It’s hard sometimes for a spirit not to become possessive of a structure, or jealous of the living.

DESCRIPTION

The Thayer Home is described as a well-kept, handsome, Federal-style house, made of white painted brick.

This structure has always been well maintained throughout its two hundred year history. Its additions, remodeling, and restorations have always been in good taste, as this home has been modernized for superintendents in command of the West Point Academy who have called it home. All superintendents who have lived here are of the rank of Lieutenant Army General.

“The 48′ x 37′ original building was extended with a number of additions, increasing its length to 105′, excluding the front porch.”

The Thayer Home’s “ornate cast iron porch” on the front of the building appeared just after the Civil War , and was extended in the 1930s by Superintendent Paul P. Cret.

What was considered ample space in 1820, didn’t measure up in later eras. As the years passed, so did the appearance of additions and remodeling to keep up with the times. These renovations were beautifully done, enhancing both the beauty and the living space in this special structure, Building 100. Most of the original part of the house stayed in its original Federalist decor with a few exceptions which makes it interesting.

The parlor and the living room of the first floor have Federal style marble mantels while the dining room and the northeast bedroom of the second floor have Victorian style mantels. The southeast and north central bedrooms of the second floor have simple wooden mantels which might be original to the house.”

Looking at the pictures of the exterior and interior, it truly is worthy of being a West Point Academy Superintendent’s home.

After six basement rooms were restored in 1953, they were no longer used as storage spaces, becoming the Superintendent’s Office and other spaces important to the Superintendent, but leaving room for a museum.

First floor: The original section of the house, seen in the 1842 plan, has been altered to that of one large living room on the north where formerly two rooms had been.

The two southern rooms remain as parlor and music rooms, although the doorway between them has been altered.

The music room, extended to the south, opens west to the dining room and beyond that to the sun porch or “conservatory.” West of the living room is a north-south hall, two dressing rooms, a pantry, kitchen, staircase and toilets.

Second floor: The original plan of the second floor is intact, containing three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a study, all around a central stair hall.

West of this original part the hall was extended into the addition; providing access to two large bedrooms, three bathrooms, a dressing room, linen storage and a service stair.

Third floor: In the original area the plan was altered by the raising of the original roof over the western additions.

The third floor was renovated to add more living space, as there was originally only the northeast bedroom. While there is still storage space, located all along the east side of the building, and west of the original bedroom, the former third floor storage areas became four additional bedrooms with bathrooms off a central hall. Service stairs were added to this floor as well.

More Details of the Interior:

Most of the floors on the first and second stories are hardwood, except for the sun porch that has a quarry tile floor. Also, the newer bedrooms have carpeting. On the third floor storage rooms, all the original hardwood flooring is still in good shape.

Artistic touches on the south and north porch doors are gorgeous. The turn-of-the-century south porch door displays an elliptical fanlight, sidelights and double glass doors. A rectangular transom window and sidelights described as simple decorates the solid paneled north porch door, made a little fancier with its partially glazed storm door.

HISTORY

The flat plain plateau of West Point, New York, has been considered the most important strategic location since the Revolutionary War. Fortress West Point was built there during the Revolutionary War and was never captured by the British.

During the Revolutionary War, “Continental soldiers built forts, batteries and redoubts and extended a 150-ton iron chain across the Hudson to control river traffic.” Washington moved his headquarters there.

On Fortress West Point, The United States Military Academy was started by President Jefferson in 1802, to be devoted to teaching “the arts and sciences of warfare.”

The entire academy was located on the plain, and it was used for activities like drill, mounted cavalry maneuvers and an encampment site for summer training.

It seems that quite a few Superintendents who lived here not only contributed to the space in this home, but made some great contributions to West Point Academy. Two examples of movers and shakers are listed below.

After Building 100 was built in 1820, along with other housing for officers, the first Superintendent to live here was Colonel Syvanous Thayer, who was the Superintendent in charge of the 16,000 acres of West Point Military Post and Academy, from 1817-1833. He and his family moved inside after it was built in 1820.

Colonel Thayer is considered to be the “father of the Military Academy.” He was responsible for the improvement of academic standards, enforced military discipline and promoted honorable conduct. Aware of our young nation’s need for engineers, Thayer made civil engineering “the foundation of the curriculum.”

After World War I, Lieutenant General Douglas MacArthur and his family lived here. He pushed for both a strong physical education program and intramural athletic programs due to the intense physical demands of modern warfare.

Building 100 was a much loved temporary home for many Superintendents and their families. It would be easy to become attached to this gorgeous home as a spirit for a variety of reasons.

HISTORY OF MANIFESTATIONS

Sometimes spirits can become possessive of their special place in this world, don’t like sharing with the living, and have a tendency to show their displeasure.

Dutton House in Shelbourne Museum, VT (The spirit of an elderly gentleman resents having to tolerate the throngs of humanity touring his house when the museum is open).

Crescent Hotel, Room 218, AR (The spirit of the grumpy “Victorian Gentleman” is beside himself that he has to share his room with live people. He wants the same privileges he had here while alive).

Buford House, AZ (An elderly female spirit gets in the face of guests and tells them to “Get Out!”)

West Point Academy Building 100, NY (The spirit of a past Superintendent’s family member was fiercely possessive of the second floor master bedroom, causing embarrassment for the Superintendent and his wife. This was her house and she hated to share it as well).

A spirit can be stuck in this world because of anger felt toward himself or herself, or some other person.

Fort Wordon Guard House, WA (A former guard is still angry at himself for accidentally killing himself in a dumb accident when cleaning his gun).

Willamette Heritage Center, Mission Mills Museum, OR (A workman is still angry at himself for a preventable mistake he made at the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill).

Geiser Grand, OR (A chef who worked at the Geiser Grand, lost his head when a dumbwaiter slammed down on his head without warning; perhaps a mistake made by someone who wasn’t thinking).

Building 100, Superintendent’s Home, NY (The spirit of a turn of the century West Point Officer is still very angry at himself for accidentally killing another soldier. He was cleared by a military court, and given back his rank and privileges, which didn’t take away his guilt and anger for what he considered a stupid, unthinking mistake).

Sometimes spirits like to visit a favorite spot that they enjoyed while alive.

Menger Hotel, TX (Past spectral guests like to stay here for a visit for free).

Kahler Grand Hotel, MN (A female spirit who was viciously murdered enjoys staying here).

Goldhill Hotel, NV (Two spirits who loved this place while alive, continue to reside here).

Building 100, Superintendent’s Home, NY (The benign, spirit of a former president who was assassinated likes to visit at a home that he stayed in as a guest while visiting West Point).

Servants or those who serve others while alive, sometimes continue to do so for either their old spectral employers or for new people. They can be pleasant or sometimes show their unhappiness.

Liberty Hall, KY (The spirit of Mrs. Margaret Varick still finds ways to be helpful towards the living).

Ringwood Manor, NJ (Spirits of restless servants still stick around to serve their difficult spectral mistress).

Five Houses at Leavenworth, KS (A spectral housekeeper and nanny liked to help living owners, though her possessiveness and jealousy of other caretakers scared people so she left and went next door).

Building 100, Superintendent’s Home, NY (The spirit of a maid either has exacting standards in bed making as she supervises the living, or she is very jealous of the employees who still get to work here).

MANIFESTATIONS

Many strange happenings have occurred over the past years. In 1972, at the time of this psychic investigation, it was the home of Superintendent Nolton, and was infected with restless and unhappy spirits, disturbing the peace of the Nolton family and their guests.

Not wanting their superintendent disturbed while living in building 100, West Point, authorities asked the gifted psychic demonologists, Ed and Lorraine Warren, to investigate the Superintendent’s home, officially known as West Point Academy Building 100.

PARANORMAL FINDINGS

Psychic Investigation by Ed and Lorraine Warren

West Point Authorities asked the gifted psychic demonologists, Ed and Lorraine Warren, to investigate the Thayer Home.

Upon arriving at the Superintendent’s Home, Lorraine picked up at once the faint but unmistakable “keening” of troubled spirits buzzing in her ears. Along with experiencing slight chills, she also noticed the strange play of light and shadow in the corners of the home, a symptom of the presence of unseen entities.

Lorraine Senses a Prominent Spirit

While the first three rooms of the home, where she listened for evidence of psychic activity, proved to be quiet, the fourth room housed a prominent spirit.

While sitting in a lovely rocking chair with her eyes closed, Lorraine began to feel her heartbeat increase and have “aural sensations,” both of which are symptoms that usually come before contact with spirits.

Lorraine then felt a gentle prodding on her arm, causing her to look up and see the image of President John Kennedy, standing beside her. She was in the room where Kennedy stayed when he visited West Point, and she was in his rocking chair. She sensed that he was a friendly spirit, but very sad.

The Spirit of Mrs. MacArthur Confirmed

Just walking into the master bedroom told Lorraine that a troublesome woman spirit was present.

After examining the newer china and figurines, Lorraine received “emanations” of a very domineering, strong-willed woman.

When this image of this woman stayed with her as she walked around the rest of the house, Lorraine knew that this was the spirit who stripped the beds and disturbed the guests’ belongings.

When, in a small room, Lorraine remained still for a while, she felt the strong presence of this jealous, possessive entity.

This spirit had claimed the home as her own and resented the other people living in her home.

This spirit wasn’t dangerous, just “meddlesome.”

The Spirit of “Greer”

As Lorraine continued to walk around the house she sensed that something violent had happened there, and some angry entity who was directly involved in this violence still roamed the hall and hid in the darkness of each “chill room.”

That evening, right before they were to leave West Point, Lorraine looked out the big front window and saw this angry entity clearly as a black man who was dressed in a turn-of-the-century uniform that had been stripped of all honors.

As the apparition stood sadly looking up at Lorraine, she asked who he was and he told her that his name was Greer, and formed a picture in her mind of a prison cell. After a sorrowful gaze, he vanished.

Though acquitted, he feels that he should’ve been punished, and can’t rest.

STILL HAUNTED?

Yes indeed, but spirit activity has calmed down. Presences are still making themselves felt, but in less embarrassing ways.

The spirit of Mrs. MacArthur is gone.

Later that evening, Lorraine, Ed and their military friends held a seance around the master bed where Lorraine saw this insecure, unpleasant woman, who was identified as Mrs. MacArthur, and successfully exorcised her from the home.

The spirit of Molly is still here, perhaps seeing herself as house manager, and supervisor of the help. Or, perhaps she is just jealous that the maids are alive and she isn’t. She is still rumpling up the beds after they have been made.

Lorraine wasn’t able to help Greer, so he may still be there.

Greer is still a sorrowful, and angry spirit who couldn’t forgive or accept what he had done, and thus still roams West Point, inadvertently scaring people who felt his rage he had for his own behavior.

Greer is still a sorrowful, and angry spirit who couldn’t forgive or accept what he had done, and thus still roams West Point, inadvertently scaring people who felt his rage he had for his own behavior.

LOCATION

The Thayer Home was built in the early 19th century in the officer housing quarters on West Point Army Military Post & Academy, on the west bank of the Hudson River, about 50 miles from New York City.

Our Haunted Paranormal Stories are Written by Julie Carr

Our Photos are copyrighted by Tom Carr

SOURCES INCLUDE

• https://www.army.mil/article/229265/the_supernatural_side_of_u_s_military_academy_at_west_point
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Military_Academy_grounds_and_facilities#Gradual_expansion,_1920%E2%80%931960
• https://www.denix.osd.mil/army-pre1919-pchh/denix-files/sites/97/2023/09/11.-NHL-West-Point.pdf
• https://erdc-library.erdc.dren.mil/items/81b728f7-9d84-4ef8-e053-411ac80adeb
• https://erdc-library.erdc.dren.mil/server/api/core/bitstreams/81b728f8-a99b-4ef8-e053-411ac80adeb3/content
• Quarters 100 Historic Structure, Investigation and Cultural Landscape Report, United States Military Academy, West Point, New York, by Megan Weaver Tooker, Bethanie C. Grashot, Susan I. Enscore, and Frank S. Welsh August2005
• https://tpdarchitecture.com/usma-quarters-100-at-west-point-cultural
• https://tpdarchitecture.com/usma-quarters-100-at-west-point-historic

Visit the memorable… Milwaukee Haunted Hotel

Your Road Trip to Milwaukee’s Hot Spots