October is right around the corner, and I don’t know about you, but I love a good ghost story; especially this time of year. There’s something electrifying and eerie hovering in the atmosphere and it leaves us wanting to know more about the realm of the paranormal and the occult. Here are some of my favorite haunted locations in both southern Indiana, and the bluegrass state of Kentucky. - Lauren DeArmond

Willard Library-Evansville, Indiana

In 1877, Willard Carpenter wanted to build an educational structure that would stand the test if time in his well loved town of Evansville. The establishment is rich in history, literacy, and ghosts. Ghosts? Indeed, have you ever heard of the Grey Lady of Willard Library?

The first report of the Grey Lady was in the late 1930s by a custodian. Ever since then, many mysterious happenings have been experienced. Policemen have been known to respond to a tripped alarm, and happen to have spot two ghosts in an upstairs window. Eight hundred people came to the libraries first haunted tour in the Nineties. They still give tours, if you think your nerves can handle it.

Bobby Mackey’s- Wilder, Kentucky

According to local legend, Bobby Mackey’s Music World houses the “gateway to hell” and is haunted by many various spirits. One being Pearl Bryan, whose headless body was discovered near the premises. There are stories that Pearl’s murders’ were devil worshipers who, according to the locals, cursed Bobby Mackey’s and vowed to haunt everyone in the prosecuting case. Another story connected to the building is about a pregnant dancer named Johanna who committed suicide backstage with poison when the building was the Latin Quarter Club.

According to Bobby Mackey, the place was a functioning slaughterhouse in 1850 before it was tore down and an assortment of roadhouses were built. Bobby Mackey’s Music World has been featured on different televised paranormal investigating shows such as Ghost Adventures on the Travel Channel. It’s told that a large amount of demonic possessions take place there, and many of the spirits are malevolent in nature, some are nothing but pure evil. If you ever find yourself in Wilder, and feel brave enough to risk your soul, stop in to see Bobby, and maybe he’ll introduce you to the devil.

Waverly Hills- Louisville, Kentucky

Almost every fan of the paranormal has heard of Waverly Hills Sanatorium at some point in time, and for good reason. Waverly opened for business in July of 1910, as a two-story building designed to safely house roughly 40 to 50 tuberculosis patients. At the time, tuberculosis was a devastating disease and people who were diagnosed needed to be quarantined and kept away from the unaffected public. However, it didn’t take long for this outbreak to become a large epidemic in Jefferson County. The small TB facility housed 140 tuberculosis patients, double what it was built to hold.

Waverly was much like a self-contained city to the affected people; even had it’s own zip code. Construction to expand began in March of 1924 and was completed in 1926, this gives us the Gothic architecture that makes Waverly even more frightening.

Room 502 has a chilling story of a pregnant nurse who found out she had contracted TB. She committed suicide by hanging herself with a light bulb wire outside the room she was in at the time. There is also rumors of evil doppelgangers, a secondary version of one’s self. Its said that if you see your doppelganger there, you’ll die. Waverly is still open for tours despite rumors of opening as a hotel. Care to be admitted for a quick stay?

Octagon Hall- Franklin, Kentucky

Octagon Hall, is as it sounds, it is a three story octagon shaped house. There’s not many structures like this in America, especially not predating the Civil War. But don’t be fooled by it’s unique structure, the walls hold their fair share of stories. Andrew Jackson Caldwell built this home for his family in 1847 with a desire for distinction. Caldwell was considered to be a proactive Confederate, with a brother being a colonel in the army. The house was a landmark to the area, and sits on what locals know to be 31W, more historically known as the Nashville Road.

On February 13, 1862 the Confederate Army evacuated Bowling Green and headed south. Anywhere between eight to ten thousand men set up camp on Caldwell’s interesting property that night. Through out the war Octagon Hall was used as a hiding place and a sanctuary for all confederate soldiers. It was an also an active hospital too.

There’s many tales of ghosts there, including those of soldiers that perished on the property and of the Caldwell daughter, who fell into the kitchen's fireplace. The property is a beautiful, yet mysterious one and is well maintained and cared for by Billy Byrd. Stop in during operating hours and he’ll be happy to share all his stories with you.

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