Holy Cross Orphanage (Marquette, MI)
The Holy Cross Orphanage (sometimes called the Old City Orphanage) in Marquette, Mich. is considered to be one of the most haunted sites in the state. According to a 2007 article in The Marquette Monthly, the orphanage, located on the corner of Altamont and Fisher Street, was opened in 1915 and still stands today. The rundown building was abandoned in 1965 and is closed to the public.
When the orphanage was open, the nuns there were notorious for their strict, even cruel, punishments. Many children who grew up at Holy Cross have said that the sisters were abusive toward them.
A number of investigations at Holy Cross have turned up evidence of paranormal activity and there are several stories of children who died in the orphanage. However, because there are no names or dates to go with the stories and the possibility of a cover-up, there is really no way to verify these rumors.
According to an article by photographer Ray Anthony, one of the children at the orphanage died from pneumonia after wandering outside in a winter storm. Supposedly, when the body was recovered, the sisters put the child’s body on display in the lobby to scare the children into obedience. Another legend describes a drowned child whose body was hidden in the basement of the building by the sinister sisterhood. A variation of this story blames the boy’s death on a beating he received from one of the nuns, according to minbcnews.com.
Strange occurrences at the Holy Cross Orphanage include unexplained lights and a ghostly apparition of the drowned boy seen in the basement late at night. Witnesses have described the ghost boy as being surrounded by a green glow.
Sleepy Hollow is a State Park, so either a Michigan DNR Recreation Passport or a small fee is required to enter the park in a motor vehicle.
Please also be aware that hunting is allowed in this park certain times of the year, so please be careful and dress appropriately when hunting is allowed.