Anchorage's Most Haunted

Today is Halloween and Anchorage residents are telling ghost stories, including claims of bewitchment.

Tools

By Lauren Maxwell
Bio | Email

Story Created: Oct 31, 2011 at 2:33 PM AKDT

Story Updated: Oct 31, 2011 at 3:33 PM AKDT

Today is Halloween and Anchorage residents are telling ghost stories, including claims of bewitchment.

The historic Anchorage Hotel is rumored to be one of the most haunted places in town, and manager Terri Russi would agree

“I saw three things in one week and I’m not crazy,” she said.

A few years back, several people reported seeing the portrait of Sydney Lawrence fly off the mantel.

“It flew across the room, hit the coffee table, cracked the glass and I was prepared for an earthquake,” Russi recalled, but said no earthquake ever hit.

Strange noises and peculiar sightings have been standard at the hotel ever since it was established in 1916.

Guests report sightings in rooms and so do the hotel staff.

The hotel is a frequent stop for ghost hunters who claim the hotel buzzes with paranormal activity.

And, haunted hotels are one thing, but what about a haunted high school?

“Most often, the woman in white is seen right up there in the balcony,” said West High School drama teacher David Block.

He once roamed the haunted halls of West High as a student, and now as a teacher, he said people still talk about the resident ghosts.

Teachers, too, have seen the theater ghost, as well as the spirit of a long-dead janitor who is occasionally spotted making his rounds.

“And as far as our janitor friend goes, one of our current-day people here has seen him walking the hallways. Years and years [ago] he passed and he is occasionally seen on his route cleaning classrooms,” Block said

But it's what's beneath the school that some find most creepy.

“I've never seen anything, but every once in a while you hear some bumping noise underneath your classroom and you begin to wonder,” he said, as he gestured to a series of tunnels which have been sealed “just in case.”

For the most part, the West High staff say they've learned to live with their ghostly guests.

“It's fun. We love having our spectral visitors come,” said Block, and he invites others to meet them, too.

West High School is offering haunted theater tours tomorrow for grade school children from 1 to 8 p.m. for $3 per child.

You have indicated this comment should be removed.

Close

The comment has been submitted for review. Thank you .

Anonymous said on Tuesday, Nov 6 at 6:36 AM

!

105844102
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Add a comment

Name:

Comment: 1000 Characters Left

KTVA CBS 11 | Anchorage, Alaska News and Weather and its affiliated companies are not responsible for the content of comments posted or for anything arising out of use of the above comments or other interaction among the users. We reserve the right to screen, refuse to post, remove or edit user-generated content at any time and for any or no reason in our absolute and sole discretion without prior notice, although we have no duty to do so or to monitor any Public Forum.
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.