Wednesday, October 22, 2008

The Willabeast Haunts Philadelphia!



Having already sniffed out some of New York City's Haunted hot-spots, (Click here to see the NYC tour) the Willabeast headed to Philly for some frightening fun in the City of Love.

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The tour begins where you might want to wind-down and warm-up with some hot spiced wine,
City Tavern.
1. City Tavern
138 S. 2nd Street






According to it's website, City Tavern was originally constructed in 1772 and George Washington, among other dignitaries, ate here. In 1948 Congress commissioned the historically accurate reconstruction of City Tavern.
Maybe that is what upset the ghosts that allegedly roam this historically themed restaurant.
Legend says a former waiter was the unintended victim of a bar room duel and to this day, he moves table settings. Drink enough spiced-wine, and you might see a specter in a bloodied white shirt fall to the floor before disappearing.


2.St. Peter's Church Cemetery
4th & Pine Streets

In a quaint residential area, this grave is considered the city's most haunted spot. There is a nice bench or two to relax and watch the locals as they walk their dogs through this pet-friendly spot.
One of the stories even has a ghost dog roaming this graveyard.
A horse-drawn carriage charging through the church and center of the graveyard is a reported sighting. Others say restless Native American chiefs roam the grounds.


3. Independence Hall
520 Chestnut between 5th and 6th streets

Ghosts are believed to inhabit this historical site where the Declaration of Independence was adopted and signed in 1776.
Check out this tourist's blog if you don't believe ghosts hover here.
You just might see Benjamin Franklin, who has been seen in and around Independence Hall looking at documents he helped write.
According to Mike Tait who runs the Spirit of '76 Ghost Tours, in the 1990's, security guards watching a monitor saw someone standing in a room on the second floor. A guard walked up into the room and reported on his walkie-talkie that no one was there. To his shock, he was told that the man appeared to be standing right in front of him.


4.Eastern State Penitentiary
20th Street & Fairmount Avenue

It's not even rumor this place is haunted. It's website states ghost sightings nearly as fact. Pained former prisoners are said to haunt this 172-year-old former state penitentiary.
Even a dog named "Pep" was sentenced to life here. Some say it was for killing the governor's wife's cat in 1924, other records show the dog was donated by the governor to up morale.
Haunted candlelight tours are given here.

The Willabeast enjoyed these haunts of Philly. Come back soon for her cheesesteak eating and monument tour she likes to call "Willa in Phila."

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