America's Haunted Lighthouses - Minnesota, Wisconsin, Ohio

We do not often think of the Midwest asawakened by an extremely loud sound, followed
lighthouse country yet three states haveby heavy footsteps from the spiral staircase
lighthouses on Lake Michigan, Lake Superior andcoming from the lamp room. The ghost walked
Lake Erie, and all have haunted stories to tell.through the hallway and living room into the
The Gales of Novemberkitchen and outside, closing the door with an
Split Rock Lighthouse - Minnesotaaudible click. Skeptical visitors quickly became
Minnesota's Split Rock Lighthouse was thebelievers when awakened from sound sleep by
inspiration for Gordon Lightfoot's song about theloud, heavy footsteps.
sinking of "The Edmund Fitzgerald." The weather isThe spirit, thought to be Lewis Williams, the first
so extremely brutal that people who visit afterkeeper, was not an angry ghost but enjoyed
the month of October are warned to expect aplaying tricks on the caretaker. He loved moving
six moth stay, as heavy ice, snow and gale forcetools from where Blahnick and his father were
winds make traveling to the light impossible.working, only to find them later tucked under a
Wolves have reportedly been heard howling atpillow.
night.In 1987, a group of nuns learned of the ghost as
In 1910, two first assistant keepers drownedthey toured the lighthouse. One no-nonsense
when their boat capsized on the way to thesister fearlessly placed her hands against the
mainland. The boat was eventually found, but theirtower and fervently prayed for the earthbound
bodies were not, and consequently many peoplespirit's release. There has been no other reported
reported supernatural phenomena.haunting since that time.
A visitor who lost his wallet returned to the lightThe Ghost on Little Cat Feet
and asked an elderly man, dressed in a lighthouseFairport Harbor West Breakwater Light - Ohio
keeper's uniform if he had seen it. The man,We are accustomed to tales of human spirits, but
ignored him and refused to allow him entrance tothe ghost that haunts this lighthouse on Lake Erie
the tower to look for his wallet, and walked intois a lively, playful gray kitten. This light still aids
the house. The visitor later saw him looking downnavigation, and its keeper's house is the oldest
from the tower window and wondered what hemaritime museum on the lake.
saw. The next day the visitor returned and foundAccording to one legend, Keeper, Captain Joseph
his wallet, but never discovered the man's identity.Babcock's wife, stricken by a serious illness was
Another story says the man returned the visitor'sbedridden for several months. She was not alone,
wallet, the abruptly vanished. Could this man behowever, for a playful kitten regularly visited her
one of those who drowned?and they spent many happy hours playing "go
Released by a Nunfetch" with a soft ball.
Chambers Island Light - WisconsinOne curator, who saw and play with this kitten
Former caretaker Joel Blahnick noticed aherself, did some research and surmised that the
"presence" when he first arrived at this lightliving room in her apartment was probably the
standing in the middle of Green Bay on Lakebedroom in the old keeper's house where Mrs.
Michigan in 1976. The light was deserted forBabcock recuperated.
twenty years before Blahnick's arrival.Some people believe that the kitten died before
On his first night at this light, Blahnick wasreaching adulthood.