Billings Montana
Parmly Billings Library
Eight spirits enjoyed the old historic library, and may be at the new library as well.
DESCRIPTION
The old Parmly Billings Library and the new Billings Public Library have two things in common. They both sat on the same property, and all the library materials from the old library were transferred to the new library, giving it a wonderful start to add onto in time. At the end of 2013, the old library building was torn down.
The new Billings Public Library is a large, two-story rectangular “glass-enclosed building with a sandstone base. Its perforated stainless steel panels shade the building and help it glow at night.”
The library sits on its “golden-gray Rim Rock sandstone” base. It was designed by Will Bruner Architects.
The Billings Public Library is a wonderful community asset, offering a lot of services besides reading materials and computers.
Besides having the usual book collections, resource materials, DVDs, books on tape, children’s library section, teen section, computers and music, it has activities for all age groups, from babies to seniors.
There are reading programs for everyone, game nights, special music performances, art programs, home-schooling and at-home learning, story times, etc.
To bring the library to the community, they offer the Senior Bookmobile, and the Outreach Bike Mobile.
HISTORY
The original Billings Library was founded in 1901, opening as “The Parmly Billings Memorial Library,” in memory of town founder Frederick Billings’ twenty-five year-old son, Parmly, who had died suddenly while in Billings, Montana, looking after his father’s businesses.
It was located at 2822 Montana Ave., in the beautiful stone building that is now the home of The Western Heritage Center.
In 1969, The Parmly Billings Memorial Library had outgrown its aging original building, which had become a definite fixer-upper opportunity.
The library was moved to the six-floor 1955 Billings Hardware Store building, after the inside was renovated to fit the needs of a growing, evolving library. Choosing a building with solid bones that could be renovated to serve as a library was a good decision to make.
The property where the Billings Hardware Store building once stood, had always been a popular spot for homes and commerce. Before 1955, homes and small businesses were located here, but they were torn down to make room for it.
Perhaps business for the hardware store wasn’t as profitable as expected, because they sold the building just twelve years later. Or, perhaps the owner of this business had retired, or died.
The Parmly Billings Memorial Library was a large, square, red brick building that had six floors and a basement, and was full of everything a modern library offered its citizens. The outside structure was definitely a 1955 style building, but the interior had been renovated into a modern library in 1969 to house its marvelous collections, computers, etc.
Sometime in the library’s history being located in this spot, the word “Memorial” was dropped from its name, becoming just The Parmly Billings Library, in honor of the early demise of dear Parmly Billings.
HISTORY OF MANIFESTATIONS
Spirits that are attached to the land where their special places were located, often move into the buildings thatare built on that land.
Easton Library, PA (The spirits whose remains were buried in the old cemetery where the new library was built, moved into the building as a consolation prize).
Capitol Records Building, TN (When an old mansion was torn down to make way for the Capitol Records building, staff found themselves being hosts to the gentle company of two spirits of elderly sisters who found ways to amuse themselves that can be annoying).
The National Aviary, PA (The spirits of past Confederate POWs or prison inmates who died in the old prison that once stood there, now love this marvelous place, as they find peace and enjoyment).
Parmly Billings Library, MT (At the former Parmly Billings Library, eight spirits enjoyed the old historic building. Those who were attached to the land may be at the new library as well, as it sits on the same land).
Sometimes when gifts are given in the form of a public building, but the wishes are discounted, the spirits who gave this gift become upset with the living.
Minneapolis Institute of Art, MN (Mabel MacFarlane and her family worked tirelessly with MIA specialists to first get their Chinese wallpaper displayed in its own historical MacFarlane Memorial Room in 1971, and then to become the star in the 1800 formal Merchant’s Parlor Room in 1980. Their spirits must be very disappointed that they can no longer find their wallpaper on display as it has been packed away).
Albany State Capitol, NY (William Morris Hunter was very proud of his glorious forty-foot murals painted on the walls near the top of the high ceiling where everyone could see and admire them, an artist’s dream! Imagine his anger when they were hidden from sight when the new ceiling was installed! Apparently, he still isn’t able to let it go).
Muhlenberg College-Oscar Bernheim, PA (In his will, administrator Oscar Bernheim left his garden and home to the university after the college signed an agreement to use the home and garden for educational purposes. They disregarded the agreement and tore down the house, and built a new dorm on top of his garden. His spirit moved into the dorm, and playfully let his presence be known, teasing students who don’t have plants in their rooms).
Parmly Billings Library, MT (The new library was renamed The Billings Public Library. Uh Oh! Poor old Parmly will no longer be remembered in the title. This lack of remembrance may trigger a visit or two by spirits from the Billings Family, who gave the funds to build the first 1901 library in memory of their son Parmly. Spirits don’t always realize that time has passed by).
Major renovations, restorations and changes made to a building can act like an environmental trigger that brings spirits into this world on an active level.
The Eagle Hotel, PA (This is a place where the spectral supervisor can learn your name, especially if you work here!).
Geiser Grand Hotel, OR (Apparitions started to roam around the hotel during the big restoration, so happy that their beloved hotel was being restored).
Lemp Mansion, MO (When renovation and restoration work began on this woebegone structure, workmen found that they had intense spectral supervisors).
Brumder Mansion, WI (After the major restoration projects done in 1997-2007, spirits who were attached to the mansion became active. In 2010, when a 1920s replica bar was built and installed in the basement theatre, the activity jumped considerably).
Parmly Billings Library, MT (Paranormal activity was noticed in the old 1969 Parmly Billings Library after both renovations done to this building, in the 1967-68 renovations and the 2005 fire code upgrades as well.
Spirits have been known to attach themselves to favorite objects and items, and move with them to the new destination.
That Steak Joynt, IL (Spirits of various temperaments were attached to the displayed antiques and oil paintings).
Belcourt Castle. RI (Among some of the extensive collections of antiquities, spirits moved with their favorite items into the Belcourt Castle).
Minneapolis Institute of Art, MN (Spirits who have permanently attached themselves to cherished places or things have traveled to the institute to stay).
Parmly Billings Library, MT ( It is very possible that spirits in the old Parmly Billings Library attached themselves to their favorite books or items and traveled to the new library).
Public places like libraries, theaters, parks, that have provided people with a lot of pleasure and joy, sometimes are the places that spirits like to visit or even stay as residents in their afterlives.
Carnegie Central Library in Pittsburg, PA (The spirits of former patrons still love to come and read. Some may meet as a book club that enjoys mysteries).
Easton Public Library, PA (Confused, restless spirits have moved into the beautiful library, perhaps to do some reading, while enjoying the beautiful decor, and have some chuckles at the living’s expense, as they let them know that they are there).
Sacramento Library, CA (Apparently, the Reading Room is for both the living and spirits!).
The Parmly Billings/Billings Public Library, MT (A library in a small town is a great source of entertainment, offering books, etc. Some of the spirits here must enjoy reading!).
People who enjoy working in museums, libraries, theaters, and charities have an invested interest in this passion, and sometimes like to come back and continue on, making their presences known, helping the living or just going about the work that they have long enjoyed doing).
Speed Museum, KY (Being a perfectionist, Harriet Speed liked to supervise in whatever she was involved with. She was the founding force of the art museum, and she feels the need to continue on supervising).
Willard Library-Margaret Maier, IN (The spirit of a former librarian still loves the library).
State Theater Center for the Arts, PA (A spectral theatre manager became its guardian: with patience and perseverance).
Parmly Billings/Billings Public Library, MT (Perhaps the spirit who was a former resource librarian or volunteer who worked in the old library’s restricted section in the basement, continues to help in the resource section of the new library).
Sometimes people are so attached to items that they cherish while alive, that they want to stay or visit where these items are now kept, to perhaps also keep an eye on the living who protect these items.
Redwood Library and Athenaeum, RI (An unpaid, vigilant spirit has joined the security force, keeping an eye on a rare book collection that was donated long ago and stolen by British soldiers. Years later, the books were rounded up again book by book).
Minneapolis Institute of Art, MN (Spirits who have permanently attached themselves to cherished places or things have traveled to the institute to stay. Other spirits are satisfied just visiting their possessions).
Moss Mansion House Museum, MT (Many cherished, personal items and artifacts from the Moss family are on display, as well as the original curtains, fixtures, etc.).
The Parmly Billings Library, MT (The basement was full of old, valuable book collections, and resource items, and can be used now only through a librarian. The spirits who are attached to these items, simply moved with them to the new Billings Public Library).
MANIFESTATIONS
Investigator Karen Stevens tells of the paranormal activity details in her book, HAUNTED MONTANA. Investigator Rich Newman in his book, GHOST HUNTER’S GUIDE also gives some interesting accounts of paranormal activity. Below are the highlights. To see all the details, please purchase their books. All the manifestations listed below were documented at the former Parmley Billings Library.
Tall Male Spirit
Described as being very tall, over six feet.
He loved the fifth floor where the staff lounge and kitchen were located.
Personal Appearances
He was first seen by a no-nonsense security officer, who reported that this apparition was dressed in white.
A second witness was a new employee, reading a book in the lounge.
She looked up for a moment and saw a very tall, smoky colored, glass-like man come out of the kitchen, who did a quick about-face when she saw him.
The Spirit of a Female
She made personal appearances on the third floor.
Described as being medium height, with shoulder-length brown hair and glasses.
She appeared as a full person, looking very life-like.
A staff member saw her, but before he could enter the room and find out if she needed something, she vanished.
This same staff member has also heard a woman’s disembodied laugh while working all alone on the third floor several times.
The Spirit of the 2nd Floor Male
One male spirit was described as wearing work clothes and cowboy boots (Rich Newman source).
If he is an intelligent spirit, he may have traveled from the original 1901 library, and is antisocial.
His see-through form is seen going about his business in his own world, on the second floor, ignoring what is going on around him.
It is thought that he may be just residual energy by some, because he never reacts to living people.
The Other 2nd Floor Male Spirit
Appeared as a full or semi-see-through figure.
This tall spirit appeared at the corner of the northeast book stack row, showing many details of his person, observed by a brave volunteer, before fading away, becoming unseen yet still felt.
The volunteer, a retired military policeman, NOT easily scared, described this spirit as being around six feet tall, “With light brown to dark blonde hair, wearing dark, heavy shirt and pants, a heavy, ankle-high work shoe, and a square hat with a bill on it.”
While having a stare-down with this spirit, this volunteer staff member reported feeling a tell-tale tingly feeling on his body.
Right after the spirit vanished, this volunteer made a bee-line to the northeast aisle, where he not only felt stronger tingly sensations, but also saw startling evidence of someone having read books in comfort, like a living person.
All the books had been put back in the shelves before closing, and at 6:30 A.M., THE LIBRARY WAS CLOSED TO PATRONS, except perhaps the spirit people!
General Basement Activity
Paranormal Investigator Karen Stevens, who had started working as a historical resource person at this library in 1986, explains some activity in detail that had happened in the basement. The basement wasn’t open to the public, unless it seems that you are a spirit!
People hear unexplainable odd noises.
Light cords will suddenly swing wildly without any help from the living, or from vibrations or heating/air-conditioning ducts.
Staff who work in the basement have felt that they were being carefully watched.
The Spirit of a Young Male in the Basement
Described as being a solid gray form.
Often seen out of the corner of the eye by staff members, for a brief moment.
Karen herself described her experience with this young male spirit in the book stacks.
The Spirit of a Female in the Basement
Described as being a dark-haired, intense woman.
She has been glimpsed by many staff members, and has made herself known to particular people in the basement.
A Personal Experience
One librarian went into the basement, in 2003, to get a book for a patron.
Imagine her surprise when she saw a dark-haired, solid woman, crouching down behind the book stack.
She looked real, but the librarian knew that she wasn’t. The librarian turned around and made a bee-line toward the elevator, feeling that this entity was following her.
As she entered the elevator, she felt the spirit’s presence right by the door, but the librarian didn’t look up to see her.
More Activity Experienced
During the 2005 fire code renovations, workmen who were hired to work on these important upgrades during the night-time hours, soon found that they were not alone.
Spirits made themselves present in a variety of general ways, letting the workmen know that they had company, even watching them closely, as they worked.
One worker was putting up drywall. When he turned around, all the chairs at the table behind him were turned toward him, like a bunch of spirits were watching him work.
He turned the chairs back, and continued working on this project. Stopping to rest, he again saw the chairs had turned without a sound toward him.
One worker even had an unseen presence keep him company, following him up in the elevator.
PARANORMAL FINDINGS
The old Parmly Billings Library – In January of 2013, THE MONTANA PARANORMAL RESEARCH SOCIETY “conducted a full-out investigation of this building, resulting in video and audio evidence that so far seem promising.”
They have caught hard evidence of paranormal activity, backing up some of the experiences reported by people.
Karen Stevens, wearing her paranormal investigator hat, went to the third floor, and left her recorder running, to try to record the reported female laughter, but when she had come back to check on it later, someone “not living” had turned it off.
Slightly annoyed, she turned it back on, remarking that “someone” didn’t want the living to know that this spirit was there. At this moment, her RECORDER CAUGHT AN EVP of the female spirit, laughing!
I couldn’t find any published paranormal experiences that may have happened in the new library. Karen Stevens did another investigation there in 2019, but has kept quiet about what she discovered. Perhaps the new library isn’t ready to come out of the paranormal closet, and just wants to be a library for the people, ignoring any spectral patrons.
STILL HAUNTED?
The old library definitely was proven to be active. The new Billings Public Library is probably haunted too.
The spirits who enjoyed the library in the old hardware building may have traveled to the new library, located very near to the old one. A few new ones as well may join, who may be a little annoyed with the living for dropping Parmley’s name from the title of the new library. All may continue to enjoy the library, along with the living patrons because libraries have long been a source of great enjoyment for people, both living and in spirit form, and have been a draw for spirits.
Sooner or later, any spirits residing here will make themselves known, making it hard to deny that spirits also are enjoying the library, forcing folks to admit that spirits are there too.
LOCATION
510 North Broadway
Billings, MT 59101
(406) 657-8258
The Parmly Billings Library is located near the intersection of North Broadway and 6th Avenue North, around three and a quarter blocks south of Billings Clinic Hospital.
SOURCES INCLUDE
- The Ghost Hunter’s Field Guide
By Rich Newman
pg. 188
Llewellyn Publications
2011 - Haunted Montana
by Karen Stevens
pg. 47-54
Riverbend Publications
2007 - Parmly Billings Library page on Haunted Montana.com
Our Haunted Paranormal Stories are Written by Julie Carr
Our Photos are copyrighted by Tom Carr
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