The Hauntings of
Portsmouth Naval Hospital, Portsmouth; Va
Traci Poole ©
3/14/01
The first hospital is said to be haunted. Voices can be
heard in the dungeons of the old hospital as well as
moans and groans coming from hallways and rooms. At this
time, it is being restored to its original standings.
Perhaps these spirits are happy to see the living and
they only wish to be known or perhaps they are upset over
the renovations that are being done. It would be very
interesting to explore this building before it is
occupied as a historical building and touring building.
Unfortunately, no one is allowed inside the building
except the restricted personnel.
The 2nd hospital is haunted as well. Several witnesses
have seen someone walking the halls and then disappearing
in thin air. One night, 2 hospital corpsman, decided to
place flour or powder on the floor to see where the ghost
goes. They saw footprints in the white substance but they stopped abruptly.
During the final preparations of the new hospital, all
electricty was cut from the 2nd building. A hospital
corpsman was outside at night, smoking a cigerette when
he looked up at the empty building. Strange flashing
lights came from an abandoned room. He described it as
archwelding or brief flashes of lightening. A female
corpsman hung herself before the destruction of the
building several years ago. Some say before the building
was destroyed, you could hear her desperate cries of
depression before she took her life.
The cemetery is filled with tragedy as well. The
people buried there are the victims of sub or ship
sinkings. We were visiting this quiet cemetery, just
walking around and reading the stones. I was drawn to a
specific spot and almost felt compelled to search for
whatever I was looking for. I would not stop until I
found what I was looking for. In a spot, there is 5
Russian soldiers buried. I stopped in front of them and I
knew I had found what I was searching for. The atmosphere
surrounding these unknown soldiers is very sad. No one
knows who they are. No one knows how they got there.
There is no information about them but what is left on their stones. I have sought to find information but each lead is a dead end. Who were
they? Did they fight along side Americans? Their stories
and identities are forever locked in another time and
place. Until we actually connect with the people of the past, they will still remain unknown.
The new hospital is only a year old. The morgue
hallway is said to be haunted. While walking down the
corridor at night, people have felt someone touching
their necks and the air temp drops to almost freezing.
Some say it feels like the icy hands of an elderly woman.
Some say they have felt someone following them down the
hallway but the following stops as soon as the person
walks through the doors that are adjoining another
hallway. Are these spirits confused by the new design of
the hospital and cannot get out? Are they stuck because
they died in the hospital and didnt know where the morgue
is located? No one knows. Witnesses have stated it 'freaks' them out but
have spoke to them (the ghostly figures/people) , telling
them to stop playing with their (the sailors) hair or the
back of their necks.
Author's Note: The
background picture is the cemetery located on the grounds
of Portsmouth Naval Hospital, Portsmouth,Va.
Looking for Portsmouth
Naval Hospital? Click the hospital!
Photo courtesy of Naval
Medical Center of Portsmouth, Va
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