DOWNTOWN NEW HAVEN SITES:
Harkness Memorial Dormitory
367 Cedar St. (Near Yale-New Haven Hospital)
A collection of human brains in jars of formaldehyde had been gathering dust and mythological status in the basement of Harkness Memorial Dormitory since the middle of the 20th century. Christopher Wahl, a resident of the dorm and student at the medical school, had heard the rumors about the collection and took it upon himself to explore (without permission) the subterranean reaches of the building. In 1996, he rediscovered the brains, hundreds of them lining the shelves of the subbasement along with thousands of photographs, and wrote his degree thesis about the collection.
The collection belonged to Harvey Cushing, M.D., the country’s leading neurosurgeon during the early 1900s, who pioneered sterilization procedures that reduced infection, a leading cause of death during brain surgeries. Cushing took thousands of eerie photographs of his patients to reflect the various symptoms of various conditions, from swollen or emaciated hands to the visible outline of the brain on the scalp of a living patient suffering from acromelagy. The haunting collection of brains and patient photographs are still housed in the subbasement at Harkness Memorial Dormitory.
Visit?
While Harkness Memorial Dormitory is a private building and not open to the public, Downtown New Haven offers several places you can explore.
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Skull & Bones Secret Society
High St. (Near Chapel Street)
Yale’s most prestigious secret society, Skull and Bones is steeped in secrecy and longstanding tradition. Members, known as “Bonesmen,” include three U.S. presidents and several U.S. senators, business moguls, university presidents and Olympic athletes. The secret society was formed in 1832 and construction of its current home, the “tomb,” began in 1856 and ended with the addition of its two back towers in 1911. Bonesmen are sworn to secrecy about anything that happens inside the tomb, so the traditions and rituals of the society remain an enigma and a constant source of curiosity for those on the outside. While the tomb on its own has a foreboding and downright creepy presence, the ghost of Geronimo, the famous Apache chief, also reportedly haunts the grounds.
A Yale historian all but verified that some of the skeletal remains of the chief, including his skull and a femur, are stowed away in the Skull and Bones’ tomb. It is widely believed that Bonesmen—including Prescott Bush, George H.W. Bush’s father and George W. Bush’s grandfather—stole the remains from the chief’s burial site at Fort Sill, Oklahoma where they were stationed in the First World War. One of the club’s initiation rituals reportedly requires new members to kiss the skull.
Visit?
Skull and Bones is for members only, but you can visit Yale University, Chapel Street shops and restaurants, Yale Repertory Theatre, and Yale Art Gallery.
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Woolsey Hall at Yale
500 College St. (Corner of College and Grove Streets)
Woolsey Hall was built as part of the Beaux-Artes Bicentennial Building in 1902 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the founding of Yale University. It is the University’s main auditorium and is home to the New Haven Symphony Orchestra, the Yale Bands, the Yale Symphony Orchestra, the Yale Philharmonia, the Yale Glee Club and the Davenport Pops Orchestra. The auditorium features the Newberry Memorial Organ, one of the largest organs in the world with over 12,500 pipes.
At the center of this haunting is the giant Newberry Memorial Organ. Both students and staff have reported hearing the Organ being played behind the locked doors of the auditorium when no one could possibly be inside. Some have even been inside when the Organ mysteriously began to play music with no one at the bench. The hauntings didn’t start until the classic-style hall was refitted to accommodate rock concerts in the 1960s. Jimi Hendrix played there on November 17, 1968. Since the rock concerts started in what was intended to be a classical hall, workers there became aware of a “menacing and melancholic” presence in the auditorium, especially in the basement and organ chambers. The sensations became so strong that workers refused to go to certain areas alone, especially in the evening.
As legend has it, the phantoms wandering the auditorium and playing the Organ are likely two former professors, both appointed official University Organists in their respective eras and both forced against their will to retire from their Yale positions. Harry Jepson, Yale’s first University Organist and a key player in bringing the Newberry organ to the school, left the school in the 1940s and died at his home near the University in 1952.
Visit?
The Beaux-Arts Bicentennial Building is usually open during the day to the public and can be accessed through the front doors at the corner of College and Grove Streets. Woolsey Hall is only open for performances. Want to get a closer look at the organ? Attend a concert! Visit www.newhavensymphony.com for more information.
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New Haven Green
Bounded by Chapel, Church, Elm and College Streets
New Haven was incorporated as a Town in 1638. One year after its founding in 1638, eight streets were laid out in a grid of four streets by four streets creating what is now commonly known as the "Nine Square Plan” which is recognized by the American Institute of Certified Planners as a National Historic Planning Landmark. The central common block is the New Haven Green, a 16-acre square, now a National Historic Landmark and the center of Downtown New Haven. The New Haven Green, or “Common and Undivided Land,” was the center of business and worship. The town Green included the three worship houses and was a preserved open space available for use by all the town’s people.
After severe yellow fever epidemics in 1794 and 1795 the Green, which held perhaps as many as 5,000 burials, was simply too crowded to continue as the chief burial ground and thus the graves were moved to Grove Street Cemetery, the first chartered burial ground in the United States. It is often said that while walking on the Green you should watch your step—it might be someone’s bones you are tripping over.
Visit?
The Green remains a public gathering place, and many events take place there year round.
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Grove Street Cemetery
Entrance on Grove St. near High St.
When the grave stones were removed from the New Haven Green, they were moved here, leaving many spirits to wander in search of their resting places. Several notable figures of New Haven’s past are buried here, including Eli Whitney, inventor of the cotton gin; Theophilus Eaton, first governor of New Haven; and Noah Webster, creator of the Webster Dictionary.
Visit: Tours given every Saturday from early May through November. Visit www.grovestreetcemetery.org for more information.
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Center Church on the Green
311 Temple St.
This church was established in 1639, though the current building was built in 1812 on top of many graves. The gravesites were preserved in a crypt tucked away in the basement of the church which now contains the identified remains of 137 people and likely over 1,000 remains that are unidentified. Among the identified are city founder Theophilus Eaton and Margaret Arnold, Benedict Arnold's first wife. Tour guides have said that more than a few tour-goers have felt paranormal activity and the presence of ghosts.
Visit?
Tours of the crypt take place April - October 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
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GREATER NEW HAVEN AREA SITES: (in alphabetical order by town)
Guilford Town Green
Bound by Whitfield, Boston, Park and Broad Streets, Guilford
The Story: The Green was the original site of the Episcopal and Congregational Churches. Their cemeteries were located there as well. The stones were removed but the graves remain. There have been many ghost sightings on and around The Green.
Visit?
The Green is public property and hosts many events throughout the year.
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Henry Whitfield State Museum
248 Old Whitfield St, Guilford
Over the last 365 years, the house that is now the museum has changed in both form and function—from minister's home and community stronghold to tenant farm to state museum and National Historic Landmark. Bones were found on the property when the ground was excavated to build a parking area. The Bones were from pre-colonial time as verified by archeologists.
Visit?
The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., April 4 - December 14.
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Charles Island
Off the coast of Silver Sands Beach, Meadow Side Road south of Route 1, Milford
Charles Island, off of Silver Sands Beach, was the point of conflict between English settlers and Wepawaug Indians. Since the Indians’ defeat, the land has been host to a small colony, a retreat for nuns and home to notorious Captain Kidd’s treasure. It now serves a bird sanctuary. The island is said to be haunted by an Indian curse that doesn’t allow any living thing to thrive or survive on the land.
Visit?
The Island is accessible at low tide, but don't get caught out there when the tide rises. Each June a Pirate Festival is held in downtown Milford to honor Captain Kidd and Charles Island.
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Black Rock Fort & Fort Nathan Hale
Woodward Ave., New Haven
Black Rock Fort was constructed in the spring of 1776, by order of the Connecticut Colony, on a prominent basalt ledge jutting the harbor on the east side and in range of the ship channel, thus protecting the approach to the Port of New Haven. On July 5, 1779, superior British forces landed from war ships, attacked the fort and captured its 19 defenders. The enemy was then able to march into New Haven. At the close of the Revolution, Black Rock Fort was abandoned. When the political situation again deteriorated between Americans and British in the early 1800s, a new fortification was erected by the Federal Government, complete with masonry walls, six guns, magazine and barracks for fifty men. It was named Fort Nathan Hale for one of Connecticut's most illustrious patriots. During the War of 1812, Fort Hale's cannons successfully defied a number of British raiders threatening New Haven.
Along the beach where a battle took place, there are underground bunkers. They are blocked off with gates, but inside the bunkers there have been sightings of glowing green orbs, and ghostly figures of soldiers have also been seen.
Visit?
The Visitor Center is open daily from Memorial Weekend to Labor Day, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Admission is free.
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Evergreen Cemetery, Midnight Mary:
The grave of Mary E. Hart, 769 Ella T. Grasso Blvd., New Haven
The 150 year-old cemetery is home to the legend of Midnight Mary. It is said that, being mistook for dead, Mary Hart was buried alive at midnight in 1872. The legend continues that on the night of the funeral Mary’s sister woke up from nightmares about Mary screaming from the grave.
At the top of her grave are the words: The people shall be troubled at midnight and pass away. The rest of her grave reads: At high noon just from, and about to renew her daily work, in her full strength of body and mind, Mary E. Hart, having fallen prostrate, remained unconscious, until she died at midnight.
Mary still haunts her gravestone, and it is said that those who have visited the grave at midnight have suffered mysterious deaths.
Visit?
The cemetery is open to the public.
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Lighthouse Point Park
2 Lighthouse Point Rd., New Haven
In 1924 the City of New Haven purchased Lighthouse Point Park from the East Shore Amusement Company. City residents came to the park to enjoy swimming, ferry boat rides to Savin Rock, track meets, football games, field days and baseball leagues in the old grandstand/ballpark. In the roaring 20s, the park attracted legends Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb to Sunday afternoon games.
The hurricane of 1938 ripped through the park, destroying many buildings and trees. In 1950 the City was able to make major improvements at the park including a new bathhouse, a first aid station and concession stands. A small amusement park was added and the beach was greatly improved.
Today, the park attracts thousands to the public beach to enjoy the beauty of Long Island Sound. Devoted anglers take advantage of the fishing pier and a public boat launch that is available for leisure craft. Picnic tables dot the grounds, shaded by trees and pavilions. Kids can enjoy the playground and swings.
It is said that at around midnight you can hear the carousel running and children giggling.
Visit?
Park Hours: Gates open from 7 a.m. to sunset year round. Summer season from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day. Parking Fees - Summer Season: New Haven registered vehicles - No charge; Non-New Haven registered vehicles - $10.00; Season Pass - $50.00
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Maxcy Hall, University of New Haven
300 Orange Ave., New Haven
In 1909, this building was the New Haven County Temporary Home for Children—better known as the local orphanage. In 1930, a little boy was allegedly beaten to death by staff. There have been documented reports of people having heard kids playing and balls bouncing in the empty halls, and a little boy has been seen in various rooms.
Visit?
Maxcy Hall is a private building and can be viewed from the outside.
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Stone Otis House
615 Orange Center Rd., Orange
It is reported that a group of people on tour of the Stone Otis House became uneasy in the area behind the stairs and the back bedroom, and said they had trouble breathing. They asked to go into the cellar, so the tour guide took them downstairs. When they came to the same spot where they felt distressed upstairs, they again had the same feelings. After the group left, the town historian walked the property prior to closing up. When she was outside she noticed a chain attached to the chimney—right near the same troubled location.
Researching the chain, the historian found that Dennis Stone, one of the people the house is named for, served as town constable. During that time in 1889, a man named Ira Clark was murdered—his throat was slit behind the Clark barn. David Bowen, a worker at Clark’s farm, went to Stone to report the murder. It is said that he had a love interest in Clark’s wife.
Suspicious of Bowen, Stone followed his wagon tracks which lead to George’s Cellar Road (today’s Turkey Hill Road) and then tracked his footprints to the back of Clark’s Barn where he found the murdered man. The constable arrested Bowen and chained him to the chimney at his home (the Stone Otis House). It was the weekend so Stone took his prisoner to church with him where the parishioners wanted to hang Bowen then and there. They acted so badly that on Monday when the State Magistrate came to prosecute Bowen, he released him because of the way the church goers acted. Bowen was said to have been so angry that he wanted to spit in the eye of the minister.
Years later some workman found clothes hidden in a rock wall on Clark’s farm property that were stained with blood—clothes that Bowen was known to wear and the same clothes no one saw him in after the murder. Bowen and Mrs. Ira Clark ran off, leaving her children with Clark’s brother. Years later Mrs. Clark returned destitute, and stayed with her brother-in-law until the day she died.
It is believed that Bowen haunts the area of the house where he was chained to the chimney.
Visit?
Open June through October every Sunday, 1 - 4 p.m.
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Moses Y. Beach Elementary School
340 North Main St., Wallingford
In 1868, Moses Yale Beach, founder of the Associated Press, gave land to the city of Wallingford on the condition that it only be used for educational purposes. Two years later, Wallingford High School was built. In 1878, a tornado ripped through the region and reduced the school to rubble. The North Main Street School took its place. In 1941, the North Main Street School was torn down to make way for the present day Moses Y. Beach Elementary School.
Although the current school was built in 1941, the ghosts of its predecessors seem to have permanently moved into Moses Y. Beach and continue to haunt its halls. Tragedy occupies the land no matter what building stands on it. Rumor has it that a student once fell to his death through the roof of Wallingford High School, the first school erected there. A few years later, a rare tornado ripped through the school on what may have been prom night. When a new school was built in its place, the auditorium was used as a morgue during a town disaster.
The tragedies of the school’s past now invisibly haunt its present. CreepyConnecticut.net reports that the police have often received calls from the neighbors complaining of what sounds like a party inside the school with voices and loud music. When the police arrive, they hear the noise and see lights and shadows under the doors, but when they open the doors the building goes dark and silent. Students and faculty have also reported a wide variety of everyday spooks inside the school, from electronics being turned on and off to voices coming from empty, locked rooms to full-bodied apparitions. Even one of the school’s historic artifacts appears to be evidence of the school’s haunted past. In an 1878 photo of the first school hanging in the current school’s office, a ghost appears to be standing along the roof’s edge with his back turned and his hands in his pockets.
Visit?
Moses Y. Beach Elementary School is a public school that you can view from the outside but you can’t wander the halls like its ghostly residents. While in Wallingford, visit a number of great downtown shops!
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Savin Rock, Old Casino
Captain Thomas Blvd., West Haven
This site is said to be haunted by a woman of relatively low social stature who was found floating face-down in Long Island Sound off West Haven in 1881. This strikingly pretty 20-year-old daughter of a cigar-maker came to be known as "The Belle of New Haven," and though she had been seen frequently in the company of young people of questionable character, she had never been a "loose" girl. The autopsy of Jennie Cramer revealed that she had not drowned, but had been savagely raped and poisoned with arsenic just before her death. Three people were put on trial for her murder: two scions of the wealthy Malley department store family, and their prostitute friend from New York. It was believed that the victim was killed to prevent her disclosure of the date rape by one of the young men, but they were likewise acquitted. Arsenic Under the Elms meticulously reviews the evidence, the personalities involved, and the society that produced them, resulting in a mesmerizing contribution to the literature of true crime.
Visit?
Savin Rock is a public boardwalk with lots of activity especially in the summer. While you’re there, visit the famous Jimmy’s Restaurant and Savin Rock Museum.
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