Four of Saint Paul’s Most Infamously Haunted Homes

Halloween is right around the corner, so it’s only fitting we share some of Saint Paul’s most notorious haunted houses. Join us as we take a brief dive into the history of the home, share what entities are believed to haunt the home present-day, while also telling the stories of how these spirits moved from this world to the next.

Griggs Mansion

Located at 476 Summit Avenue, the Griggs mansion is rumored to be one of Saint Paul’s most haunted homes. The mansion was built in 1883 by Chauncey and Martha Griggs. Chauncey was a local, wealthy wholesale grocery businessman. Records show there are about six different entities that roam the halls of the home, with some being identified as previous workers on the property, while the other entities remain a mystery.

One of the most active spirits is that of a young maid who hung herself off the fourth floor landing in 1915. She was supposedly suffering from depression over a failed romance.

Another spirit said to haunt the home is that of Charles Wade, the property’s caretaker and gardener. It is believed he would spend hours in the mansion's library researching his craft. His ghost has been seen in the library numerous times, and people have reported hearing the rustling pages of a book when no one else was said to be in the room. At the time of his death, he was allegedly in the middle of a project in the garden. Some feel he lingers around the home due to this unfinished business.

Other entities said to have been spotted throughout the estate are an old, thin man, a young child, and more.

In 2015, Pioneer Press reporters spent a night in the mansion; you can read their reports and learn about their interactions here. 

The home has been privately owned for most of its history, with the exception of its brief time as an art school in the mid 1900s.

Photo Courtesy of Midwest Home

Gibbs Farmhouse

Jane and Heman Gibbs moved to Minnesota in 1849 and purchased 160 acres of land to start a family farm. Five kids and many years later, their farm was booming. 

Tragedy struck the family in 1867 when the farm faced a raging prairie fire. Jane and Heman’s 9 year old son, William, tried to help put out the fire and sadly died of smoke inhalation soon after. He is rumored to haunt the house and surrounding land, with visitors seeing his face appear in windows and other places around the property.

The farmhouse is now a museum and is located at 2097 Larpenteur Ave West in Saint Paul. If you’re interested in learning more, you can check out their website.

Photo Courtesy of Explore Minnesota

Forepaugh’s Restaurant

A historic mansion turned restaurant, Forepaugh’s is known for its ghost sightings and paranormal activity. In the 1870s, Joseph Forepaugh ran a successful dry goods business and he and his wife, Mary, built their mansion near downtown Saint Paul. 

Mary and Joseph employed several servants at the mansion, and Joseph had an affair with one of the maids, Molly. When Joseph’s wife found out about the affair, he ended the relationship and moved with his family to Europe. Molly, who discovered she was pregnant around the same time, hung herself on the third floor of the mansion. 

Joseph eventually returned to Saint Paul and bought a mansion on Summit Avenue, but ended up shooting himself in a park in the 1890s. 

Both Joseph and Molly are rumored to haunt the mansion, making numerous appearances at weddings and receptions. They are said to be quite sociable spirits and show themselves often.

Unfortunately, the restaurant closed its doors in 2019 but is currently for sale for $1.5 million. You can find the home located at 276 Exchange Street South in Saint Paul.

Photo Courtesy of Eater Twin Cities

Schmidt Brewery

From historic brewery to modern-day artist lofts, who knew the Schmidt Brewery also had a haunted past? Unfortunately, most of the hauntings in the brewery are said to be the spirits of workers who died in horrible accidents when the brewery was in business.

Records show that two workers perished in an explosion in 1896. In 1902, a worker plummeted to his death down an unmarked elevator shaft. And in 1904, Matthew Kohler, a worker who was tasked with lighting gas lamps throughout the brewery, tragically passed away. The story goes that Matthew spilled oil on himself, accidentally set himself on fire and wasn’t able to put the fire out. These are just some of the many incidents that occurred in the brewery over the years.

Photo Courtesy of Forbes