Built in 1888, the Hotel del Coronado was known in the late 19th century and early 20th century for a resort for anyone who was anyone and took months to travel the vast space between the East and West Coasts. The Hotel del Coronado even once had its own school to teach the children of their most long-term guests. Since that era, some of those long-term guests have apparently never left, bringing their occupancy into the afterlife. One of the most famous of the hotel’s ghosts is said to be Kate Morgan, a lovesick woman who checked into the hotel in 1892. She waited for five days for the love of her life to meet her; he never did and Kate was found dead at the bottom of an exterior staircase leading to the beach. Since then, Kate’s ghost has been reported on the beach and in the hotel, and when she is feeling particularly feisty she plays harmless pranks on guests, says the hotel’s management. Another hot spot for paranormal activity is the hotel gift shop, where crystal routinely flies off of the shelves and pictures fall off of the walls. The target seems to be souvenirs of the movie Some Like It Hot starring Marilyn Monroe, which was filmed at the hotel in 1958. Marilyn’s ghost, perhaps? Hotel management doesn’t think so. They believe whoever’s ghost it is just doesn’t like sharing the limelight with the 20th century beauty.
If you have ever visited Bull Valley, Illinois you may have noticed a strange looking structure with a unique design. That building is the former residence of spiritualist George Stickney. From the outside the structure is fairly normal looking, but on the inside it is another story.
George had the home built in 1836 for him and his wife Sylvia. At his request the home was to be built with rounded corners. George Stickney followed a form of spiritualism that held to the belief that evil spirits could be attracted to corners or get trapped in them. George and Sylvia held many seances in the home.
According to one legend the home ended up with one corner of a room that had a 90-degree measurement. Oddly enough, George met his demise in the home and reportedly was found dead in one of the corners with a terrified look on his face. He died of apparant heart failure. Sylvia Stickney continued to live in the house and gained fame as a spiritual medium. She held large seances in the home in the upstairs ballroom.
After his death rumors of the supernatural began to surface about the home. Some of the tales include creepy stories from people who have been in the mansion and have reported seeing figures moving about and hearing footsteps. One of the former owners of the house Rodrick Smith also claims to have heard strange noises in the home. He also reported that his dogs never felt comfortable there.
In 1985 the mansion became a police precinct to the Village of Bull Valley. Police Chief Norbert Sauers is reported as having heard footsteps in the building, strange noises, lights turning on and off, door knobs turning, and hearing toilets flush when alone in the house. Another police officer claims to have come face to face with an apparition. The official word from the authorities though, is that the house is not nor has it ever been haunted. Hmmm I wonder which it is?
