Lindsey Wilson College
Columbia, Kentucky
Lindsey Wilson College was founded in January 1903 as Lindsey Wilson Training School. The school was named in memory of Lindsey Wilson, the deceased nephew and stepson of Catherine Wilson of Louisville, Ky. Mrs. Wilson contributed $6,000 toward construction of one of the school's first buildings, which now serves as the L.R. McDonald Administration Building. The training school opened for classes in January 1904. In its early years, Lindsey Wilson educated grades one through 12. In 1923, the school's curriculum was reorganized and a college department offering a junior college degree was added. In 1934, Lindsey Wilson closed its academy and the school became exclusively a junior college. The college, however, maintained a Model Training School from 1933 through 1979. Located between the soccer field and the gym is Horton Hall. The second floor of this building is said to be haunted by an aggressive dark shadowy figure. It is reported that this dark figure lifts up the ceiling tiles and shakes them violently. Others claim that if you lay still and are very quiet, the dark shadow will climb out of the ceiling and into the room. Once in the room if the shadow sees you it will let out an almost deafening screeching sound and climb back up into the ceiling.
Whitehaven
Paducah, Kentucky
Whitehaven was built in the 1860's by Edward L. Anderson. The house remained in the Anderson family till 1903 when it was sold to a local bank clerk named Ed I. Atkins. He was the one to name the house Whitehaven. The house was remodeled to a Classical Revival style and the six Corinthian pillars were added along with the stained glass. The next owner was the mayor of Paducah, James P. Smith who purchased the house in 1908. He and his wife had six children so they added six bedrooms to the house. He also renamed the house "Bide-A-Wee," Scottish adage for "Come Rest A While." The family remained until 1968 when they abandoned it believing it was going to be torn down to build a highway which now runs in front of it. The house remained empty and was subject to extensive damage and vandalism until 1981 when it was purchased and restored once again. The mansion opened in 1983 as Whitehaven Tourist Welcome Centre. Many visitors to the house have paranormal experiences. They have reported the smell of a delicious holiday feast being prepared in the employees’ break room which used to be the kitchen. Guests and employees alike have reported seeing the apparition of a woman on the balcony of the second floor bedroom. She is believed to be the ghost of the wife of former mayor, James P. Smith. It is reported that she turns lights off and on and her perfume can be smelled throughout the house.
Paramount Arts Center
Ashland, Kentucky
The Paramount Arts Center, formerly known as the Paramount Theatre, first opened in 1931 and was built to show silent pictures. In 1939 the theatre underwent some renovations. During the renovations one of the construction workers was found hanging in the auditorium. It is believed to have been a suicide. The paramount Theatre closed forty years later in 1971. The next year the Foundation for the Tri-State Community, under the leadership of Ashland Oil CEO Paul Blazer, Jr., purchased the theater and established it as a performing arts center. It reopened that same year under the new name "Paramount Arts Center". Since the death of the construction worker in 1939, there have been many reports of paranormal activity. Guests and employees have felt a strange presence in the auditorium. Strange noises can be heard throughout the building, cold spots and drafts are felt and the apparition of a man has also been spotted. In 1992 Billy Ray Cyrus shot the video for Achy Breaky Heart inside the theatre. He was told about the ghost of the construction worker and would even talk to him between takes. Billy Ray autographed pictures for the staff at the theatre and also autographed one for the ghost. The pictures were hung in the box office, including the one signed to the ghost. The wall became too full and the picture signed to the ghost was removed. The following day when the staff returned, all of the pictures were found smashed on the floor.
Kentucky Hauntings Page: 2
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