Join us at Northern Michigan History as we journey through our 5-part series, delving into the mysteries of the most haunted locales in Northern Michigan. In this, our final installment, we’ve reached the Western Upper Peninsula. Be prepared for eerie tales of inexplicable lights, actresses who never exit the theater, and the unsettling presence of chainsaws within cemeteries. The western edge of the U.P. holds its own unique and chilling stories that should not be taken lightly!
Ontonagon County
Paulding Lights: Also known as the Dog Meadow Light, this enigmatic phenomenon appears in a vale near Paulding, close to Watersmeet. The light was first sighted in 1966 by a group of teenagers who promptly reported it to the local sheriff. It is said to manifest nearly every night, with numerous individuals claiming to have witnessed it.
Several intriguing theories have emerged regarding the source of these lights. One suggests that they are the lantern of a brakeman. He met his end while attempting to halt an oncoming train from colliding with stationary railway cars. Another story contends that the lights are the restless spirit of a slain mail courier. A third theory suggests that they are the spectral remnants of a Native American. They are dancing along the power lines that traverse the valley. According to an article in the Detroit Free Press by John Carlisle, some believe the lights to be a grandparent. They searching for a lost grandchild, wielding a lantern that requires constant rekindling. This notion may explain the lights’ intermittent nature.
Kitchie Cemetery: Situated in Trout Creek, Kitchie Cemetery is known for its eerie occurrences. Reports of sounds resembling chainsaws and screams have circulated. There has also been sightings of floating orbs in the vicinity of parked cars.
Keweenaw Peninsula
Calumet Theater: A legendary tale surrounds the Calumet Theater, involving the Shakespearean actress, Madame Helena Modjeska, who is believed to have passed away within its walls in 1909 and purportedly never departed.
Lake Breeze: Initially constructed as a warehouse in the 1850s by William Raley, the Lake Breeze was transformed into a resort in 1922 and remains under the ownership of the Raley family. Reports of a ghostly woman gazing out over Lake Superior from the porch persist. The story suggests she searches for her husband, who was lost in a freighter crash. Witnesses have described flickering lighthouse lights, eerie voices, and ghostly apparitions.
Learn more about the rich history of the Western Upper Peninsula.