paranormal buildings

st augustine lighthouse

Located in Florida

History of the lighthouse

1589
Started off as a wooden watchtower, erected by the spanish crown.

1731-1762
they replaced the wooden watchtower with a 30 foot watchtower, that is now made with shell rock and wood. Making sure no enemy ships were coming. Spain and Britain were often at war during this time.
1739 De Mose was established North of St Augustine, spanish governor created De Mose for runaway slaves and free blacks. Fort Mose attracted runaway slaves to florida, which of course provoked anger of the British. So, sadly the british destroyed the fort. 1752, the spanish rebuilt the fort, and free people lived there. Fort Mose was the first to free African American community.

1782
On new year's eve, 16 ships wrecked while attempting to enter the harbor. also thousands of native americans camped outside city gates seeking british protection. The governor Patrick Tonyn struggled to feed everyone. The population at the time of the British in Augustine is about 30,000 people.

1822
St Augustine was raised another 10 feet.

1871
it soon became evident that this lighthouse was doomed to go under water due to the ocean rising . The US  congress appropriated 100,000 funding for a new lighthouse during the florida reconstruction period. The lighthouse constructed a new 165 foot tower, and finished in 1784. St Augustine included African American residents, temporary buildings to house them and horses.

1875
on may 1875, 72 indian prisoners, escorted by train to st augustine.The captives were Kiowa, Comanches, cheyennes, arapahos, caddo. Separated from their family, one attempted to escape which they got shot and killed, others starved their selves or died on the journey.

That was some history, so let's get into some of the ghost stories.

The Pittee girls
on June 1, 1867 during this time like said before the sea was rising and they rebuilt the lighthouse. So the lighthouse was way much more functional, it was supposed to be beneficial to the public but it soon turned tragic.
Hezekiah Pittee lived on site with his children and children.
Wife:
Mary
children:
Mary Adelaide, Eliza, Edward, and carrie.
The Pittee children turned the construction site into a playground. Inviting the children of the workers to play for fun. By 1873 there was a railway cart that moved their supplies. One of their favorite games was to ride the cart into the water, basically using the cart as a rollercoaster. Only a wooden board keeping them from tipping over into the water.
July 10 1873
The three Pittee sisters
mary(15) Eliza(13) Carrie(4)
and an African American whose father might have worked on the site (10)
Them 4 were riding the cart like usual, the wooden board that stopped the cart like usual was not in place this time. So, the cart carrying them went into the water, trapping them underneath. A worker witnessed the tragic event, going over there he lifted the cart with all his strength. But, by the time he did they all have drowned besides the youngest.
Carrie (4)
After this tragic event, there has been said that they haunt the lighthouse.
Throughout the lighthouse it's said you can hear giggling, dirty child sized footprints on the floor the next morning.

The Man
it's said apparently when this tall shadowy figure is near you can smell the scent of cigars. Which, he is known as the "caretaker" of the lighthouse.
Locals and the lighthouse employees call him "the man" and is often described wearing a blue jacket and a marine cap.
Because of his tall and thin body, people believe he is the ghost of "William Russell"
A protective lighthouse keeper back in 1850s
Some people believe he is "Joseph Andreu"
Who fell off a scaffolding in 1859 while putting on a fresh coat of paint.

Maria Mestre de los Dolores
in 1859, she became the first woman to serve in the U.S. Coast Guard and became the first Hispanic - American woman to command a federal shore installation (St Lighthouse)
Her appointment came after her husband which has been mentioned before Joseph Andreu. When he met his end, Maria was devastated and heartbroken. She soon met the same fate as her husband.
Mostly seen now looking over the railings.