From Crybaby Bridge to Gassaway Mansion, 9 haunted spots in Greenville, Upstate SC
If you are looking for a good ghost story to tell around the campfire come Halloween night, reader beware ― you are in for a fright.
Many of the urban legends surrounding South Carolina's Upstate involve ghostly apparitions lurking in the shadows of historical sites. There are also tales regarding strange sounds, like the cry of a baby at an off-limits Anderson bridge and the sounds of squeaky sneakers sweeping across an empty college basketball court.
Other stories are more tragic, such as the story of Fannie Heldman, a star-crossed lover who met her fate in the waters of Greenville's Reedy River, as well as the rise and fall of Walter Gassaway.
What are your favorite haunted spots in Upstate SC? Email Nina Tran at ntran@gannett.com and let her know.
Whatever may be your scare, here are tales from some of the Upstate's spookiest spots:
Crybaby Bridge, Anderson
This off-limits bridge to the public has drawn popular attention due to a legend involving a woman and her baby. Word of mouth has it there have been incidents of people hearing a baby scream and cry. There have also been ghostly sightings of the baby's mother, who follows the cries in search of her newborn.
Poinsett Bridge, Landrum
Historians believe Poinsett Bridge was designed by Robert Mills, a South Carolina native and architect of the U.S. Treasury Building and a courthouse in Greenville in the 1820s. He has been attributed to a sketch of the bridge, further supporting the belief he was its architect. Those who visit the bridge at night report seeing orbs and flying lights, while others hear echoes of screams from under the bridge. Some even say they experience car trouble when attempting to leave the area.
Westin Poinsett Hotel, Greenville
This luxury hotel dates back to 1925 and sits on the site of the former hotel where former Vice President John C. Calhoun once stayed. Guests who spend the night have reported seeing a shadowy figure in their hotel rooms, as well as near the windows. One of these figures is a man who wears a black coat he removes before vanishing into thin air.
Springwood Cemetery, Greenville
In the late 1700s, the cemetery was built as a private, family-burial ground. By 1829, it was opened to the public. The cemetery, located in the heart of downtown Greenville, has over 30 acres of dedications, gravesites and mausoleums. One gravesite, whose angel statue towers above the cemetery, belongs to Fannie Heldman, a young woman who was once in love. After her father arranged for her to marry an older business partner in 1889, she drowned herself in the Reedy River. Visitors of the cemetery report seeing a white mist who they believe is the late Heldman.
Boggs Street, Greenville
A former warehouse on Boggs Street was once home to a tombstone engraver. Legend has it one marker never reached its final destination for reasons unknown. For years, the monument sat outside the alley, leaving passersby spooked. A man was also reported to wander the marker, vanishing before anyone could approach him. When the stone was removed, the man's sightings stopped. However, formless auras, orbs and lights continue to be reported.
Gassaway Mansion, Greenville
In 1919, construction on the mansion began and was completed by Walter and Minnie Quinn Gassaway in 1925. Walter Gassaway was one of the founding fathers of the Upstate's textile industry. During the 1929 stock market crash, he lost everything, shooting himself on the mansion's front lawn. His ghost is said to wander the front lawn and mansion.
Highway 11
Off this highway stands an old tree that is said to rarely bloom. To find it, you will need to tie up your hiking boots. However, those curious are warned to stay far away from it. Animals do not approach the tree, and leaves fall from it and never land below its branches. A seedling marks the tree, where a witch was rumored to be buried there during the Civil War.
Fleetwood Drive, Greenville
Fleetwood Drive is the street where America's creepy clown sighting craze began. In 2016, residents reported seeing several clowns in the area, who tried to lure children into following them into the woods. Things got so out of hand, the manager of Fleetwood Manor Apartments warned residents to call the police should they see any more clowns. Soon after, the nation experienced the clown sighting phenomenon, with clowns stalking and chasing after pedestrians.
Converse University, Spartanburg
If you are a fan of Harry Potter, you likely remember the tale of Moaning Myrtle, whose ghost haunted the girls' bathrooms at Hogwarts. Likewise, Converse University has its own ghosts hovering above its hallways. In Pell Hall, there is rumored to be a White Lady ghost, known to lock students in rooms. The Evans building has its own tales of things that go bump in the night, like the sounds of a bouncing ball and squeaky sneakers on the basketball court when the building is not in use.
Nina Tran covers trending topics. Reach her via email at ntran@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Here are 9 haunted spots in Greenville, Spartanburg, Anderson SC
