This paper has been written for Buffalo State College class COM 336 Web Publishing and Social Media. The class is taught by Professor Pabico.
Buffalo and the surrounding areas are known for their paranormal history. Many ghost tour groups give paranormal enthusiasts a chance to walk thought these places and possibly see their own siting. Many spirits mentioned are still haunting to this day.
The Riviera Theater located at 67 Webster st in North Tonawanda NY, is visited by two apparitions. One apparition is of a construction worker fell off the roof during its construction in 1926. Another apparition is Mary, a 12 year old girl who died while preforming on stage.
"A photo by SamSmathers")]] Riviera Theater 67 Webster st, North Tonawanda
Cardinal O'Hara's ghost has been seen in the former St. Peter's German Evangelical Church. Scene the 19th century the church has been known as Tonawanda-Kenmore Historical Society. Many passers by have tried giving this woman in a white flowing dress a ride but, when they reach the destination there is no woman to be found. Miss O'Hara has also been seen near Del-Ton Plaza which is not far from the Historical Society.
Hanna Johnson also known as “Black Hanna” or “Aunt Hanna” haunts 338 Sweeney. Aunt Hanna was born into slavery but moved to North Tonawanda using the underground railroad. Hanna moved to 338 Sweeney st with John Chadawick man who's relation to her was unknown although he lived in a big house while Hanna lived in a shack just out side the woods behind the Chadawick house. When Hanna was alive all the kids and young women in town visited her regularly, she was the town story teller. Hanna passed away in 1883, she is now located at the Sweeney Cemetery the exact plot is unknown. When the cabin was gone wild flowers began growing in its place.
ElmLawn Cemetery in the early 1900s was known as shell farm. You can see orbs in the cemetery grounds between midnight and 3am. A woman and a man got married in the church on the grounds. The woman walked across the street and was hit by a carriage. Some people have said some nights you can see her ghost crossing the street.
"A photo by SamSmathers")]]
There are rumors that at the White Haven Cemetery in Grand Island a head stone glows. There have also been reports of a man who died in the Gulf War and he is looking for his pregnant wife. At the Holiday Inn right next to the cemetery, people say there is a young girl named Tanya who haunts it. Guests say they hear her swimming in the pool and running around playfully.
Tuscarora Wallace “Mad Bear” is a Native American legend. It begins with a man who was on a first name basis with the Dali Lama, Martin Luther King, JR and Ted Kennedy. One night he invited some friends over and served them a tea that had a potion in it which “Mad Bear” said helped him think. The concoction made some of his friends tired and made others hear things that weren't really there. It turns out that his friends were not loosing their minds.
"A photo by SamSmathers")]]
Shea's Theater in Buffalo has said to be haunted by a friendly elderly man who dresses in a flannel shirt and has a white mustache. This mas asks if something is wonderful then he vanishes. Some say the man is Mr Shea. Shea's made to resemble European opera houses was opened in January 1926 and showed silent pictures.
Some people say you can see people appear in front of the windows and strange lights on where The Buffalo Psychiatric Center on Forest Ave which was finished in 1895. Down the road is the Forest Lawn Cemetery and first opened in 1849 giving tours to see head stones of John Albright, Millard Fillmore and others. Some say that the cemetery is haunted by an Indian chief, possibly Wallace “Mad Bear”. There are also a lot of fighters that were buried there from the1812, most of them in mass graves. The spirit of Red Jacket, a Seneca Indian who passed in 1830. The location of his remains is questionable some say they were taken from Forest Lawn to the Cattaraugus Indian Reservation, some don't think they were moved at all.
The Iron Triangle Museum has been featured on the Syfy show Ghost Hunters. Employees at the Iron Triangle Museum say objects like to move by themselves and they hear unidentifiable noises. The sounds of kids playing can be heard in one of the rooms. An orb can be seen near a church alter that was donated to the museum.
Buffalo's Old Central Train Terminal was finished in June of 1929. The show Ghost Hunters have also visited the terminal, where they saw full body shadows. The Ghost Hunters also say that they can hear a female cry for help coming from an elevator shaft. The Ghost Hunters recorded some unexplained voices.
The ships at the military park at Buffalo Place may be haunted. The Sullivans are five brothers who are believed to be some of the ghosts who haunt the USS Juneau after it was sunk by the Japanese in 1942. The USS Juneau was later moved to Buffalo NY in 1977. Some visitors say they feel their ankles being grabbed at as they walk around the ship.
The Summit Mansion used to be part of the underground rail road. Some visitors at the old tavern across the street see figures in the windows. They also say that the slaves that lived here were unhappy with their lifestyle. Because of this unhappiness the slaves slowly went insane and killed the family and then turned on each other. In the 1990s there was some restoration going on but it was never finished, the contractors got spooked and left. The Manson is abandoned but tightly locked up, people who feel the presence of spirits always say they are not pleasant ones. The Mansion also goes by the Hitchings House or Mount Providence.
In the early 1900s Goundry Street was a nice street it had a red brick road, many small lumber companies and with those lumber companies came houses with fancy wood work. Many houses had large front windows and balconies. Many Ghost tours venture down Goundry street throughout the fall season.
The De Graff House was built between 1882 and 1884 was built by James De Graff a bank president. The house had the first indoor pluming and an elevator in the area. James donated the land for the building of the hospital in the memory of his parents.
In the Fall of 1890 located on 170 Schenck St was The Evangelical Friends Church which was finished being built in the town of North Tonawanda in, 2001 it became the Starry Night Theater also called Ghostlight Theater. The church was built for German immigrants that were separated by the building of the Erie Canal.
"A photo by SamSmathers")]] 170 Schenck St North Tonawanda NY
These are just a few of the places in Buffalo NY that are haunted. You could plan a whole day of visiting the Buffalo area and still not see all of the places that are said to be haunted.
"Links" 1.Tonawanda-News.com 2.reeddj.wordpress.com 3.niagarafallsundergroundrailroad.org 4.niagara-gazette.com 5.masonwinfeld.com 6.unexplainable.net 7.nthistorymuseum.org 8.syfy.com/ghosthunters 9.paranormalghostsociety.org
