Haunted Brevard, The Space Coast has a long history of hauntings and strange happenings.
Accounts of ghosts, spirits and other ethereal beings are not easily found but they are hidden between the leaves of old books, newspaper articles and oral histories.
“During my exploration of the county, I have talked to those who talk to Indian spirits, and to one who has an Indian guide to the other world,” said author of Old Tales of Brevard Georgiana Kjerulff.
Georgianna writes about a story shared with her about a beautiful blond nymph. The story was told to a Cape worker who decided to try the same road on a misty night. he approached the misty point and was astonished to see a beautiful blond woman waving to him. The worker stopped the car, opened the door, and the dripping wet woman entered the car. The driver started off and turned to look at the blonde, but she had vanished. she didn't even leave a puddle behind.
Many theaters around the local area are reported to be haunted. At the Melbourne Henegar Center a reported ghost there is called Jonathan and is a 'noisy ghost' who likes to make himself known. He is said to be mischievous at times as things are never where you left them. The balcony seems to be Jonathan's favorite location.
Melbourne's Historic section Betty's Antiques by the rail road tracks is very
haunted, so is the site of the Giftique, just West of there. There's an historical
plaque there about Shorty's Bar, a gangster hangout on that site. Ghost hunting students sensed a body under the floor, many nefarious things happened there in the 1920's prohibition era, causing residual hauntings.
The present day 1900 Building once the Melbourne Hotel is haunted by the love lorn ghost of Amelia and others. The story goes that in early in the 20th Century Amelia was engaged to marry a boat captain. She lived at the hotel and they met there on various rendezvous. He failed to return one time, either lost on the water or he went off with another, a love rival. Poor Amelia died of a broken heart, possibly suicide. She still roams the halls, seeking her beloved. Some say the Captain died on the river, while trying to get back to Amelia and is haunting the 1900 building, both of these spirits have been heard, felt and occasionally seen at the 1900.
North of the Rossetter House, a victim of a traffic accident a ghost who haunts the busy intersection. The gentlemen who manages the Rossetter House told a group I took there once about it and about the Rossetter sisters, who still watch over their home.
Pineapple Inn in Eau Gallie is reported to be haunted by the ghost is of a Victorian lady, Senator Sullivan's unhappy and neglected wife. She doesn't care for either men or children and has attacked a male interior decorator on the inside stairwell and her presence watches over the large picture window in front. It was the first picture window ever in Brevard, her pride and joy! It has the original glass after a century. Glass and crystal amplify psychic power, so an image of her in the glass to the right of the front door would be most accurate. She looks like her son, his picture hangs in the Eau Galle Yacht Club,
Downtown Melbourne Beach, near the pier on the Indian River, is haunted by pioneer ghosts,
the historical plaques and very old buildings near the pier give some background. Dijon's and also the corner building, kitty corner from the pier it was once the first area hotel. Look for Mrs. Sweet's ghost there, who is nearly always present.
Cocoa
The Cocoa Village Playhouse is said be haunted by a former handyman. He is harmless, his footsteps can be heard around the building, and strange opening of doors occur.
Rockledge
Along the river road in Rockledge and little spit of land juts into the river it is marked by very old cabbage palms. On cold night, a yellow mist swirls on the Indiana River, changing his tiny spit of land into a haunted spot. The road makes a sharp turn at this point and the mist eddies across the road. Several people had reported seeing the vision of a man, dressed in a cocked hat and the costume of the 1715 period. he looms out of the mist, but his body is only seen to a point below the knees. Georgianna writes. “Is this apparition a trick of the headlights and mist, or is it Henry Jennings warning the treasure hunters?”
Pritchard House in Titusville, at a gathering of paranormal experts an investigator reported
hearing a child’s voice that could be heard faintly saying “Momma” three times. And then some
disembodied spirit came close and whispered in his hear “Get Out!”
Throughout Brevard during Halloween there are many ghost story telling sessions and haunted walks. Check the local paper for listings of events in Melbourne, Eau Gallie, Cocoa's Taylor Park and Pritchard House in Titusville.
