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Haunted America
Milwaukee Ghosts and Legends
Beneath Milwaukee's calm façade, its ghastly past awaits.
The overbearing spirit of Frederick Pabst keeps persistent watch over the mansion that shares his name. The remains of the Newhall House Fire, the city's deadliest disaster, may lie beneath a new building, but those who lost their lives that night refuse to rest in peace. Even the suburbs hold their share of ghoulish secrets, including the furtive dwarves of Haunchyville, the fabled Bray Road Beast and the stubborn spirits lurking in Deacon West's house. Tour guide and founder of Gothic Milwaukee Anna Lardinois shares the spine-tingling tales of the Beer City's famous, and not so famous, specters and legends.
The overbearing spirit of Frederick Pabst keeps persistent watch over the mansion that shares his name. The remains of the Newhall House Fire, the city's deadliest disaster, may lie beneath a new building, but those who lost their lives that night refuse to rest in peace. Even the suburbs hold their share of ghoulish secrets, including the furtive dwarves of Haunchyville, the fabled Bray Road Beast and the stubborn spirits lurking in Deacon West's house. Tour guide and founder of Gothic Milwaukee Anna Lardinois shares the spine-tingling tales of the Beer City's famous, and not so famous, specters and legends.
128 pages, Paperback
Published September 3, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
May 10, 2019
While this book has an interesting premise, I found most of the individual stories to be rather vague and filled with grammatical errors. On a positive note, this book has sparked my interest in Milwaukee history. My favorite section was Superstar Specters.
November 18, 2021
Kind of poorly written/edited but so fun!!!
October 27, 2021
Interesting stories but very poorly edited. Many grammatical errors.
August 26, 2022
More readable than many books of the local ghosts genre. The ghost stories and tales of hauntings themselves were often repetitive and not very interesting, but the history elements were fascinating!
August 10, 2025
While technically about ghosts, this book is also an excellent way to pick up tidbits of Milwaukee history.
Some stories I noted:
-Milwaukee seems to have a lot of neutral ghosts, namely proprietors who couldn't leave their buildings behind: see the Pabst Mansion, Milwaukee Public Museum, the Pfister hotel, and Blatz Brewing Company (now owned by MSOE). I'd even put Riverside's lights tech ghost and the Journal Sentinel clerk in this category.
-I've been meaning to visit the Villa Terrace. I think that's one great example of Milwaukee's many ghosts that don't seem to have a concrete origin story - also: Grant Park, Whitnall Park's mother and child, and La Belle's statute.
-Innovation Center used to house a TB sanatorium.
-Forest Home Cemetary was established by St. Paul's Episcopal.
-Apparently Calvary Cemetery houses the grave of a priest who helped perform an exorcism (as in, The Exorcist).
-Lake Park was built over a prehistoric Indian mound site.
-Clair Richardson's ashes still sit under the stage of the Skylight theater?? insane.
-The downtown Hilton was formerly Newhall House, site of a tragic and deadly hotel fire.
-"Echoes of the Past" was probably the saddest and scariest chapter for me, likely because it was full of men killing their partners (ex. Pleasant Valley Park and the mother/daughter murder that occurred there).
Some stories I noted:
-Milwaukee seems to have a lot of neutral ghosts, namely proprietors who couldn't leave their buildings behind: see the Pabst Mansion, Milwaukee Public Museum, the Pfister hotel, and Blatz Brewing Company (now owned by MSOE). I'd even put Riverside's lights tech ghost and the Journal Sentinel clerk in this category.
-I've been meaning to visit the Villa Terrace. I think that's one great example of Milwaukee's many ghosts that don't seem to have a concrete origin story - also: Grant Park, Whitnall Park's mother and child, and La Belle's statute.
-Innovation Center used to house a TB sanatorium.
-Forest Home Cemetary was established by St. Paul's Episcopal.
-Apparently Calvary Cemetery houses the grave of a priest who helped perform an exorcism (as in, The Exorcist).
-Lake Park was built over a prehistoric Indian mound site.
-Clair Richardson's ashes still sit under the stage of the Skylight theater?? insane.
-The downtown Hilton was formerly Newhall House, site of a tragic and deadly hotel fire.
-"Echoes of the Past" was probably the saddest and scariest chapter for me, likely because it was full of men killing their partners (ex. Pleasant Valley Park and the mother/daughter murder that occurred there).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 18, 2020
1. Did anyone EDIT this?!
2. Under “The Devoted Wife: 21st Street and Kilbourn Avenue,” I believe the author FORGOT to discuss the ghosts - she discussed a tragedy that happened, but WHY is it under Echoes of the Past?!
3. I tried a link from her bibliography, and it didn’t work - are these credible sources?!
4. I wanted the stories to be structured, focused, and to the point - many felt too broad and garbled.
5. I will be researching the ONE blurb from Racine more in-depth - thank you for that tidbit.
2. Under “The Devoted Wife: 21st Street and Kilbourn Avenue,” I believe the author FORGOT to discuss the ghosts - she discussed a tragedy that happened, but WHY is it under Echoes of the Past?!
3. I tried a link from her bibliography, and it didn’t work - are these credible sources?!
4. I wanted the stories to be structured, focused, and to the point - many felt too broad and garbled.
5. I will be researching the ONE blurb from Racine more in-depth - thank you for that tidbit.
February 7, 2021
That was really good. Very creepy and so close to home. Some of those locations are less than 5 miles from my house! A handful of editing/grammatical errors, but I suppose that’s to be expected with a small publisher (Haunted America). I’ve read my share of scary stories, and Lardinois writes in that traditional style of the genre that makes your spine tingle. It’s so much more personal and frightening when it’s your home city, though!
September 19, 2019
While I enjoy ghost stories, even without ghosts the stories in this book would still be an enthralling look at some of the dark days in the history of Milwaukee and surrounding areas. The slim volume is packed with quick stories and even includes photos.
November 18, 2018
Thought it was very well written. I enjoyed the added history of the buildings and people that were part of Milwaukee.
October 12, 2021
Lots of editing needed on this book but the stories are so interesting. Quick read about my wonderful city and its legends.
October 20, 2021
Thin volume with many spooky, and tragic ends. Why do they haunt find out inside.
June 26, 2024
I loved the second half of the book. I learned A LOT new locations and history I have never heard before.
Fast and entertaining read !!!!
Fast and entertaining read !!!!
February 18, 2025
Anna is a charming and engaging storyteller, I the book, not so much. A bit vague and not a lot of details on the hauntings themselves. It took me forever to read.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews