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The pastoral beauty of Iowa does not naturally lend itself towards thoughts of hauntings and other paranormal events, but one has only to scratch the serene surface to find the rich history of ghostly occurrences in this peaceful state.
Naturally, much of the information on haunted places is based on lore and local history. Like most places, Iowa was hit with a pneumonia epidemic in the early 1900's, had its share of scorned lovers and vigilante justice. Added to this of course are the hushed stories told in University dorm rooms and frat houses about failing students and insane professors, giving Iowa's haunted places richness and diversity.
School house hauntings:
Iowa City is the home of the University of Iowa. Fiercely loyal alumni and naïve underclassmen help to keep the legends of ghostly occurrences alive in this city. A few stories are based on ghostly occurrences in dormitory buildings. Slater Hall is home to more than a few ghostly residents. Footsteps and screams accompany the story of a student's suicide jump from the 9th floor. Occasionally students there will report seeing the apparition of the unfortunate young man walking the halls late at night.
Another lore based in Slater hall asks residents to believe the tale of a bloodthirsty "Penguin Man" whose reign of terror in the 1800's continues on the first floor via the apparition of a large and violent man still looking for victims.
Rumor also has it that the spirits of three dorm mates who committed a triple suicide will appear to feuding roommates in Currier Hall.
Bartlett Hall at the Cedar Falls University of Northern Iowa is the host to all kinds of poltergeist activity, including cold spots, slamming doors, and flickering lights. The origin of the spiritual inhabitants is not known, but they remain active to this day.
Zelda is a ghost well known to attendants at the Strayer-Wood Theater on the U of Northern Iowa campus. Piano music, and other strange noises and phenomenon occur on a regular basis.
Not to be outdone, the Stephen Auditorium at the Iowa State University has their own theater loving ghosts. This male apparition can be seen sitting in the third balcony on show nights, and is associated with unexplained cold spots and the sounds of footsteps throughout the auditorium and adjacent buildings.
Lastly, Drake University Observatory in Des Moines, IA is said to host the spirits of the first chairman of the Astronomy and Physics department, Dr. Robert Morehouse. Morehouse and his wife are both interred in the walls of the entryway of the building, and students there report an eerie feeling of being watched, unexplained noises in the basement and sometimes even the helpful presence guiding their notations in their observation logs!
Other Spooky Sites:
Built in the mid 1800's, the Mathias Ham House in Dubuque Iowa is a well known hot spot for people looking for a ghostly experience. Currently a museum open for tours, this Italian based villa with its 23 rooms and authentic furnishings provides some visitors with more than they bargained for! Cold spots, eerie voices and flickering lights are common here and caretakers also report objects moving on their own accord, as well as otherworldly voices and cries coming from the bedrooms and nursery.
Just outside Iowa City in the suburb of Council Bluffs you will find the Fairview Cemetery tucked in amongst a residential neighborhood. This somewhat shabby older cemetery hosts the infamous Black Angel Statue. This large bronze casting looms in an otherwise non-auspicious area. Wings turned down and face gazing at the crypts below, the Black angel is the basis for many myths and lore for local college students. Stories of her origin are plentiful, and her downturned face, so unusual in angel monuments, creates a mournful and almost damning appearance. Legend has it that if you kiss under her gaze you will die within 7 years. Aside from frat house dares, a visit to the Black Angel monument might grant you a glimpse of strange lights in the distance behind her, or a feeling of being watched. More information on the true origins of the monument is available in the cemetery office.
The Wal Mart store in Waterloo at the Crossroads shopping center is the home of Jeremiah, the spirit of a 12 year old boy. Employees there have described him as appearing in Amish attire, and providing playful pranks on staff and shoppers!
Iowa has many other ghostly encounters waiting for you. Virtually every county, college and farmhouse has a story to tell. Talk to the locals on a drive through the state and discover the unseen attractions of Iowa.
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