Ohio and Michigan are among the top 5 most haunted states, each boasting over 2,000 reported ghost sightings per year. Given the states’ shadowy histories, it’s no surprise that our region is a paranormal hotbed. From battlefields and bootlegging mobsters to asylums and Great Lakes shipwrecks, Ohioans and Michiganders are never far from an ominous site.
October 13th is a devilishly good time to explore the infamous haunts of Toledo and surrounding areas. Read on… if you dare.
COLLINGWOOD ARTS CENTER
This historical site is the former convent for the Ursuline Order of the Sacred Heart and later became the Mary Manse College. Designed by Toledo architect Edward Oscar Fallis, the structure was completed in 1905. It is allegedly haunted by the ghosts of former nuns, victims of the Typhoid epidemic, and spirits that were conjured by occultists.
Today, the Collingwood Arts Center is a hub for community creativity. The theater is used as a performance center for many local and national theater groups and musicians. They also rent out studio space in addition to partnering with local organizations to grow the artistic outreach within the area. Make sure to check out their Facebook page for upcoming happenings.
FORT MEIGS
Fort Meigs was built during the War of 1812, and was the largest wooden-walled fortification in North America upon completion. The fort endured major military conflict, including a bloody battle on May 5, 1813, when American troops under Colonel William Dudley suffered devastating losses during an attack on British artillery positions. The event came to be known as “Dudley’s Massacre.”
The site’s military history has fueled stories of paranormal activity. Visitors and reenactors have claimed to spot figures dressed in old-fashioned military uniforms. There are also reports of strange noises and unexplained lights around the fort and riverbank. Fort Meigs embraces its spooky reputation with an annual Garrison Ghost Walk.
Swhite94, CC BY 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
NAZARETH HALL
Many know of Nazareth Hall's beauty as a popular local wedding venue. But long before its transformation into an event hall, the 1927-built structure housed an all-boys Catholic boarding school. The Ursuline Convent of the Sacred Heart purchased the 400 acres of land and began constructing the Romanesque Revival building with the grand opening taking place in 1928. From that time until 1982, it remained in use as a boarding school and had 4,300 students over the years. After the school was shut down, it was vacant for nearly a decade. In 1991, the Bettinger family purchased the property and turned it into the Nazareth Hall that we know and swoon over today.
Rumors of a cloaked figure on the very top floor have circulated and others claim to have spotted the ghosts of former nuns. If the tales of Nazareth Hall and the Collingwood Arts Center are to be believed, the Ursuline Sisters are very active in the afterlife!
TOLEDO YACHT CLUB
Previously featured on an episode of “Ghost Hunters,” the Toledo Yacht Club is purportedly home to several spirits, including Jacob, a boy who is said to have fallen from the ballroom’s balcony at the turn of the 20th century. Staff and guests have also reported a woman in a 1920s gown that frequents the ballroom.
The Toledo Yacht Club opened in the 1860s and is one of the oldest yacht clubs in the US. A fire destroyed the original wood frame in the early 1900s, and it was rebuilt soon after as the 4-story concrete building that stands today. Certain benefits are only open to members, such as the clubhouse and pool access, some social and dining events, and reciprocal AYC privileges. The club is currently being revitalized and plans include a new restaurant that will be open to the public. TYC also hosts various historical and paranormal events that are open to all, so make sure to follow them.
MrJacon000, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
WOLCOTT HOUSE
This iconic Maumee museum was originally built by prosperous businessman James Wolcott and his wife Mary Wells. Construction began in 1827 and the original log cabin eventually transformed into a 14-room-Federal-style mansion. Today, the Hull-Wolcott House is operated by the Maumee Valley Historical Society as part of the Wolcott House Museum Complex. The land houses several other historical structures and the goal of the museum is to educate the public on the history of the Maumee Valley.
The Wolcott House has hosted paranormal tours and investigations throughout the years and is said to have very active spirits. Past event coordinators, paranormal investigators, and guests have had strange occurrences, such as doors opening on their own, seeing mysterious orbs of light, and feeling as though someone was chasing them while inside. With so much history on one plot of land, the premises certainly have a haunting atmosphere.
ANGELO'S NORTHWOOD VILLA
Erie, Michigan was a bootlegger’s paradise during US Prohibition. Its close proximity to Lake Erie, Toledo, and Detroit served as the perfect spot for Prohibitionists to distribute alcohol from Canada through lower Michigan and Ohio. Back then, Angelo’s Northwood Villa was a favorite hangout for Detroit’s notorious Purple Gang.
While modern day Angelo’s is a popular steakhouse, walking through those doors is like stepping into a time capsule as the interior has been preserved in its heyday glory. The Purple Gang is keeping the party going into the afterlife with witnesses claiming to hear laughing and clinking glasses in the dining room late at night after closing. Haunted or not, this former speakeasy has some unique quirks. Hidden tunnels (that have since been closed) once ran from Angelo’s basement to nearby homes. A copper fitting in the ceiling of the main dining room used to be a hole where the owners would watch gambling patrons to make sure there was no funny business.
(If you’re interested in learning more about Toledo’s seedy gangsters, check out Tedd Long’s Unholy Toledo self-guided tour.)
ELOISE ASYLUM
Eloise Psychiatric Hospital was in operation from 1839 to 1982. It had several different divisions including a mental hospital, T.B. hospital, and an infirmary. The Wayne County General Hospital was also located on the grounds until 1986. Eloise was the largest psychiatric hospital in the country with 78 buildings across 902 acres. The complex was so large that it had its own police and fire department as well as a railroad and trolley system.
Today, the site where Eloise once stood has largely been developed into residential and commercial space. A few of the original buildings remain, however, and they're believed to be haunted along with Eloise Cemetery. The Kay Beard building is currently home to a haunted house attraction and the asylum inspired the horror movie Eloise.
Dwight Burdette, CC BY 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
RIVER RAISIN NATIONAL BATTLEFIELD PARK
The Massacre of the River Raisin was the bloodiest battle in Michigan history. Over 500 American soldiers were killed and human remains were found in the area as recent as 2000. Ghost Hunters of Southern Michigan reportedly caught ghosts on camera and recorded the voice of spirits. Visitors of River Raisin have reported seeing strange orbs at night as well as apparitions of soldiers. One paranormal investigator claims a deceased soldier allowed him to have visions of the battles. Other accounts claim they've seen a girl dressed in white searching for her lover that died in the war. The park is open to the public.
Whether you’re a firm believer in the paranormal or simply love a good ghost story, Greater Toledo’s haunted hotspots offer plenty of mystery to keep you up at night. You never know what might be lurking just beyond the shadows, so stay vigilant and have a spooky season!