The engine "Nashville" carried the President's body home/Courtesy of the Library of Congress

Lincoln’s Fate
Lincoln’s wife, Mary Todd Lincoln, became involved in spiritualism when she became grief stricken at the loss of their son Willie who had died in the White House. She held séances in an effort to try and communicate with her dead son. While Lincoln attended the events, he was not a strong believer but was not a stranger to the unexplained. Lincoln once had had a strange experience of seeing a double image of himself in a mirror. He found this so disturbing that he discussed it with his wife. Mary felt that it was an omen that he would be elected for a second term but would not see it through. On another occasion President Lincoln had dreamt that he was in the lower levels of the White House witnessing a funeral. When he asked what happened, he was told that the President was assassinated. Weeks later Lincoln would be dead and a country would be grief-stricken.

April 15, 1865, was a dark day as a nation mourned the loss of a President.  The Civil War had ended, and Abraham Lincoln was a man held in mixed regard more notably due to his actions involving a war against the South and his position on civil rights.  Lincoln died tragically by the hand of an assassin, and in the upcoming days, Lincoln would be immortalized with an elaborate 1,700 mile funeral procession that would stem from Washington, D.C. to his home in Springfield, Illinois.

President Abraham Lincoln's railroad funeral car/ S.M. Fassett, photographer, Chicago.

The Funeral Train
The Lincoln funeral processional would make its way from Washington, D.C.  to Springfield by locomotive. Lincoln’s body, along with the exhumed body of this son Willie, was loaded aboard the funeral train.

“The funeral train consisted of nine cars, including baggage and hearse cars. Eight of the cars were provided by the chief railways over which the remains were transported. The ninth was the President’s car, which had been built for use by the President and other officials, containing a parlor, sitting room, and sleeping compartment. This car was draped in mourning and contained the coffins of Lincoln and his son.”  (Funeral and Burial of Abraham Lincoln, 2010).

Between Albany and New York City, crowds grew among the small towns along the route to watch the funeral train pass.  The train passed through every town traveling north along the Hudson River—Yonkers, Tarrytown, Sing Sing, and making the one and only stop in Poughkeepsie, on April 25th, before heading to Albany. While stopped in Poughkeepsie, college President Matthew Vassar boarded the train to place a cluster of handpicked magnolias aboard the car in a poignant moment to honor the fallen President.

Lincoln’s and his son’s remains traveled though 444 communities until the train came to its final destination where the two were interred at the Oak Ridge Cemetery in Illinois. This mournful and solemn trip took a toll on the family and the country in what was the grandest funeral procession ever held for a President. However, the story does not end here. “Rest in peace” is not a suitable phrase to be used for President Lincoln.  Following a plot to steal his body and hold it for ransom among other various issues with security and tomb reconstruction, Lincoln’s body was moved 17 times.  How then is it possible that his spirit would rest? In the years following, reported sightings of a phantom Lincoln Funeral Train were reported by railroad workers along the route from Washington, D.C. to Springfield, IL.

Tales along the Rails
There are varying accounts of spectral train sightings of the old Union silently traveling in the night. Those who have seen the vision report that they have seen a train car draped in black, housing a casket surrounded by mourners, guarded with skeletal remains dressed in blue uniforms. The smoke stacks billow and bells clang but not of this time and place.  A popular version of this story is one that has been retold many times stemming from a quote in the Albany Evening Times. This version is taken from The Pittsburgh Press (1978)

“The train always appeared in Albany on April 27th, the anniversary of its first passing. Track walkers and section hands would sit along the railroad tracks in the early evening of the fateful day and wait for the ghost train to come into view. At midnight—always at midnight—the engine would emerge from the darkness, moving silently down the track with black crepe flowing from its sides and emitting faintly audible sounds of funeral music.

The phantom train would glide over a black carpet that appeared to cover the tracks, while spectral solders in blue uniforms, of the Union army trotted along side it. As the apparition moved down the tracks, it would fade from view over some phantom horizon”

Over time the sightings decreased until the Lincoln ghost train was no longer seen, but the story still piques the curiosity of historical and locomotive enthusiasts alike.

The Legend Lives On
This legend of the Lincoln ghost train really stems from of the senseless murder of a man who envisioned his death, a country in grave mourning, and a send off of historic proportion that would carry the body of a President over 1,700 miles by rail and still be in a state of unrest. What a magnificently morbid setting for a ghost story. I suspect that on April 25th, the curious will head to the tracks in Poughkeepsie to see if they can get a glimpse of the ghostly figures standing guard, surrounding the black coffin being transported by the spectral Union.  Wondering what happened to the Lincoln funeral car? Unfortunately this piece of history was lost on March 20, 1911; it burned in a prairie fire in Illinois—yet another tragic loss.

Sources:

McNamara, Robert, (n.d.). Abraham Lincoln Saw a Spooky Vision of Himself in a Mirror

Spraggett, Alan. (1978, January  22).  Ghost Train. The Pittsburgh Press

The Funeral Train of Abraham Lincoln

The Route of Abraham Lincoln’s Funeral Train

Funeral and burial of Abraham Lincoln. (2010, March 28). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 16:18, April 18, 2010, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Funeral_and_burial_of_Abraham_Lincoln&oldid=352562911

Beacon, NY—Just south of the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge lays a mysteriously isolated island and on this island stands the ruin of a once grand Scottish Castle, which in its time, stood as a fortress and rose above the trees to create an impressive gateway to the Hudson Highlands. This is the image I remember as I child, and I am still captivated by the menacing vision of this dark lifeless structure surrounded by the rushing tides of the Hudson River. Today this majestic ruin, known as Bannerman’s Island Arsenal, rests on Pollepel Island and crumbles before our eyes. The recent deterioration of the ruin inspired me to not only witness and photograph the devastation, but to write about its lingering legends.

[Photo Gallery]

Pollepel Island was just as mystifying nearly 400 years ago as it is today. This dark deserted isle was the subject of an impressive “arsenal” of storytellers’ tales. Storytelling was a common past time and, just as with any story, over time these tales were naturally embellished and grew into astounding historical accounts that were passed down by the area’s early inhabitants giving us the great early legends of angry spirits, lost lovers, and ghostly goblins.

The Early Legends

Hudson River Sailors Feared The Heer of the Dunderburg

Long before Francis Bannerman built his castle, this six and three quarter acre isle was uninhabited. The Native Americans feared the island was possessed by evil spirits, which made it a prime location for settlers to hide during periods of aggression with the Indians. Over time, a number of legendary tales evolved. As I walked along the shoreline, the crystalline ice formations glistened in the sun and I thought of the legend of Polly Pell, a story that stakes claim for naming the island. The story of Polly Pell (Pollepel) was shared among Dutch settlers when newlywed Polly Pell was saved from the frozen Hudson River following a romantic sleigh ride with her beau. The fierce currents of the icy Hudson washed Polly and her new husband up on the rocky shores when a slave rescued them and named the island after her and the legend of Polly Pell was born.

The infamous Pollepel Island became well-known among Hudson River sailors. The secluded island was the basis of much of fantastical folklore that surrounds river travel through the Hudson Highlands.

The story The Storm-Ship written by famed storyteller and Tarrytown resident Washington Irving, tells the tale of a dreaded tribe of goblins that the Dutch feared inhabited Pollepel Island. These goblins thrived under the reign of the Heer of Dunderburgh who is said to control the gusty winds and treacherous waters of the Highlands. The Dutch lived in fear of the Dunderburgh. The “storm ship”’ actually refers to the legendary Flying Dutchman, a ship lost in a brutal storm sinking just south of Pollepel Island. The story condemns the captain and his crew to sailing the Hudson for eternity and it has been reported that their cries for help can be heard during violent storms. Once a ship ventured past Pollepel Island, the captain and crew earned right of passage for a safe journey down the Hudson.

Whether or not the ghosts, goblins, and evil spirits existed was left to the imagination. However, boat captains were known to cast off new sailors on their inaugural voyages down the river as an initiation. Often drunk and scared out of their wits these poor sailors were forced to disembark to take their chances with the phantoms of Pollepel Island. They were picked up on the return trip hopefully sobered up and fearless.

Given the history of Pollepel’s influence on shipmen of that period, it is ironic that the next ghost story would be that of a tugboat captain angered by Bannerman himself.

Night View of Bannerman's Castle

A Ghost from the Bannerman Era

Francis Bannerman VI was the visionary behind the progressive growth of the Scottish castle that bears the name of Bannerman’s Island Arsenal. Bannerman purchased Pollepel Island in 1900 when his insatiable hobby of scrap collecting gave way to becoming a massive arms company. As his wealth increased, Bannerman was able to build a home that would serve as a monument to his heritage. The castle itself was comprised of six major sections; three arsenals, the lodge, the tower, and the superintendent’s house. In addition, there is also a family residence with magnificent views of the Highlands.

The property was protected by breakwaters, which were formed by the sinking of old barges and boats. There is a legendary tale that the tugboat captain of one of the boats requested that his prized vessel not be sunk in his presence, but before anyone knew it, the boat was sinking right before the former captains eyes. The captain cursed Bannerman and swore revenge. It has been said that employees in the lodge often heard the ringing of the boat’s bell at various times signifying that the captain had returned to make good on his promise.

Just as the tugboat captain experienced a devastating loss that would condemn him to Bannerman’s castle for an eternity, Bannerman would also experience loss.

A Castle in Ruin

Bannerman’s Island Arsenal has had its share of disastrous events. A 1920 explosion of gun powder and shells blew a wall clear over to the mainland. Three people were injured including Mrs. Bannerman and the incident incurred $50,000 in damage. The most devastating event occurred in August of 1969 in a fire that gutted all the buildings on the island. It was undetermined as to what was the cause of the engulfing blaze that would destroy the celebrated estate of the late Francis Bannerman VI leaving it in ruin. This would not be the last disastrous event that the castle would endure. In late 2009 and early 2010 the castle saw increased damage that has forever changed the landscape of this iconic structure. I wonder how much longer it will endure the elements and how this rich haunted history will be remembered.

Remembering Bannerman’s Island Arsenal

The recent collapses have removed Bannerman’s name from his cherished castle. As the castle fades into history, the legends will remain to haunt us for a lifetime. As unbelievable as the stories may be, they add to the allure of the island and someday may be all that remains of one of the most captivating historical sites in the Hudson Valley. I think that Jane Bannerman’s quote best describes how I feel about Polly Pell’s island.

“No one can tell what associations and incidents will involve the island in the future. Time, the elements, and maybe even the goblins of the island will take their toll of some of the turrets and towers, and perhaps eventually the castle itself, but the little island will always have it’s place in history and in legend and will be forever a jewel in it’s Hudson Highland setting.”

- Jane Bannerman

Do not reproduce this article or images without permission from the author.

Island Tours and Contributions

The island and castle is easily viewed from land. Take a short drive south on Route 9D until you get to Breakneck Ridge. Park on the side of the road and cross the bridge over the trains track. BE VERY CAREFUL OF PASSING TRAINS!!

Bannerman’s Island Tours

Efforts to Preserve the Ruin

Photo Gallery: Photo Credit: Donna Davies

Staatsburg, NY— We often discuss “ghost stories” on our Facebook page. Urban myths run wild, especially in such a historic area as the Hudson Valley. While at first glace we quickly want to believe in these tall tales, upon closer inspection we can weed out those that are truly just stories and those that require more investigation.

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Always on the lookout for new haunted treasures here in the Hudson Valley, I came across some information on Hoyt’s Mansion aka The Point in Staatsburg. Like Wyndcliffe, Hoyt’s Mansion has fallen into ruin and has gone unnoticed by most of the people in the area. I’ve lived in the Valley my entire life and have never even heard of it. Legend has run wild regarding Hoyt’s Mansion, and I was intrigued to learn more.   Did the whole family really kill themselves in the house as urban legend suggests?

I did my research before heading out to the site and was prepared for my outing. In 1855 Lydig Monson Hoyt and Geraldine Livingston Hoyt began construction on their gothic revival home. The building was designed by Calvert Vaux who may be best known for designing Central Park in New York City. The house was strategically placed on a vista over the Hudson River for beautiful views to the north.

After Geraldine died in 1897, the house and 90 acre estate was passed to their son Gerald. It remained in the family until 1962 when greedy NYS took the house by eminent domain. The estate was flanked on either side by Mills Mansion and Norrie Point, both already owned by the NYS Parks Department. The department wanted to combine the parks with the land owned by the Hoyt family. Mrs. Hoyt refused to sell but lost the battle anyway when New York State abused their power.

New York state allowed the house to fall into ruin while a massive town pool was in the planning stages. The plan to build the pool complex never came to fruition and was finally scrapped all together as the historical importance of Hoyt’s Mansion were realized. Even though the building became a National Historic Landmark in 1990, it has continued to deteriorate . Today the home sits vacant and boarded up, just a shadow of what it used to be.

So is the house actually haunted? We may never know. Because the building is not safe, there was no legal way to enter.  While I did find a lot of research about the house architecture and family, I found nothing in regards to a family mass suicide. Does Hoyt’s Mansion’s crumbling walls hold any true spiritual activity, or are the rumors simply just the product of active imaginations ? Based on the history I’ll make my own assumptions, but without proof either way, I’ll leave you to your own opinions.

If you want to visit, check in at the visitor’s center of Mills Mansion to get hiking directions. It is a quick, easy walk on a major carriage trail, but don’t expect to get too close. The house has been condemned and is fenced to avoid any accidental injury. Don’t bother going at night. Not only is it not safe, but you are just asking to get in trouble. Some of the rumors include silent alarms tripped by motion sensors, and there are definitely motion sensor lights on the exterior of the building.

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Wappingers Falls, NY – Danielle Masterson, former curator and ghost investigator at the Meiser  Homestead in Wappingers Falls, NY, contacted me about occurrences she experienced at the site. I immediately agreed to tour the site and learn more about the happenings that occurred there.  I was excited to be back in my old stomping grounds in Wappingers Falls. I was already haunted by my childhood memories of hanging out in the Meiser Park and recalled using the Grinnell Library’s facilities after a night of drinking in the Zion Episcopal Church’s cemetery. Nothing to be proud of, but all these events made me who I am and now have led me back here today. My internal haunts aside, I did not expect to have an eventful afternoon. I was dead wrong.

View the Photo Album

The History

In 1776, a well-to-do loyalist tea merchant from New York City, Peter Mesier, arrived in Fishkill. He bought the 750 acres of land and the homestead from Nicholas Brewer and opened a small store in the homestead. Mesier angered his customers with high prices and in May of 1777, a number of people broke into his store and demanded tea, refusing to pay the high prices asked. For three days, the intruders beat Mesier and his wife and servants, destroyed his property and raided his cellar.

Peter Mesier and his wife, Catherine Sleight, lived peacefully after the incident and together had eight children, three boys and five girls. Upon the death of Peter in 1806, their son Matthew took over the Mesier Homestead. Matthew and his wife had two sons, Henry and Abram and two daughters, Johanna and Maria. These heirs of Matthew were the last owners of Mesier Homestead.

The Mesiers and the Brewers, along with early settlers of Wappingers Falls are buried in the Zion Episcopal Church burial grounds.

The Tour

Headstone of Nicholas Ganse Died 1866

First Stop – The Zion Episcopal Church Burial Grounds
My associate, Laura Schnecke and I both met Danielle at the homestead. She is a very knowledgeable, energetic and bubbly. She immediately led us to the old Zion Episcopal Church burial grounds where the Mesiers and the Brewers are buried. It is surprising that the stones are still intact given that it was the premier party destination in my time.  The photo op was not as successful as I would have liked─ both our cameras had gone dead at the same time.  What are the chances of that happening? I was able to finally get mine to work, but not the Laura’s.  Odd, but it could happen.

The Grinnell Library

Danielle led us back though the park and pointed out the Grinnell Library, established in 1867, is one of the oldest Libraries in the state.  She explained that three police officers saw a full body apparition in the window in the early morning hours of one of their shifts. To get three male police officers to admit a sighting is a feat in itself. Needless to say, I was intrigued.  She suggested that this may be a residual haunting and that should be investigated at a later time.

The Tour of Mesier Homestead:

When we entered the homestead, I did feel not as relaxed as I usually do. I felt a little edgy. It could have just been the excitement of the visit, but I don’t think so. I felt as if I took a step back in time. The restoration of this substantial home is impressive given that it was the former police station in my time. As luck would have it, the original structure was left intact.  There have been some structural changes made in the process of restoring the home.  Danielle shared the excitement of her paranormal experience at Meiser Homestead.

Listen to the sound clip:

Audio One

We proceeded into the dining room, which was simply decorated with a very basic dining table and chairs. There are photos of the homestead from early times that illustrate what the home looked like in its original state. As Danielle proceeded to give us a historical overview of the restoration and the homes contents, she asked if I would like to take a photo to document the original state of the dining room from the portrait. I commented that I didn’t want to interrupt her discussion and would take photos at a later time.

Photo Courtesy of Danielle Masterson

We navigated through the home entering the parlor. This room looks just like you would imagine an 19^th century sitting room would appear. There is a plush green couch and coffee table inviting you to sit for a spell for some conversation over a hot cup of tea that faces the front of a sealed fireplace. There is a gorgeous black period dress on display that may take you back a bit at first glance; especially in a haunted home. Danielle points out the fact that an outline of a person sitting on the couch has been seen in the past and that the onset of activity seemed to occur once the renovation of the home began.

We walked up a tiny staircase to the second level of the home. We entered the slave quarters. This was a very small room that I felt claustrophobic in, and I can only imagine what it would have been like to have to share that small space. It was in this room that Danielle was able to capture a photo of what appears to contain three images in. Where these the apparitions of it’s previous resident slaves?

Danielle explains how she took the ghostly photo:

Audio Two

Continuing through the home, we learned more about the artifacts and family heirlooms left behind as a monument to the past. On the wall of an upstairs room is a lineup of service uniforms. There are books, hats, clothing, Indian arrowheads and other trinkets from the long-ago. Are their spirits attached to these possessions? Danielle shared a strange happening with a pair of glasses that seem to go missing to be found hanging from a book on a shelf that contains a small library. What that book a favorite or is someone trying to communicate from the past?

The Joke is on Me

As our tour was coming to a close, we suddenly heard some strange clicking. A doorknob jiggling? Creaking? There was an instant silence among us. This is very unusual for a group of girls.  Mind you, we are locked in the homestead there is no way to get in without us knowing it or hearing it. My heart stopped. I froze. We all stared at each other.  We walked into the dining room. Danielle knows this homestead like the back of her hand. She asks, “Was that card table there before?” I swear to you I don’t think so. I am very clumsy and I would have tripped over it. The table appeared right beneath the photo that Danielle had asked if I wanted to take a photo of and I declined. Had I taken that photo, I would have had proof. Was the joke on me? As I stated before, there was very little furniture in the dining room and I stand by that. Laura swears she heard the hinges of a table unfold, but no footsteps. Not to mention, there where muddy tracks on what was once a pristine floor with no tracks in or out and no trail through the house. We covered that house from top to bottom. None of us had mud on our shoes it was a dry sunny day.

I remain skeptical and the mind can play tricks on you, but truthfully I couldn’t get out of there fast enough. Yet, I couldn’t get the incident out of my mind.

How to visit Meiser Homestead:

Contact:

Wappingers Falls Historical Society

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Wyndclyffe 2009 Courtesy of L. Schnecke

Rhinecliff, NY–In the quaint town of Rhinecliff, New York rests the remains of one of the first grand mansions in the Hudson River Valley known as Wyndclyffe, the former home of Elizabeth Schermerhorn Jones, cousin to the Astors of New York and the spinster Aunt of the Pulitzer Prize wining novelist Edith Wharton.

My journey started with quest to learn more about local legendary hauntings in the Hudson Valley. I had heard that Wyndclyffe was a popular destination for urban explorers and ghost hunters. By comparison, I would not call upstate New York urban, but it is a mecca for exploring ruins of the past and present.

After reading a short chapter about Wyndclyffe in Haunted Houses of the Hudson Valley by Lynda Lee Macken, I was intrigued by the story’s accompanying photo of a once magnificent home looking dark, dreary and in disrepair. The image was stereotypical of what one might think a haunted house would appear. In the book Haunted Houses of the Hudson Valley, Macken suggests that Wyndclyffe is haunted by a number of ghosts. “Ghostly fox hunts, a little girl’s specter, and the apparition of a hanged man all haunt the eerie Wyndclyffe (Macken, 2006 p.42).” I found this statement to be both vague in detail and unsubstantiated, however the sheer uniqueness of haunting beauty of this ruin preoccupied my thoughts. I had to learn more about this “haunted house’ and actually see it for myself.

The history of this mansion is fascinating. There is a wealth of information about famed novelist Edith Wharton’s relationship to the home which she obviously loathed. However, I was unable to find contradictory information about her Aunt Elizabeth. This home was obviously her vision and she must have loved it dearly. I was able to put the puzzle together from my research and the help of a couple of friends to determine Wyndclyffe’s location, which I will not disclose.

Road Trip…

“Wow!” That was all I could muster when I first saw the grand brick façade come

Courtesy of The Library of Congress

into view. The panoramic views of the Hudson River must have been incredible from the upper floors of the Norman style building. The distinct curves and arches of the brickwork were ornate yet simple, but gothic in design. I have never seen anything like it in my lifetime. The tower stood tall and menacing protruding from the vast green trees to the bright blue sky. I would have loved to explore the interior, but out of respect for the owners and because we value our health, we remained outside the fenced area. The property is rumored to be under construction. There is a dumpster on-site, but I can’t see how this majestic beauty could be restored to its former glory unless you are Donald Trump.

We did not stay at the site long and it was a good thing. We missed the troopers by minutes. I don’t advise that you go in search of Wyndclyffe. If you are haunted by the mystery of this gem in the rough as I was, I would understand. Do not go past the fence. The area is clearly not secure and you are TRESPASSING.

This was a learning experience. I now understand the magnetic attraction that Wyndclyffe holds for explorers of the unknown. I did feel haunted after my visit. Not in the paranormal way. It haunts me that some of the most remarkable architecture of eras gone by is left to fade away until it is reduced to a heap of rubble hidden by brush.

If you venture to Wyndclyffe and get stuck in the middle of a ghostly fox hunt, let me know.

Enjoy the photos.

Cited Sources:

Macken, Lynda Lee (2006). Haunted Houses of the Hudson Valley. New Jersey:Black Cat Press.

Visit these Web sites to learn more about Wyndclyffe:

The Library of Congress

Hudson Valley Ruins

Shelly Sperling 1957-1975 Courtesy of christinahope.com

Poughkeepsie, NY–As I drove past the far-reaching grounds of the Marist College campus located in Poughkeepsie, NY, I couldn’t help but notice the new bustle of activity after the calm of the summer break. The students seem younger every year. It is the first year of college for some, which could be both scary and exciting. It makes me think of a different time 34 years ago.

On February 18^th 1975, the dreams of one student would come to an end.  Shortly before her 18^th birthday, Shelly Sperling a freshman student at Marist College would be shot and killed in the college cafeteria by a rejected suitor Louis Acedevo who had previously threatened her.  Shelly was calling for help when Acedevo shot her three times. One can only image the shock and the fear that Shelly must have experienced in those final moments of her life. Shelly’s life was lost, but her spirit remains on the college campus in more ways than one. While the college campus was brought together spiritually to mourn the loss of one of their own, another spirit was present.

Why spirits remain is a much debated topic in which I think we will never know the answer. It is said that some spirits remain earthbound when their unexpected death occurs.  Was Shelly not ready to pass leaving her dreams unfulfilled? Most students on campus are aware of the tragedy that occurred in 1975; especially if you live in Sheahan Hall.

Unexplained happenings in the dorm are attributed to the ghost of  Shelly Sperling who roams the campus and visits her dorm at Sheahan Hall. Students who live in her former dorm  have had various unbelievable  experiences. According the Web site The Hauntings of Sheahan Hall, the Resident Director, Victoria Fakhoury (2000-2002), was visited by Shelly one evening.  Fakhoury describes her experience as Shelly made her presence known to her very innocently and almost inquisitively. Another student was disturbed by the slamming of doors in an empty Hall during break. What does this mean? Why does she stay?

We will never know for certain if these stories are true or if there is some other explanation for these haunted happenings on the Marist College campus.  I don’t believe that Shelly seeks revenge or wants us to know what happened to her. We know how and why she was killed from published accounts.  I do believe that she feels that she has unfinished business and maybe the changes on campus along with the changes in the student body leave her curious and unfulfilled in death.

What do you think?

For more information on the passing of  Shelly Sperling and first-hand interviews about these incidents, visit The Hauntings of Sheahan Hall Web site by Christina Hope

The Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park - NY

The Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park, NY - You may remember Father Murphy as a sitcom from the early 1980’s, but at The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) located in Hyde Park, NY,  Father Murphy means something entirely different. The presence of Father Murphy is somewhat of a culinary tradition amongst CIA faculty staff and students.

The CIA is a five-story, 150-room building, situated on 80 acres of land overlooking the Hudson River and formerly a Jesuit seminary. There is a cemetery on the grounds, which is the final resting place of many of the Jesuit priests that resided at St. Andrews.  Having a cemetery on the grounds would not seem too far fetched, however the college librarian, Christine Crawford-Oppenheimer, shared an interesting story and disturbing story with me about the some of the deceased.  “One of the rooms under the former seminary chapel was a mausoleum. When the school bought the building, the bodies had to be moved out, and it turned out that one of the bodies had not been properly embalmed, and had exploded in its coffin. This left a terrible stench in the room. People tried many different remedies for it, with little success. Finally, the president of the school pulled out some “bad sherry” that had been given to him, and had it sprinkled liberally in the room. This got rid of the smell.”

When the bodies were moved did their spirits remain behind? Was this the re-birth of Father Murphy? It appears that the unexplainable happenings that occur at the CIA seemed to get blamed on the poor Father.

I can not determine how, why or even if Father Murphy really exists, but security officer Andrew Rivera thinks the good father likes to make early morning calls while listening to Beethoven.  Rivera explains,” The weirdest thing happened to me on the graveyard shift. The phone rang at 3 a.m. and no one was there I just heard Beethoven on the other end of the phone. The call came in on the emergency line, so we had to check it out. When we visited the room, the current student said that there was no phone there it was just an empty jack!” Rivera states that this has happened on more than one occasion.  Was someone getting their wires crossed?

The attic of the CIA seems to be the father’s favorite place to haunt. There have been reports of footsteps being heard as well as Father’s Murphy desire to conserve electricity. The CIA’s purchasing agent shared an incident with me that left him spooked. He had entered the attic to do an inspection and the light went off.  He thought, ok we’re having a power outage. Once again, he turns on the light switch and viola light. This was a sturdy switch mind you. Once again, lights out.  He clearly stated that there is no way someone could come into the attic and flip the switch with him hearing.  Maybe Father Murphy needed his rest after his 3:00 a.m. calls.

Does Father Murphy haunt the attic of the CIA or is he just an icon of folklore that keeps the historical element of the Jesuit Seminary alive? Stay tuned for an update. This is all I can share with you right now.

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