Around Town
Monroe County History Center
At the Monroe County History Center located downtown, there have been several reports of hauntings by past staff of the building. Many people from current staff to past staff to interns to parapsychologists have personal stories. Years ago, a member from their long-time cleaning staff saw a young girl crying on main staircase of the History Center. The woman thought that the child possibly couldn't find her parents. When she approached the young girl and went to grab her hand, the girl disappeared. The woman, understandably, was very shaken and would not clean certain parts of the building again. Another evening, some of the staff were working late and heard a loud thudded stomping sound upstairs. Thinking it was another co-worker hammering something on the second floor, the staff members went upstairs to see what she was working on, only to find out that she had been working at her computer desk all evening.
Once the History Center allowed a team of paranormal investigators to visit. One of the investigators saw a dog walking outside, cross the street, and then walk through the wall of the building to come inside. Even many of those who have not experienced sightings themselves have felt a general feeling that they are being watched or that someone is in the room with them.
You can visit the History Center yourself — admission costs $2.00 for adults, $1.00 for children 6-17, and is free for children 5 and under.
Portico House
After its construction in 1897, the Portico House was deemed "the most beautiful house in Bloomington." There were several residents throughout the years until it became an Italian restaurant in the 1970s. While no residents ever reported any spooky activity, many workers of the restaurant heard unexplained glass breaking and would see children in 1800s style clothing playing on the staircase.
The house still stands on Walnut and is now Greene & Schultz Law Firm.
Stepp Cemetery
Often coined as the "most haunted cemetery in Indiana," the cemetery is over 150 years old, but only has around 114 graves. The oldest grave dates back to a war veteran who died in 1851, but the stories of hauntings did not begin until the 1950s. The land became more secluded when it became a part of Morgan-Monroe State Forest in 1929. There are stories that a religious cult, the Crabbites, had their gathering place at the cemetery. It is rumored that they performed extreme acts with snakes. The most well known tale from the cemetery is the Lady in Black, which has many iterations. It is said that the Lady in Black is a grieving mother who lost her infant child in a car accident. A notable part of the cemetery is a tree stump that the mother used to sit on by the baby's grave. She is said to still haunt the area. Visitors will often bring toys and blankets to place on the baby's grave marked "Baby Lester."
On Campus
Dunn Cemetery
The Dunn Cemetery is nearly as old as IU campus itself. The cemetery is located next to the Indiana Memorial Union at the center of campus and is the resting place of the Dunn and Brewster family. It is believed to be haunted by Agnes Dunn, a member of the Dunn family. In her lifetime, she was an aid to soldiers during the war and is said to come out at midnight to continue her work.
Indiana Memorial Union
Good news, not all ghostly spirits are evil. At the Indiana Memorial Union, the ghosts are known to be young, playful, and a bit mischievous at times. These ghosts may tap on your shoulder, make faint laughing noises, or run away when you catch a glimpse. Not only are they young children, but you can also hear the sound of dog paws prancing along the floors. There have never been any theories on who the children or dogs were.
Lady in Black on Third Street
A common route around campus is Third Street and if you take this route - beware - you may have someone tag along with your group. The Lady in Black follows campus visitors who have not taken notice of her. Dress in all black with a long black veil, sightings of her go back over 100 years.
