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Location:
The old North Carolina State Capitol Building is located in Raleigh, North
Carolina, two blocks away from the new state government building, where the
seat of state government was moved to in 1961.
Description:
Built in 1840, is described as being one of the smallest and best preserved of all
our nation's state capitol buildings. It has Greek Revival architecture, three
floors, and granite halls. It is furnished with period -type furnishings, and looks like it did when built 160 years ago. Much can be heard throughout the building because of its superior acoustics.
The Senate chamber has the original mahogany desks and chairs in beautiful
condition, that date back to 1839-40. All sits on antique red carpeting,
decorated by red stars. Overhead hangs a 100 year old grand chandelier. The room "radiates warmth and dignity."
The first floor houses the offices of the State Governor and the Secretary of
State. On the second and third floors, are kept as historic sites by the State
Division of Archives and History.
Outside the building, huge elms and ancient oaks offer shade to statues of
former presidents, such as George Washington,, Andrew Jackson, James Knox
Polk, and Andrew Johnson
Manifestations:
Although the legislature and the state's representatives conduct their
business in the new government building, some entities, who were politicians
when they were alive still putter around this old Capitol Building, keeping an eye on the living, as well as go about their business. Also, in the late 1860's, a murder happened right outside the building, which might account for the screaming.
1) Mr. Jackson, a night watchman there for over 15 years, often heard these
entities, screaming on occasion, making the slamming sound of an already
locked door, making the dropping sound of books hitting the floor in the library, (none were ever found on the floor), and has witnessed the manually operated elevator go up and down by itself to the1st, 2nd and 3rd floor, perhaps delivering ghosts going about their perceived business.
2) One evening, Jackson heard the tinkling sound of a window breaking on the
second floor. When he went up there to clean up the broken glass, he found
nothing amiss.
3) Another evening, while Mr. Jackson sat at the reception desk on the first
floor, his felt the pressure of a cold hand on his shoulder. He swung around in
his chair to find no one there, who was living anyway.
4) Another evening, a fierce wind seemed to roar with a vengeance throughout
the building. Thinking that this wind came from outside he went out to check on
the ancient trees, thinking that they may loose a branch or two. However, there was no wind outside. Going back inside, the wind had stopped suddenly, and what was described as a "strange calm," had enveloped the place. He said, "I knew it was a haint."
5) Mr. Raymond Beck, who was the curator of the building and a history museum
specialist, back in the Spring of 1981, decided one night to stay late, and work on
a restoration project in the library, which was on the third floor. With the lights on, and the radio softly playing, he worked at his desk. Sometime between 10:00 and 12:00, he got up to put some books away on the shelf. He was stopped short, when he suddenly felt a presence silently looking over his shoulder. When he turned around, no one seen was there, but he still felt an uncomfortable presence in the room with him. He closed up the library and left quickly.
6) Mr. Beck's boss, Administrator Sam Townsend Sr., about 5 months later,
shared with Beck that he too had felt a strong presence standing behind him,
looking over his shoulder, while working in the library.
7) In 1976, while preparing the paperwork needed to reopen the newly renovated
Capitol building, Townsend, while sitting in the governor's suite by the South
entrance, heard keys jingling in the North entrance door, the sound of the door opening and shutting, and foot steps coming across the stone floor. Thinking that it was the then Secretary of State, Thad Eure, whose office was diagonally across from the governor's suite, by the North door, Townsend came out to meet him. Much to his surprise, no one was there in Eure's office. Just then, Townsend heard keys rattling in the South door entrance. He found that all the doors, except the North door were locked down securely.
8) Townsend's permanent office was located on the second floor, in the
northeast corner of the Senate chamber, in the Office of the Clerk. He worked
in his office three nights a week, because he could avoid distractions that could plague him during the day.
a) He has heard unmistakable, distinct footsteps coming from the committee
room, in the southwest corner of the Senate chamber, toward his little office.
When he went to greet whoever it was, no one was ever there.
b) For several years, he has heard pacing in the committee room, until a copy
machine was moved into the room temporarily.
c) When Townsend arrived one evening, and opened the door to the Senate
chamber, he briefly saw an apparition standing in the doorway, which cause him
to jump back. It dissolved quickly.
Still Haunted?
Appears to be. No known psychic research has been done, and the presences are
happy there, sharing the building with the living.
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