Kemper
Hall
Hall
Kemper
Hall sits on the banks of Lake Michigan, in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Originally known
as Durkee Mansion, the gothic structure was built in 1861, and settled in by
Charles Durkee who was completing his term in the United States Senate. Four
years after settling, he donated the building to St. Matthew’s Episcopal
Church, who would convert the house into a girls’ boarding school. It was then
renamed to Kemper Hall in honor of Jackson Kemper, who was the first missionary
bishop of the Episcopal church of the United States.
Hall sits on the banks of Lake Michigan, in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Originally known
as Durkee Mansion, the gothic structure was built in 1861, and settled in by
Charles Durkee who was completing his term in the United States Senate. Four
years after settling, he donated the building to St. Matthew’s Episcopal
Church, who would convert the house into a girls’ boarding school. It was then
renamed to Kemper Hall in honor of Jackson Kemper, who was the first missionary
bishop of the Episcopal church of the United States.
In
1875, the church built a chapel north of Kemper Hall, and a year later the first
graduating class had its ceremony there. In 1894 a four story dormitory was built to
the south of the complex, and in 1901 was extended. In 1908 the mansion was
linked to the church due to the construction of the music house. Later, in
1905, a boiler room was built behind the complex. Finally six years later, a
convent was built to the north, which linked to the chapel with a nun’s
residence.
1875, the church built a chapel north of Kemper Hall, and a year later the first
graduating class had its ceremony there. In 1894 a four story dormitory was built to
the south of the complex, and in 1901 was extended. In 1908 the mansion was
linked to the church due to the construction of the music house. Later, in
1905, a boiler room was built behind the complex. Finally six years later, a
convent was built to the north, which linked to the chapel with a nun’s
residence.
The
School itself was never large, graduating 1600 students in its history. Kemper
Hall closed in June 7th, 1976 but now is a museum.
School itself was never large, graduating 1600 students in its history. Kemper
Hall closed in June 7th, 1976 but now is a museum.
Ghosts
Inhabiting Kemper
Inhabiting Kemper
·
Mother
Mary Therese/ Sister Margaret Clare: Let’s settle this before we get started.
There are two names that revolve around this particular haunting. Most call the
spirit Mother Mary Therese, however, there is no documentation of a Mother Mary
Therese ever working or living at Kemper Hall. With that said, let’s move onto
Sister Margaret Clare, who is also the name of this spirit. Sister Margaret
Clare was a stern nun who ran the school with an iron hand when she took charge
in 1883. The stories vary into a few ways: from her tripping on her habit and
falling down the stairways to the observatory, to her being pushed out of the
window to her death from the same tower. Each coming to the conclusions that
she had lost her head and now roams the grounds headless, to her black form
falling from the tower, or to even her being heard or seen falling down the
stairs before disappearing. Other witnesses claim that they’ve seen her peeking
down at them from the top of the stairs. This proves to only be a legend though,
for Sister Margaret died in 1921 from a chronic illness.
Mother
Mary Therese/ Sister Margaret Clare: Let’s settle this before we get started.
There are two names that revolve around this particular haunting. Most call the
spirit Mother Mary Therese, however, there is no documentation of a Mother Mary
Therese ever working or living at Kemper Hall. With that said, let’s move onto
Sister Margaret Clare, who is also the name of this spirit. Sister Margaret
Clare was a stern nun who ran the school with an iron hand when she took charge
in 1883. The stories vary into a few ways: from her tripping on her habit and
falling down the stairways to the observatory, to her being pushed out of the
window to her death from the same tower. Each coming to the conclusions that
she had lost her head and now roams the grounds headless, to her black form
falling from the tower, or to even her being heard or seen falling down the
stairs before disappearing. Other witnesses claim that they’ve seen her peeking
down at them from the top of the stairs. This proves to only be a legend though,
for Sister Margaret died in 1921 from a chronic illness.
·
Suicidal Student/Sister Augusta:
This is a simple legend with few tales spreading from it. It concerns a student
who jumped from the observatory tower and committed suicide, she did this
because she was forced to attend the all female school and to leave her lover
in the process, and now people see her leaping off from the top of the
observatory on occasion. Though, not a student, a suicide did occur at Kemper
in 1900. A sister named Augusta came to Kemper from Chicago to attend an annual
retreat at the school. While she was in Kenosha, she vanished without a trace
leaving behind for her handbag, crucifix and her insignia of Holy Sisterhood.
When authorities were alerted, they sent word to Chicago and to St. Louis,
where her family lived. On January 5th, a message came from Kemper
Hall that Sister Augusta was in Springfield, Missouri. However…This was false.
On January 8th, a little girl named Bertha Smith and her younger
brother were playing on the beach at the East End of Semiary Street when they
spotted the robes of Sister Augusta floating in the water. They ran home, told
their mother and she reported it to the police. Within the drenched robes was
the lifeless body of the missing nun. During questioning, her friends spoke of
her strange behavior on the night she vanished. Claiming she had become,
“Mentally deranged from her work, which had been exceedingly hard during the
last few months.” She had requested time off and it was granted, but as to why
she took her own life is unknown, that is …if she did take her own life. Two
young girls did end up testifying that they had seen her walking on the beach
on the night of January 2nd, but that was the last time anyone saw
her alive.
Suicidal Student/Sister Augusta:
This is a simple legend with few tales spreading from it. It concerns a student
who jumped from the observatory tower and committed suicide, she did this
because she was forced to attend the all female school and to leave her lover
in the process, and now people see her leaping off from the top of the
observatory on occasion. Though, not a student, a suicide did occur at Kemper
in 1900. A sister named Augusta came to Kemper from Chicago to attend an annual
retreat at the school. While she was in Kenosha, she vanished without a trace
leaving behind for her handbag, crucifix and her insignia of Holy Sisterhood.
When authorities were alerted, they sent word to Chicago and to St. Louis,
where her family lived. On January 5th, a message came from Kemper
Hall that Sister Augusta was in Springfield, Missouri. However…This was false.
On January 8th, a little girl named Bertha Smith and her younger
brother were playing on the beach at the East End of Semiary Street when they
spotted the robes of Sister Augusta floating in the water. They ran home, told
their mother and she reported it to the police. Within the drenched robes was
the lifeless body of the missing nun. During questioning, her friends spoke of
her strange behavior on the night she vanished. Claiming she had become,
“Mentally deranged from her work, which had been exceedingly hard during the
last few months.” She had requested time off and it was granted, but as to why
she took her own life is unknown, that is …if she did take her own life. Two
young girls did end up testifying that they had seen her walking on the beach
on the night of January 2nd, but that was the last time anyone saw
her alive.
·
Durkee Mansion: Regardless of the
construction, Durkee Mansion still remained on the campus, attached to the
Kemper Hall, and within its antique walls is said to be another ghost of a nun
who died in a fire. She is said to haunt the 3rd floor of the
mansion which has been turned into a historical museum. There are also other
claims of different ghosts, possibly Charles or Caroline, the original owners
of the mansion.
Durkee Mansion: Regardless of the
construction, Durkee Mansion still remained on the campus, attached to the
Kemper Hall, and within its antique walls is said to be another ghost of a nun
who died in a fire. She is said to haunt the 3rd floor of the
mansion which has been turned into a historical museum. There are also other
claims of different ghosts, possibly Charles or Caroline, the original owners
of the mansion.
·
Other Apparitions:
Other Apparitions:
-
1930s – A bakery worker at the
school saw a phantom dressed in brown clinging to the railing of a stairwell.
When she went to tell others of her sightings, and they returned to the
staircase, the figure was gone.
1930s – A bakery worker at the
school saw a phantom dressed in brown clinging to the railing of a stairwell.
When she went to tell others of her sightings, and they returned to the
staircase, the figure was gone.
-
1985 – A student of the Lakeside Players
theater group was standing inside of the old gymnasium when she sensed a
presence in the back of the room, as if someone was watching her. When she
turned, she caught movement at the corner of her eyes following with the sound
of scraping and footsteps climbing up the balcony staircase. No one else was
presence and no one was on the balcony.
1985 – A student of the Lakeside Players
theater group was standing inside of the old gymnasium when she sensed a
presence in the back of the room, as if someone was watching her. When she
turned, she caught movement at the corner of her eyes following with the sound
of scraping and footsteps climbing up the balcony staircase. No one else was
presence and no one was on the balcony.
-
October 1997- The crew from the
Channel Four local news station was filming a Halloween story inside Kemper
Hall. After filming, the photographer editing the tape began experiencing
problems with the tape. While editing, each time the tape would reach the portrait
of Found Charles Durkee, the tape would roll and begin flashing with static
before turning to normal when the shot changed. This happened every time.
October 1997- The crew from the
Channel Four local news station was filming a Halloween story inside Kemper
Hall. After filming, the photographer editing the tape began experiencing
problems with the tape. While editing, each time the tape would reach the portrait
of Found Charles Durkee, the tape would roll and begin flashing with static
before turning to normal when the shot changed. This happened every time.
-
A group of third graders were on a
tour at the Durkee Mansion, while they were in the dining room, all of the
sudden the cabinets opened up. The children became frightened. The tour guide
tried to assure them it was due to humidity, she closed the cabinet door and it
opened up again.
A group of third graders were on a
tour at the Durkee Mansion, while they were in the dining room, all of the
sudden the cabinets opened up. The children became frightened. The tour guide
tried to assure them it was due to humidity, she closed the cabinet door and it
opened up again.
Other occurrences
Other
occurrences people have experienced revolve around screaming, high pitched
cries, dark figures rolling down the stairs where the nun was said to have
fallen, to cold chills, bad feelings, hearing voices, footsteps, the feeling of
being watched. Shadows also have been seen in the science lab, in the library,
in the ladies bathroom and outside. Tales of schoolgirls being seen in the
windows and on the school grounds still are rumored, and a strange black shadow
that crawls on the grounds and outer walls have been seen.
occurrences people have experienced revolve around screaming, high pitched
cries, dark figures rolling down the stairs where the nun was said to have
fallen, to cold chills, bad feelings, hearing voices, footsteps, the feeling of
being watched. Shadows also have been seen in the science lab, in the library,
in the ladies bathroom and outside. Tales of schoolgirls being seen in the
windows and on the school grounds still are rumored, and a strange black shadow
that crawls on the grounds and outer walls have been seen.
David
Schmickel, a photographer, had taken pictures were spectral shadows and images
were seen in the second story windows of the former science hall. He called
Richard Crowe, a famous Chicago psychic, and asked his thoughts and feelings on
Kemper. Richard Crowe agreed and admitted he felt there was something
definitely happening at Kemper. The Kenosha News reported weird sightings as
well, one even told of William Saxby, who was taking pictures of the dome when
he saw a blurry object fall from the tower. He also experienced his camera
jamming when he was trying to take pictures of the stairway.
Schmickel, a photographer, had taken pictures were spectral shadows and images
were seen in the second story windows of the former science hall. He called
Richard Crowe, a famous Chicago psychic, and asked his thoughts and feelings on
Kemper. Richard Crowe agreed and admitted he felt there was something
definitely happening at Kemper. The Kenosha News reported weird sightings as
well, one even told of William Saxby, who was taking pictures of the dome when
he saw a blurry object fall from the tower. He also experienced his camera
jamming when he was trying to take pictures of the stairway.
Tell me, do you believe in the
ghosts of Kemper Hall? If you have been there and experienced anything
spiritual feel free to message me.
ghosts of Kemper Hall? If you have been there and experienced anything
spiritual feel free to message me.
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feel free to check out my Patreon page and if you’d like, come support me. I do
videos on true crime, Cryptids, haunting, Abductions and more. I’d like to
thank my supporting Patron thus far. Please Like, Comment and Subscribe.
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