By Diane Dobry
Drive through Schoharie County and you’ll see magnificent old homes, many over 100—or even 200—years old. With so much history, it’s easy to wonder: are any of them haunted? This time of year, ghost stories and eerie encounters seem to be everywhere. And in Schoharie County, there’s no shortage. Here are just a few chilling tales.
COBLESKILL
Bull’s Head Inn
A key stop on New York’s Haunted History Trail, the Bull’s Head Inn on Main Street was built in 1802 and is considered one of Schoharie County’s most haunted places. It sits on the site of three earlier buildings, all destroyed by fire, with deaths reported—including a Native American reportedly killed during the Battle of Cobleskill.
Originally a stop for merchants, the inn’s business declined after the Erie Canal opened and in 1839, it became a private home. Its last residents, John and Grace Steacy, had opposing views on alcohol—John enjoyed drinking, while Grace was active in the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union.
After their passing, former Cobleskill Mayor Monte Allen reopened the property in 1966 as a restaurant and bar—ironically placing the bar in Grace’s former bedroom. Reports of paranormal activity soon began; a woman in white appeared near the staircase, and objects like napkins and utensils reportedly moved or flew around on their own.
When current owner Chris Guldner and partner Mary Sagendorf bought the property in 2012, the strange activity continued. Guldner once saw a faucet turn on by itself, witnessed by others. A former dishwasher reported seeing a glowing energy that took the shape of a woman in white, accompanied by a strong perfume scent.
The upstairs dining room and second-floor landing are known hotspots. During a paranormal investigation, a candleholder levitated and dropped, spiking their monitors.
At a costume party, a man stepped outside after someone dressed as a Native American continuously glared at him. He was prevented from returning to the party by an unseen force. The host reported that no one at the event wore a Native costume.
Grapevine Farms
Another Haunted History Trail stop, Grapevine Farms is a gift shop, café, and restaurant where the paranormal has been active for years. Owners Tim and Tracy Purcell noticed strange occurrences soon after moving in—customers also reported odd sounds, sightings, and even being touched.
Two gravestones were discovered in the basement, belonging to David Hilts and his wife, former residents believed to be buried on the property. Psychic medium Katie Manning and Orange County Paranormal have investigated. Voice recordings and photos of unexplained faces on the stairs and near the second-floor toy room were captured. One recording even repeated Purcell’s name several times. Videos are available on Orange County Paranormal’s YouTube channel.
Empty Pockets Ranch
Lori Davis, owner of Empty Pockets Ranch, hosts October paranormal investigations in the woods on her historic property. Though records date the home to the 1850s, it may be older, originally granted to John Engels by Queen Anne in the 1700s.
Inside the house, footsteps are heard overhead when no one’s upstairs, and a closet door in her son’s room opens and closes on its own despite having a difficult latch A friend visiting Lori saw the door move by itself, and she refuses to stay there again.
Investigators have gotten hits seemingly confirming a long-ago massacre nearby, during Engels’ time there. Davis researched records of the attack, finding that Engels’ daughter escaped by running ten miles to Central Bridge. Recordings from the woods captured chilling phrases like “run through the woods.” Another investigation was planned for this October.
MIDDLEBURGH
Dr. Best House and Medical Museum
Once the home and office of the kind-hearted Dr. Christopher Best, this Haunted History stop still holds original furnishings, medical tools, and more—along with ghostly echoes of the past. Dr. Best moved in with his first wife Flora and daughter Blanche in 1884. After Flora’s death, he remarried and had three children—James (who died in the house of a bacterial infection at age 6), Duncan, and daughter, Emma.
Museum staffer Bobby Ryan has witnessed voices captured on recording that she attributed to daughter Emma—along with shadows and footsteps when no one else is around. During my visit, I saw an antique toaster pop open on its own and heard a loud bang from a closed door. Ryan also shared a photo showing what appears to be Dr. Best peeking through a window.
Visitors and staff also report unexplained sounds, moving objects, and ghostly apparitions. Despite the activity, Ryan insists the spirits here cause no harm—they are just lingering in the place they once called home.
According to the Dr. Best Facebook page, the Jason Hawes/TAPs YouTube channel has two videos about the Dr. Best House & Medical Museum investigation.
The Wandering Mystik
While setting up her shop, The Wandering Mystik, owner Krissy Taver sat down for a late dinner with her helpers. Glancing up, she saw the transparent figure of a man standing behind the counter. Taver believes the spirit wasn’t tied to the building but to display cases she’d recently bought from a shop whose owner had passed away. She suspects it may have been him, simply checking in on his belongings.
SCHOHARIE
The Old Stone Fort
Curator Dan Beams hasn’t experienced anything spooky himself at the Old Stone Fort, but others have. People often report hearing footsteps on the second floor, especially the sound of shoes with nails in the heel—like those worn by Civil War soldiers. Since the second floor wasn’t added until after the Revolutionary War, some believe the spirit may be from that later era.
Apparitions have also been seen and two staffers once heard heavy footsteps on the stairs and thought someone was approaching the window—but no one was there. Others have heard the upstairs organ playing, something a curator from the 1930s often did. Even the TV show Ghost Hunters visited the Fort and reported unexplained footsteps and cold spots.
To hear more historic ghostly tales, Turning Point 1777 holds an outdoor gathering for Ghostly Tales at Lily Park in Schoharie on October 25th at 7 p.m.
SHARON SPRINGS
The American Hotel
New owners Michael Palaia and Marco Braeutigam noticed odd occurrences shortly after taking over the hotel last year. Guests and longtime staff have reported unexplained running footsteps—possibly from the spirit of a father who ran frantically down the hall when his 10-year-old son died of consumption in Room 2. In Room 4, a woman lying in bed felt someone touch her leg while her daughter slept beside her.
While painting alone, Michael thought he saw and heard Marco walk to the kitchen—until he remembered no one else was there. A contractor captured a strange mist in photos during kitchen renovations. A painting mysteriously fell off the wall, and a baseball bat gifted to former owners crashed to the floor late one night.
A former Jewish guest’s spirit is also reportedly calmed by a pillow reading “Oy Vey!” being placed in the lobby and a Star of David hanging above the door to the back patio.
MY COBLESKILL STORY ON SPOTIFY
Years ago, I rented an old house on Elm Street in Cobleskill, where I had my own ghostly encounters. Hear the full story on YouTube:
"Dying to Know Podcast – Ghost Stories #6 – A Not-So-Short Story" https://youtu.be/OF7RdayYx6s .
Happy Haunting!
Grapevine Farms headstone
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