Posted on 08/21/2004 9:33:42 PM PDT by CurlyBill
Daniel Borunda
El Paso Times
The discovery of a possible Civil War-era skeleton buried next to the main branch of the El Paso Public Library on Thursday was not a surprise, library employees said Friday.
"We figured that's why we have our ghosts," said staffer Charles Apuan while walking down a shadowy row of bookshelves in a sub-basement that is said to be the epicenter of eerie phenomena at the library, 501 N. Oregon.
Several members of the library staff have reported apparitions, strange noises and items moving by themselves.
Workers excavating a site behind the library Thursday discovered a skeleton, thought to be a soldier because in the 1860s the land was a military cemetery, which was later relocated. Skeletal remains were also found in the neighborhood in 1998 by crews replacing water and sewer lines. Library staffers expect other remains to be found as construction continues.
A tall gentleman specter, called "The Captain," and the ghost of a woman, called "The Nurse," have appeared in the sub-basement, situated about 20 feet below ground and used for storage and technical services, library staffers said.
A heavy, old wooden chair, nicknamed "The Captain's chair," was said to move back to its corner overnight if it was moved -- inside a locked section of the sub-basement -- Apuan said. The chair was later moved to the Magoffin Home, built in 1875.
"I was not scared enough to quit," said a 10-year employee, Terri Grant, while telling how "a force" pushed her when she went to investigate the sounds of a commotion in an empty part of the library at closing time a few years ago. Employees said the happenings are just part of the work ambience. The tales are collected in "A Chance of a Ghost," a 2002 book on El Paso-Juárez hauntings.
"You don't believe it until you are down there; (in the sub-basement) you believe it," said Dane Aguilar, who says he once saw a water faucet handle turn by itself.
Ghost Ping!
Ghost Ping!
Thanks!
Thanks for the ping!
Thanks dude.
I appreciate the ping.
Thanks for the ping!
They should contact a reliable Paranormal Investigation group and get that checked out.
I bet you could get some really excellent EVP from a location like that.
Some locations are more active than others, and it sould like this place has more than its share.
Thanks for the PING. I luv a ghost story.
Ping!
Thanks for the ping Bill. Last night my brother spent the night in the Excelisor Hotel in Jefferson Texas. My husband & I had our most haunted experience there a couple of years ago. I told the story on one of your early threads of the feel of a ghostly mustache touching my cheek in the night. I was kissed by the ghost EEEEEKKKKKKKK!!
I'll let you all know if my brother experiences anything at the Excelisor.
I've worked with plenty of dead folks, but they usually come to life around 5pm.
Thanks!
i love these stories, can you add me to the ghost ping list, please? : )
I worked at a factory that had poorly constructed faucets on the sinks in the main restroom. When we were on the offshift and on a day like a Sunday, the water pressure would be a little higher. I would go in the restroom and two or three of the sinks had the water running. I would shut them off and then as I walked to the door, the faucets would slowly rotate to turn the water back on. I tried to turn the water off as hard as I could and the water would be on by the time I walked to the door. I reported it and our plumber had to replace all the restroom faucets.
After they were replaced, we didn't have any more problems. I wish I had checked to see which company had supplied such a lousy product. It's sort of foolish to save a few dollars on a faucet and come home to a flooded house or company.
Add me to the ping list, please!
Thanks!
Cool --- maybe I'll go check out the ghost.
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