The Phantom of the First Unitarian in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

On a dark and eerie Christmas night in 1894, the First Unitarian Society of Milwaukee found itself at the heart of an extraordinary event. The old church building, known for its long-standing commitment to social justice and activism, had become the center of a ghost investigation in the previous weeks. 



A spectral figure, often seen casting a ghostly glow at the church's grand entrance, had sparked curiosity among the locals. The figure, appearing frequently on somber, moonless nights, was a luminous specter, the glowing outline of a person, that had the whole community buzzing that December. This ghostly apparition was not just a flickering phantasm that vanished as swiftly as it appeared but it had made the paper because a Milwaukee Journal reporter staked out the church and had seen it for himself.

Inspired by the enigmatic phantom, a daring young woman decided to dress up and impersonate the apparition. Draped in a white sheet to mimic the ghostly glow, she attempted to recreate the mysterious sightings that had held the city in its thrall. However, her act of mischief did not go unnoticed.

On that fateful Christmas night, a vigilant police officer, alert to the tales of the spectral presence, spotted her. As she tried to flee, her white sheet, her only disguise, flew off, revealing her identity. The chase ended with her capture, but the actual phantom was never caught. In fact, the Milwaukee Journal made it clear in the story of her arrest: "The young lady is not the Unitarian ghost mentioned in Saturday's Journal. It was to impersonate the real ghost that she went to the church."

The Freezing Ghost of Julie in New Orleans

In the heart of New Orleans' historic French Quarter, a tragic tale of love and loss happened at 732 Royal Street. This story revolves around Julie, an a mixed race mistress bound by the social norms of the 1800s (when slavery was still enforced.) She found herself in a passionate relationship with a wealthy Creole man, who kept her lavishly in a grand townhouse at that address. However, Julie yearned for more than material comfort and social status - she desired the sanctity of marriage.

One fateful winter night, in a desperate attempt to prove her undying love and commitment, she agreed to a daunting challenge presented by her lover. He, believing that she would never follow through, suggested she stand naked on the townhouse rooftop until dawn. If she could endure the freezing cold, he would take her as his wife, or so he claimed. However, Julie took the challenge to heart, leading to tragic consequences. She froze to death on the rooftop, her love for the man proving fatal.



Despite this tragic end, Julie's story did not conclude with her death. Her spirit, it seems, was too strong to be quelled by the icy grasp of mortality. She continues to haunt the building where she once resided, her ghostly naked apparition particularly active on cold December nights, the very type of night that claimed her life. She is said to roam the building, her presence felt in the chill of the air and the whisper of her name.

The building, now occupied by the Rodrigue Gallery, has become a hotspot for those intrigued by the supernatural. Visitors to the gallery have reported sightings of Julie's restless spirit, her ethereal presence adding an eerie charm to the place. The gallery itself is an homage to the rich history and culture of New Orleans, the art within its walls echoing stories of the city, including that of Julie.

So, if you find yourself wandering the streets of New Orleans, perhaps you might venture to Royal Street. Look up at the grand old townhouse, now an art gallery, and who knows? You might catch a glimpse of Julie, the ghostly reminder of a love that transcended life itself as well as a beautiiful city with a complicated past. 

El Chupacabra in San Juan, Puerto Rico

In 1995, Puerto Rico became the epicenter of a mysterious phenomenon that captivated the island and sent shockwaves through the paranormal community—the sudden and unexplained appearance of the Chupacabra. This mythical creature, known for its blood-sucking tendencies and eerie appearances, became the focal point of numerous sightings and fueled a wave of speculation and fear across the island.

The legend of the Chupacabra, whose name translates to "goat-sucker" in Spanish, had been circulating in Latin American folklore since at least the 1970s, but However, it wasn't unti the sighting in March 1995 that the creature burst into the public consciousness with a series of reported sightings in Puerto Rico. Descriptions varied, but common features included a creature with reptilian or alien-like characteristics, sharp fangs, and a thirst for the blood of livestock, especially goats.

And for some reason, it was Christmas time on the island, where most of the sightings occured. In December 1995, the mysterious creature was blamed for a series of animal deaths, often characterized by bloodless bodies and puncture marks. On December 7, bloodless chickens and cows were found near Guanica, Puerto Rico. A week later, several caged rabbits were found dead in Naguabo, with similar characteristics. On December 18, local tabloids suggested that vampire bats might be responsible for these incidents. On December 21, a 44-year-old man reportedly fought off a five feet tall black-haired "gorilla" near Guanica. The same day, a pregnant heifer was found dead and mutilated in Klamath Falls. On December 26, a woman discovered her Siamese cat dead with its genitals removed, and her guinea hens and other animals were also found dead under strange circumstances.

While there would be more sightings in Puerto Rico, starting in 1996 and especially in May of that year, sightings moved from the Caribbean island to the mainland as sightings started in earnest in Miami and in Mexico. 1995 was the heyday of Puerto Rico Chupacabra sightings and it was Christmastime when the beast was most active. 

Boardner's in Hollywood

Boardner's, a famous bar and shooting location Hollywood (Ed Wood, L.A. Confidential, Bosch, and Beverly Hills, 90210 all shot scenes there) has a rich Tinseltown history and that means it's full of ghost stories. One of the most well-known tales is that of Elizabeth Short, better known as the "Black Dahlia." Short, a frequent patron of Boardner's, was a tragic figure whose unsolved murder has fascinated Los Angeles for decades. Some believe her spirit haunts the bar, particularly the ladies' restroom.

Another ghostly presence at the bar is a mysterious male figure seen at the top of the stairs leading to an upstairs office. This apparition could potentially be the spirit of Steve Boardner, the bar's namesake who passed away in 2007 at the ripe old age of 93, or a homeless man who was allowed to sleep in the room and reportedly died there.

Perhaps the most obvious Christmas connection is the story of Kurt Richter, the man who bought Boardner's in 1980. Richter, alongside Dave Hadley, created TVX, which distributed the first X-rated home videotapes. They sold these tapes from a store called Video City, located across the street from Boardner's. In 1980, Hadley and Richter bought the bar from its original owner, Steve Boardner. However, their businesses, TVX and Video City, eventually folded, and they became full-time club owners. Kurt Richter tragically suffered a heart attack inside Boardners on Christmas Eve in 1997. His spirit is another contender for the unidentified male ghost and a forever link for one of Hollywood's most storied bars to the Yuletide. 

Resurrection Mary in Chicago

"Resurrection Mary" is the Spectral Queen of Chicago. This phantom figure, known for her vanishing acts and her mysterious connection to Archer Avenue, has long been a source of Windy City ghostlore. However, one aspect of the legend that often goes unnoticed is its unique connection to the Christmas season.

Some accounts imply that on the night of Mary's tragic death, she was at a Christmas dance or even an event celebrating Advent, the Christian season preceding Christmas. And the fact that many of Mary's sightings occur in December seem to lead to that conclusion.

After a heated argument with her boyfriend at a dance held in the Oh Henry (later Willowbrook) Ballroom, Mary decided to brave the cold night and walk home alone. However, her journey was cut short when she was hit by a passing car whose driver, overcome with panic, fled the scene, leaving Mary fatally wounded.

In the aftermath, her devastated parents laid her to rest in Resurrection Cemetery, dressed in her favorite party attire and her dancing shoes. Since that sad day, it's said that Mary's spirit has been seen wandering along Archer Avenue, seemingly attempting to return to her final resting place.

Over the years, numerous drivers have reported picking up a blonde, young female hitchhiker along Archer Avenue or dancing with a woman at Willowbrook Ballroom and when she asks for a ride home, gives vague directions and then inexplicably vanishes when they approach Resurrection Cemetery. A unique story involves a cab driver who picked up Mary on a cold January night. She was confused and disoriented, making vague statements before suddenly disappearing from the cab.

While many have claimed to meet the Resurrection Mary, the identity of the young woman who actually died is still disputed. Either way, if you're driving down Archer Avenue near Christmastime, keep an eye out for this enigmatic beauty.

An Invisible Hand in Hawaii (The Big Island)

On Christmas Day of 1915, in the coastal region of Keaukaha near Hilo on the island of Hawaii, two local women, Kawaikuhea and Elena, decided to spend their Christmas picking opihi, a type of shellfish, from a nearby rocky island. It was a simple task, but on this day, it took an utterly unexpected turn. Elena, who had jumped into the water first, suddenly cried out in fear, floating motionlessly on the water. Kawaikuhea, alarmed by Elena's cry, tried to pull her towards the island. However, a mysterious force seemed to be holding Elena in place, an "invisible hand' rendering her immobile despite Kawaikuhea's desperate attempts.

Kawaikuhea finally swam back to the island and called for help. Elena's husband, who was nearby, quickly plunged into the sea to help, along with some other men. Upon reaching Elena, he found her still floating and unresponsive to his words. Even their combined efforts failed to move Elena.

The turning point came when Elena's husband fetched the roots of a puhala (a screwpine tree whose sap has healing properties in traditional Hawaiian medicine.) Armed with this, he dived back into the water towards Elena. Miraculously, upon his intervention with the puhala, the mysterious hand that seemed to hold Elena in place released its grip. Elena's husband, with the help of others, was finally able to bring her to the shore.

Back on land, Elena was initially unresponsive, unable to move or hear. However, after about 15 minutes, she regained consciousness. In her statement, Elena expressed that while she was floating in the water, it felt like someone or something was holding her around her waist. Despite her desire to cry out for help, she found herself incapable of uttering a word. This simple Christmas day activity, turned into a haunting struggle against an unseen force. 

A Poltergeist in Kennebunk, Maine

At the Kennebunk Inn, guests can expect more than just delicious food and cozy accommodations. They might also encounter the inn's resident ghost. For decades, staff, owners, and guests have reported a series of inexplicable occurrences that have added an eerie layer to the inn's rich history.

This ghost, believed to be a night watchman who passed away while on duty some 50 years ago, has a unique personality trait – mischief. It appears that the spirit has a penchant for moving objects. Instances of glasses levitating off tables and a hefty fire-alarm box flying across the tavern not once, but twice, have been reported. Tools in the basement, the alleged home of the former watchman, have a tendency to disappear, only to reappear in the most unexpected places months later.

Even during the holidays, the ghost doesn’t rest. On Christmas Eve, a tale told by a former guest named Kathy Dolan and her sister, who were the only guests at the inn that night, adds an extra layer of festive spookiness. They were awakened at midnight not by the chimes of Christmas bells, but by the sound of opera music. The source? An empty room next door. The music continued to fill the halls until dawn, only to stop as mysteriously as it had started.

Renowned paranormal investigator and cryptozoologist Loren Coleman has validated the inn's status as a "classic haunted place." His research, covering thousands of unexplained and odd occurrences across the country, categorizes the Kennebunk Inn's spirit as a poltergeist – a noisy ghost known for moving objects and causing unexplained sounds.

A Phantom Pianist in St. Paul, Minnesota

The Ramsey Hill neighborhood is among the most historic and beautiful neighborhoods in the Twin Cities. One of the most interesting houses in the neighborhood is on Portland Avenue, a 6500 square foor manse built in 1886. Its most famous resident was the daughter-in-law of James J. Hill, the American railroad executive and founder of the Great Northern Railway. Maud Hill, a socialite from the Jazz Age lived there for thirty years after she separated from her husband, Louis J. Hill, in 1934. It appears Maud loved a good party so much she never wanted to leave. Louis would have his own historic home on 260 Summit just down the street from his father's mansion, the also-haunted James J. Hill House.

According to a 2019 Minneapolis Star-Tribune article, the current owner of Maud's old digs, Stan Berger, said the previous resident as well as his own daughter reported sightings of an ethereal woman who would make appearances during festive gatherings. They were later browsing portraits at the Minneapolis Institute of Art identified the spectral figure as Maud Hill. A particularly vivid encounter occurred during Berger's daughter's 18th birthday party. As the attendees began singing Christmas carols, they all noticed a spectral figure playing the piano and turning the pages of sheet music for a brief five minutes. Despite the clear vision of her, no music could be heard from the piano. Looks like Maud was a big Christmas fan as well as a partier.



From all of us at American Ghost Walks, we hope you have a very haunted Christmas and spooky New Year! We're looking forward to showing you more of our favorite ghost stories in person on one of our tours very soon...