Stay Away From Alaska’s Most Haunted Building After Dark Or You May Be Sorry
The charming coastal town of Seward on the Kenai Peninsula is home to loads of breathtaking natural beauty, fun tours and delicious restaurants. Seward is a booming destination in the summertime while it tends to be on the sleepier side during the winter months.
Small town life in Seward is pretty laid back, but this one abandoned building has a truly riveting history. Although the ghost stories that come out of here are guaranteed to send chills down your spine, the locals refer to this sweet spot as a beloved part of their cherished history in small town Seward. Take a look and see for yourself and read all about the most haunted building in Alaska.
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Established in 1926 in Seward, the Jesse Lee Home for Children is the second of three child welfare institutions in Alaska to bear the same name.
The first establishment was founded in 1890 in Unalaska (Dutch Harbor) on the Aleutian Islands chain. The Jesse Lee Home for Children moved to Seward because the town was the largest transportation hub at the time, even though many of the resident children were from the Aleutian Islands and the Seward Peninsula.
Located at 1824 Phoenix Road in Seward, the Jesse Lee Home was a boarding school that housed many children that were effected by the epidemics that swept across many rural Alaska areas in the early 20th century.
This special facility was home to many positive memories and housed well known Alaska residents such as Benny Benson (who designed the Alaska flag),
Rev Peter Gordon Gould (founder of Alaska Methodist University) and Simon Oliver (pianist, composer, writer).
Following the heart-wrenching destruction that the 1964 Alaska Earthquake had on the Seward facility, the third location in Anchorage was established in 1965.
Since that time, the local Methodist church deeded the property in 1966 before eventually selling it to private owners.
After sitting abandoned for nearly 40 years, reports of paranormal activity started trickling in from those stepping on the property or driving down the street at night.
Children giggling, mysterious movement, ghost-like silhouettes and feelings of melancholy top the list of most frequent observations. This otherworldly activity has made the building into one of the most creepy places in Alaska to visit.
Sounds of jump-ropes on the sidewalks, little feet tapping in the distance, and happy cheers from children have also been reported.
It's almost as if all of these lingering apparitions are all happy and filled with joy from the past. Still, it's a bit creepy to think about any structure being haunted and this alone keeps many away from this area at nightfall. Today, the property is again owned by the City of Seward and the residents are very proud of their local historic property with so many stories. This building in Seward is definitely one of the most haunted places in Alaska.
For a deeper look into the paranormal activity surrounding the Jesse Lee Home off of Phoenix Road in Seward, be sure to watch the YouTube video below for some informative facts.
To learn more about the most haunted building in Alaska, click the link HERE.
Have you ever visited the Jesse Lee Home in Alaska? What did you think? Did you encounter anything spooky? Let us know in the comments below!
Yes! As Alaska had a big boom during the Gold Rush era, there were many towns that seemingly sprung up overnight. These towns were abandoned when the areas became “mined out” and no more gold could be found. You’ll find entire villages abandoned. There are also many buildings and bunkers that were built during World War II that subsequently were abandoned after the war ended.
Can you visit abandoned buildings in Alaska?
Perhaps, but many of the larger abandoned buildings in the state, like the Jesse Lee Home for Children in Seward, were abandoned due to structural damage during the Good Friday Earthquake. The same can be said for the massive Bucker Building in Whittier, which is large enough to fit the entire town! This building, built during World War II by the U.S. Military, was abandoned after significant damage during the 1964 earthquake. It is much safer to admire many of these wonderful place from the outside. You may even come across mining equipment, and abandoned ghost towns, on some of your hikes in the backcountry. If you do choose to explore, remember to practice safety! Much of the metal is most likely rusty, and the buildings may be close to falling down.
Living and loving life in Alaska, Courtney enjoys living a happy life based on simple principles; work hard, be kind, stay humble. She is an avid dog lover with hobbies that include running, fly fishing, hiking & snowboarding.
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