Rochester Auditorium Theatre
Originally a masonic lodge, the theatre was first built in 1928, with a Masonic Temple Complex still attached. The building itself has been preserved as to look as original as possible. This isn't the only original aspect of the building...Actors, workers, and visitors alike have commented on the creepy happenings of this sacred space. There are reports of seeing the spirits of two old men, one in a red suit and one in black suit with a matching top hat and tails. Reports have mentioned them groaning, speaking to one another, and wandering aimlessly around the dressing rooms and lobby. However, other forces than spirits may be at play in this building. There are multiple reports of props moving seemingly on their own during late night rehersals, as well as full conversations between distant voices being heard in empty rooms. Visitors have also reported general feelings of unease and anxiety when entering certain parts of the auditoreum. This really makes people question the nature of the Masons who once owned the property, and if perhaps some of their happenings had lasting effects on the space.
Main Street Armory
From one venue to the next, feel free to make your way over to the Rochester Main Street Armory for more haunted Rochester goodness!The Main Street Armory is a staple of the Rochester punk scene, as well as the location of multiple festivals and expos in Rochester. However, the Main Street Armory was oriignally intended for the National Guard's horse cavalry in 1905, for the Western New York 3rd Batallion. After the military stopped it's batallion work in the Rochester area, the building was abandoned and fell into a state of utter disrepair. This allowed it to become the residence of many uninvited guests over the years-including those of the supernatural variety.The basement of the Armory is the most haunted. The basement is now a place for storage for musicians and workers. People in the basement have reported feeling poked, prodded, pulled, and grabbed by unseen forces. On the first floor, people have reported seeing moving objects, empty chairs being pulled out, and loud footsteps in the adjacent rooms. The doors of the lockers used for musician storage are also reported to being left open after being closed and locked, presumably by otherwordly forces.The ghosts that haunt the armory are still unidentified as discernable presences. Whether spirits, ghosts, or something more sinister, they are some of the more intrusive forces seen on this tour. Multiple sources advise proceeding in this space with caution.
George Eastman Mansion
Anyone who lives in Western New York has heard the legends of entrepeneur and philanthropist George Eastman.The George Eastman Mansion is now a historic site and infamous museum with thousands of visitors a year. It's home to an eclectic archive of fine art including photograhy, paintings, mixed media, and archival documents.Walk or drive yourself over to East Avenue, grab yourself a coffee from the Eastman Museum's Openface cafe, and stroll around the gardens that surround this gleaming mansion. How do you feel? Watched, perhaps? If so, don't worry, you aren't alone. People have reported feelings of being watched, sporatic cold spots inside and outside the mansion's property.On March 14th, 1932, George Eastman calmly excused himself form dinner to go to bed early. That evening, he quietly killed himself, leaving only a short note- "To my friends, my work is done- Why wait? -G. E."The spirit of George Eastman is said to have stuck around the mansion, keeping an eye on the space he had curated so carefully in life. Employees have mentioned seeing his spirit wandering the museum in the early mornings and occasionally spending time in the archives during museum hours. Don't be afraid! George Eastman is a patient and non intrusive presence. Keep an eye out! If you happen to see Mr. Eastman, don't forget to thank him for his service in Rochester and appreciate his gardens a little extra! (They were his pride and joy.)
University of Rochester
Finished having coffee with Mr. Eastman? Great! Let's do some studying.Drive, bike, or if you're really into fitness, walk your way to the other side of downtown to check out one of Rocheser' greatest draws- the U of R. Go Yellowjackets!The University is famous for it's beautiful campus, which also happens to contain our next haunted space- the Rush Rheese Library.Built in 1929, the library's creation began with tragedy when construction worker Peter Nicosia fell to his death on site. There are multiple accounts of Peter Nicosia' ghost wandering the library, asking students directions and even demanding money for his construction contract. Students and staff have also report feeling unexpected cold spots in the library, hearing a voice, and seeing Peter Nicosia looking around the library before vanishing into thin air. Another supernatural occurance of note- the Rush Rheese Library, though renovated and updated every few years, still houses it's original 1930 elevator. While it runs smoothly, sometimes it can be said the elevator runs TOO WELL and moves by itself. Going up?
Rochester Public Library
Ready for the most haunted space in Rochester? Buckle up and let's get ready for our second library in a row!The spirits that haunt the stacks here stay within library code and remain fairly quiet...when the lights are on. A young woman is said to have drowned in the Rochetser aquaducts in the 1920s, and her body was swept under the water and into the tunnels below the library. Her body wasn't found for several months after her death. Though her body was laid to rest, her spirit wanders the halls of the library. She is said to appear as a dark haired woman in her 20s, and peaks out from behind the stacks at visitors if you look hard enough.The other spirit that haunts the library is Frank, a maintinence man who died on shift while cleaning the basement of the library. He is similarly peaceful, and other than sometimes stomping too loudly, is fairly unobtrusive. Other weird happenings are said to have happened in this space, most of which can be seen prominently on the SyFy show "Ghost Hunters." The episode depict heavy doors opening and closing on their own, disembodied voices having conversations, and even one of the hosts being tapped on the shoulder multiple times in an episode. Find a good book, settle into one of the comfy chairs on the second floor, and allow yourself to relax. If you look up though, you may just be lucky enough to be visited by one of the spirits of the library.
Rochester Psychiatric Center
Originally the Monroe County Insane Asylum, the Rochester Psychatric Center has gone through a lot of changes since it's 1857 construction. Word of mouth stories circulate that involve forced electroshock and lobotomies on patients of the psychiatric center, many of which resulted in lost patients. Other stories involve patient abuse and neglect, as well as other experimental procedures that left scars on the Asylum's patients even after discharge. Though there is no historical evidence of these claims, the supernatural happenings in and around this building could be a clue to the verification of the legends.As we visit now, the psychatric center stands abandoned and in ruin, infested with asbestos and frequently patrolled by bored looking Rochester police officers trying to keep teens from breaking in and leaving their graffiti tags. The building gives off it's own unique energy, equal parts sinister and anticipatory.Shrieks are frequently heard from the inside of the building, most notably from the morgue in the basement of the space. People who have been fortunate enough to go in and out unscathed have reported seeing multiple figures walking behind them out of the corner of their eyes, and then the figure disappearing as soon as they are percieved. Others claim that phone data inside the building is largely blocked, battery charge runs out faster on phones and other electronics, and compasses cease to work. Whether the strange sounds and visuals of the location are caused by poisonois asbetos inhalation, the electronic issuesn are hard to ignore, and as a supernatural fan? Harder to stay away from.
Mount Hope Cemetery
We'll end our tour in the most typical of haunted places, and the final resting place of many famous Rochester historic figures.The cemetary was created as a resting place for those lost to a massive outbreak of Cholera in 1838. However, even BEFORE this, the Haudenosaunee people who had once inhabited the property warned the settlers of the land's haunted nature. The Native peoples reported moving objects, noises at night, and unexplained phenomenon with their livestock and crops.The cemetary is the heart of the College Town area in Rochester, and is a popular space for runners, dogwalkers, bikers, and power walkers. Many have said they hear voices, wails, and screaming from the cemetary, even in the daylight. Those that live in the neighborhood report having seeing lights going on and off at all hours, and the feeling of being watched prevailing. Perhaps the scariest of all, the middle of the cemetary's bowl like construction creates a valley known as the "Devil's Bowels." It is here that confirmed reports of occult activity occur after park hours. In 2000, one of these occult groups broke into and robbed the grave of a Civil War General, scattering the bones and grave items as a part of a ritual and subsequently disturbing the rest of all the spirits... and maybe stirring up so much more.
