Haunted: Ghost Children Stories

One of the most famous ghost stories in Texas takes place at an intersection just south of San Antonio. In the 1930s or 40s, the story goes, a train collided with a school bus that was stalled on the tracks. The train tried to stop but 10 children on the bus were killed. These lost souls reportedly still haunt the place where they died, staying around to help others who might get stranded in the same way. Legend has it if you stop on the tracks and put your car in neutral, the San Antonio ghost children will push it out of harm's way. Some motorists wanting to test this legend have put baby powder on their bumpers. Afterwards, they say you can see tiny hand-prints on the vehicles.

Built in 1894, Whisper Estates in Mitchell, IN has been voted one of the most terrifying places in America by the Travel Channel. Among the many phenomena which keep ghost hunters returning are doors opening and closing by themselves, reports of women being grabbed (some have the marks to prove it), toys being thrown down stairs as well as many sightings and strange smells. At least two ghost children have been seen in the house, presumably the adopted children of the second owners, Dr. John and Jessie Gibbons. One is a 10 month old infant named Elizabeth. Visitors have reported hearing her cries and smelling baby powder in the master bedroom where she died. Guests have also reported seeing and hearing Rachael, a 10 year old girl who died from her burns after starting a fire in the parlor.

I don't know about you, but the name alone gives me the creeps. A small playground located in the middle of Huntsville's historic Maple Hill Cemetery, the Dead Children's Playground is so named for the many reports of child specters seen and heard there. Built in 1882 and covering over 100 acres, the cemetery is the oldest and largest in Alabama. Through the years, people claimed to have heard children giggling, seen moving orbs of light and, most frequently, swings moving on their own from a complete standstill. Some believe it is the spirits of children buried in the cemetery coming out to play. Others believe it is the victims of a string of child abductions in the 1960s and 70s. Local legend has it that some of the bodies were discovered near the playground.\

The Octagon House in Washington D.C. was the first residence to be built near the White House. In fact, it served as a temporary "Executive Mansion" for President James Madison and his wife Dolley when the presidential home was damaged during the War of 1812. Octagon House was built by Colonel John Tayloe, reportedly the wealthiest Virginia land-owner of his time.

In addition to Colonel Tayloe's two daughters (who fell or were pushed down the stairs during separate arguments - depending on which version of events you believe), a young slave girl was killed in the house by a British soldier. Visitors have reported hearing her scream as well as thumping noises coming from a wall. The house was sold in 1902 to American Institute of Architects and, during renovations, workers reportedly found the skeleton of a young girl. Once the girl was buried, the thumping noises stopped altogether.

The hauntings at the historic Whaley House in San Diego have been widely documented in newspapers and on television. In fact, Travel Channel's "America's Most Haunted" has rated it the most haunted house in the United States. Many ghost stories have begun here, largely owing to the home being built on the former site of a courthouse where several hangings took place. One of the spirits contributing to the Whaley House reputation is a little girl with long hair who is usually found in the dining room. She is believed to be either Annabel or Carrie Washburn, a friend of the Whaley children who died after being caught on a clothesline in the backyard. Although there are no records to support the story, English psychic Sybil Leek reportedly saw her in the 1960s. Eighteen month old Tom Whaley, a mischevious toddler, has also been seen.

The historic HMS Queen Mary is rumored to be one of the most haunted places in the world, with nearly 150 spirits roaming the decks. The luxury liner made its maiden voyage in 1936 and ferried the notables of the day, including Fred Astaire, the Duke & Duchess of Windsor, Sir Winston Churchill and Clark Gable, among others. At the beginning of WWII, she was painted grey and went into service as a troop ship. She returned to use as a passenger ship in 1947 and remained so until 1967 when she was sold to the city of Long Beach, CA as a maritime museum and hotel.

Some of the Queen Mary's most famous ghost stories take place in the engine room, the first class hallway and near the front desk. However, of the 49 confirmed deaths on the ship in the last 60 years, several of them have been children whose spirits still haunt the places where they died. One little girl named Jackie can be seen and heard in the second-class pool room where she drowned. Another little girl is also seen near the pool, asking for her mother. She is thought to have died while sliding down a banister.