Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Haunted America Day 1: Alcatraz Prison

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Haunted America Day 1

Halloween is upon us and I am counting down with a Haunted Place a day. Yes, I know that sounds lame but hey…I am still waking up here. *grins*

So be prepared to learn of a few haunted places in America and I apologize to those overseas. The world is so big that I would be here for days posting on different haunted places. Maybe next year I can do Haunted places in the world or something.

Haunted America #1: Alcatraz Island


The notorious Alcatraz Prison is known for its infamous inmates and its strictness. Alcatraz is a small island located in San Francisco Bay, which is named Alcatraz Island. The environment which surrounds the prison made it near impossible to escape with the sea currents very strong and no chance of swimming across.
Alcatraz was originally a high security military prison, which opened in 1859. In 1933 it was then made a high security federal Prison for the most hardened and dangerous criminals. The conditions of the prison were terrible with a very strict management. If any inmate was to behave badly in anyway it would mean solitry confinement or even the stretch in the dreader steel box. Due to the building literally crumbling away the prison was closed in 1963 but was made a national park.

There have been reports that haunting have been witnessed by National Park staff that vary from voices to loud noises behind doors.

The most famous ghost is of course, Al Capone.

Al Capone’s ghost

Al Capone is one of the well known prisoners of Alcatraz. While he spent the last years of his life in the High Security Prison, he joined a band where he played the banjo. While he was at Alcatraz he feared that he would be killed by other inmates if he was to spend his recreation time in the yard – Al Capone was then allowed to spend time practicing his Banjo within the showers.

To this day National Park staff and members of the public taking the Alcatraz Tour have heard a noise which has been stated to be a Banjo, coming from the showers. This noise has never been explained and people are still reporting it.

Cell 14D – The Hole

Cell 14D is one the Hole cells where inmates were sent for bad behavior. When the prison was open there was an incident where an inmate was sent to cell 14D. The inmate screamed though the night telling the guards of monster with glowing eyes was going to kill him. The next morning the cell was opened and the inmate had been strangled.

That same morning when doing a head count, the guards counted one extra prisoner. The guards that counted claimed to have seen the prisoner that had been killed through the night.

The Lighthouse

The lighthouse which was original built and then removed in 1909 is a paranormal hotspot to this day. Many witnesses have reported that on foggy nights the lighthouse will appear with a light on and then disappear just as fast as it appeared.

The Utility Corridor

This is now known has the most haunted place in the prison. There was a night watchmen that heard noises from the corridor so opened the door to investigate, the noises instantly stopped so he flashed his light down the corridor and saw nothing that would cause the noise he then closed that door and the noises started again! He opened the door and again saw nothing.

The door to the utility door was once welded closed for an unknown reason, but it is believed that it was done for some paranormal reason.

There are many more haunting sightings told about this famous place. You can find out more all over the internet.

8 comments:

Julie Lynn Hayes said...

The notion of Al Capone's ghost hanging out and playing the banjo at Alcatraz is an interesting and appropriately Halloween image, but the man died in Florida, why would his ghost be in California? Just wondering.

Unknown said...

I heard about Al Capone's banjo music in Alcatraz. Troy Taylor, who writes extensively about Chicago's ghosts, mentions the music in his article about Capone. Here's the link
http://www.prairieghosts.com/capone.html

I wondered about Capone haunting the Rock, too, but I think he probably does because he was driven mad there.

Julie Lynn Hayes said...

Except he wasn't driven mad there. His madness was caused by syphilis. He was afraid of needles, wouldn't be tested. That's why he got an early release, so he could go home to Florida to die. Of course, that isn't quite the same romantic ending to the story as the other.

As for his grave in Chicago, I believe he was moved from one cemetery to another, because of the people paying their respects. I don't remember in which cemetery he really resides - Mt. Carmel or the other one.

Samantha Gentry said...

I've done the Alcatraz tour a couple of times. Absolutely fascinating stuff.

SGentryAuthor@aol.com

Terra said...

Wow this place is always one of the coolest places to read about. I bet there are a lot of ghost running around and I bet they are not all that nice.

Cathy M said...

We live close enough that I've taken the tour alot over the years, and it really does feel haunted. There is an oppressive air about the prision, and you feel like you are being watched. Great pick Raine.


caity_mack at yahoo dot com

Unknown said...

I've seen a lot of the ghost hunting shows investigate here. It definitely appears to be haunted. Great blog.

LORETTA CANTON said...

Alcatraz is a good place for a ghost.


loretta

lbcanton@verizon.net

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