for troops and the people of the state. Turning to every place he could to seek help, he eventually agreed to blockade running in order to care for everyone in need. He organized supply depots to distribute the goods fairly, and he was known as a kind and compassionate man who cared for the citizens of the state.

  During the Civil War, as Fort Fisher fell to Union troops, General Sherman moved toward Raleigh and Governor Vance was arrested and taken to prison in Washington, where he was held for several months in 1865.

  Upon his release, he practiced law in Charlotte and ran for state senate. He won the election but was unable to take the seat in 1870 due to the 14th amendment, which states in Section 3: “No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may, by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.”

  This statue dedicated to the Women of the Confederacy has frequent reports of a grey mist rising around it. Orbs are seen in the corner of the building (seen here in the background) from the capitol windows.

  He fought against this amendment and won, and was seated in 1872. He then ran for governor in 1876 and brought new energy to the state, resuming railroad construction, promoting industry, escorting the last of the federal troops out of the state, and creating a more stable financial structure for the state. He spoke valiantly about moving forward to create a “New South” and looking forward to new progress, rather than focusing on what had occurred in the past. Vance died in office on April 14, 1894, and was buried in Asheville.

  I’ve gone back to visit the capitol several other times, but it’s completely different during the daytime, as the amount of people in the building makes it virtually impossible to hear anything out of the ordinary. The night of the investigation we were able to cover every square inch of the building, and we had the entire night to do so. During the day, the tours are conducted only through certain sections of the building. One fun anomaly, though, is to stand in the rotunda area. Due to the design of the room, there is one area where you can stand and quietly whisper something that will be heard loud and clear around the room; it’s fascinating. I’ve often wondered how many freshmen legislators are taken to that spot and asked a question that they might not have shared publicly with others, only to discover the anomaly for themselves upon answering.

  You don’t even have to enter the capitol building to meet the ghosts. Orbs are reported frequently on the grounds of the capitol, by the windows, and around many of the statues on the lawn. The best time to walk around the area to see orbs and ghosts is in the late evening, when things are quiet and you can stroll around the lawn in the peaceful night. Bring a recorder along, as you might be surprised to find the number of EVPs that you’ll pick up, especially around the statue of the woman and boy, which was dedicated to the ladies of the Confederacy.

  ESP and Parapsychology at the Rhine Research Center

  The Society of Psychical Research (SPR) was founded in London in
1882 to study paranormal phenomena including telepathy, hauntings, and the effects of spiritualism. SPR became the model for other paranormal research organizations to adopt, and in 1885 the American Society for Psychical Research (ASPR) began its work. In 1911, Stanford University became the first American institution to study ESP (extrasensory perception) and PK (psychokinesis). In 1927, Joseph (J.B.) and Louisa Rhine joined Duke University, and in 1930 J.B. began to undertake the study of ESP, which was referred to at the time as psychical research, making Duke the second institution in the country to engage in critical study of psychic phenomena. ESP is the psi ability to detect energy or receive information through means other than the five senses or direct communication. Working with William McDougall, J.B. began his work by studying mediums in order to search for evidence of the afterlife.

  J.B. Rhine used zener cards (a set of five cards with a different symbol on each: circle, star, wavy lines, square, and a Greek cross) to test students at Duke for their ESP abilities. The cards were shuffled, and students were asked to guess which symbol was on the card drawn. If they tested above the average norm of lucky guesses, they were considered to be accessing some form of clairvoyance. Rhine also used dice machines to see if some students could move the objects through their thoughts in order to gather statistical data. By 1935, the Duke Parapsychology Lab was formed, where experiments grew and the science of parapsychology was created. Parapsychology is the study of phenomena including telepathy, PK, TK (telekinesis), clairvoyance, and other psi abilities.