At first glance, Whitewater, Wisconsin seems like a sleepy college town. However, if you dig a bit deeper, you’ll quickly learn it’s anything but – it’s shrouded in a dark, eerie history reserved for only the creepiest of states. Dubbed the Second Salem, Whitewater WI is teeming with legends of witches and other eerie happenings. Take a look, and let us know what you would call the creepiest places in Wisconsin:
A small town of about 15,000, Whitewater is most known as the home of the University of Wisconsin.
Wikimedia It’s a quiet place, mostly, where people are friendly but keep to themselves.
However, being a college town isn’t its only claim to fame.
Phil Bonyata/The Witches of Whitewater Whitewater has been nicknamed “Second Salem” because of a history that’s rife with tales of witches and other inexplicable occurrences.
Many believe Whitewater’s journey to infamy began back in 1889 when the Morris Pratt Institute was built.
Morris Pratt Institute/Facebook The institute taught spiritualism and allegedly had a room used to conduct séances. This kind of thing was less than welcomed back then, and the place quickly got a reputation as full of witches.
As if one eerie educational facility wasn’t enough, Whitewater’s Andersen Library has an infamous reputation of its own.
Phil Bonyata/The Witches of Whitewater For years, stories have swirled about a book locked in the library’s basement. One. Specific. Book.
Local legend has it that the book is so wickedly dark that it drove three students and one professor to commit suicide and caused one person to be locked in a mental institution.
Phil Bonyata/The Witches of Whitewater We can’t verify any of this, of course, but the fact that the stories exist at all is creepy.
The positioning of the town’s three cemeteries only perpetuates the eerie tales associated with Whitewater.
Phil Bonyata/The Witches of Whitewater If you look at the map, you can see that Calvary Cemetery, Oak Grove Cemetery, and Hillside Cemetery form a triangle, which is associated with witchcraft.
It’s not just the locations of the cemeteries that make them creepy, though.
Phil Bonyata/The Witches of Whitewater There are several stories linked to the graveyards, such as the instance in 1970, when the coffin of a little girl from one of the local cemeteries was mysteriously relocated to the nearby college campus.
As the final resting place of Mary Worth, a murderess and self-proclaimed witch, Oak Grove Cemetery is teeming with tales of hauntings.
Phil Bonyata/The Witches of Whitewater In fact, it’s said that Mary’s apparition can sometimes be seen walking among the tombstones.
The spooky stories even extend to Whitewater’s Starin Park.
Phil Bonyata/The Witches of Whitewater Local lore says that witches used to perform nightly rituals around the park’s stone tower.
Eventually, an iron fence was built around the tower – only upping the eerie factor since it features barbed wire spikes that point inward, which make it seem as if the fence is meant to keep something in, as opposed to keeping people out.
Phil Bonyata/The Witches of Whitewater You know, we’re good with not ever learning which.
Not far from the tower is Wells Hall, which has its own haunting past.
Wells East Hall/Google In 1981, a group of sorority sisters heard strange noises coming from the building’s basement. Upon entering the basement, it was discovered that bricks had been removed from the floor, revealing a hidden tunnel.
It’s been said that the tunnel was part of an underground system, which allowed witches to move about the town without being spotted by mortals.
Phil Bonyata/The Witches of Whitewater You go in first. No, seriously, go ahead.
One of Whitewater’s strangest occurrences happened as recently as 1992 near Whitewater Lake.
Phil Bonyata/The Witches of Whitewater The story goes that three students witnessed some type of late-night ritual, which commenced with a huge object rising from the lake. What was it? Who was conducting the ritual? We may never know.
So did you know about Whitewater’s bewitching past? Have you experienced anything personally? Tell us in the comments section.
Wikimedia
It’s a quiet place, mostly, where people are friendly but keep to themselves.
Phil Bonyata/The Witches of Whitewater
Whitewater has been nicknamed “Second Salem” because of a history that’s rife with tales of witches and other inexplicable occurrences.
Morris Pratt Institute/Facebook
The institute taught spiritualism and allegedly had a room used to conduct séances. This kind of thing was less than welcomed back then, and the place quickly got a reputation as full of witches.
For years, stories have swirled about a book locked in the library’s basement. One. Specific. Book.
We can’t verify any of this, of course, but the fact that the stories exist at all is creepy.
If you look at the map, you can see that Calvary Cemetery, Oak Grove Cemetery, and Hillside Cemetery form a triangle, which is associated with witchcraft.
There are several stories linked to the graveyards, such as the instance in 1970, when the coffin of a little girl from one of the local cemeteries was mysteriously relocated to the nearby college campus.
In fact, it’s said that Mary’s apparition can sometimes be seen walking among the tombstones.
Local lore says that witches used to perform nightly rituals around the park’s stone tower.
You know, we’re good with not ever learning which.
Wells East Hall/Google
In 1981, a group of sorority sisters heard strange noises coming from the building’s basement. Upon entering the basement, it was discovered that bricks had been removed from the floor, revealing a hidden tunnel.
You go in first. No, seriously, go ahead.
The story goes that three students witnessed some type of late-night ritual, which commenced with a huge object rising from the lake. What was it? Who was conducting the ritual? We may never know.
This isn’t the only creepy spot in the state. Read about another creepy spot in Wisconsin while you’re here!
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Address: Whitewater, WI 53190, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
Whitewater, Wisconsin January 03, 2023 Tori Jane
What is so creepy about Whitewater Wisconsin?
Whitewater, Wisconsin is a beautiful little town with a not-so-pretty history. It’s known for being the “second Salem,” having had witch trials and issues of its own once upon a time. It’s also known for its three cemeteries that, if they were to be connected with straight lines, make a perfect isosceles triangle. There are numerous places in Whitewater that are said to be haunted – not just one or two! Some haunted places in Whitewater Wisconsin include:
Historic Starin Park Water Tower UW-Whitewater Greenhill Center of the Arts The Hillside Cemetery The Winchester House
2. What are some creepy places in Wisconsin? Of course, Whitewater, WI isn’t the only place said to have plenty of creepy places and things that go bump in the night! Other notably creepy places in Wisconsin sure to give you the chills are places like:
The Brumder Mansion Boy Scout Lane The Karsten Hotel The Pfister Hotel
3. Are there any genuinely haunted places in Wisconsin? The list of haunted places in Wisconsin doesn’t end there – nope. Other notoriously haunted places in Wisconsin are said to be:
Hotel Retlaw Hotel Chequamegon The Grand Opera House The Four Seasons Island Resort
The OIYS Visitor Center
Whitewater, Wisconsin
January 03, 2023
Tori Jane
What is so creepy about Whitewater Wisconsin?
Whitewater, Wisconsin is a beautiful little town with a not-so-pretty history. It’s known for being the “second Salem,” having had witch trials and issues of its own once upon a time. It’s also known for its three cemeteries that, if they were to be connected with straight lines, make a perfect isosceles triangle. There are numerous places in Whitewater that are said to be haunted – not just one or two! Some haunted places in Whitewater Wisconsin include:
Historic Starin Park Water Tower UW-Whitewater Greenhill Center of the Arts The Hillside Cemetery The Winchester House
2. What are some creepy places in Wisconsin? Of course, Whitewater, WI isn’t the only place said to have plenty of creepy places and things that go bump in the night! Other notably creepy places in Wisconsin sure to give you the chills are places like:
The Brumder Mansion Boy Scout Lane The Karsten Hotel The Pfister Hotel
3. Are there any genuinely haunted places in Wisconsin? The list of haunted places in Wisconsin doesn’t end there – nope. Other notoriously haunted places in Wisconsin are said to be:
Hotel Retlaw Hotel Chequamegon The Grand Opera House The Four Seasons Island Resort
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
Whitewater, Wisconsin is a beautiful little town with a not-so-pretty history. It’s known for being the “second Salem,” having had witch trials and issues of its own once upon a time. It’s also known for its three cemeteries that, if they were to be connected with straight lines, make a perfect isosceles triangle. There are numerous places in Whitewater that are said to be haunted – not just one or two! Some haunted places in Whitewater Wisconsin include:
- Historic Starin Park Water Tower
- UW-Whitewater Greenhill Center of the Arts
- The Hillside Cemetery
- The Winchester House
- What are some creepy places in Wisconsin?
Of course, Whitewater, WI isn’t the only place said to have plenty of creepy places and things that go bump in the night! Other notably creepy places in Wisconsin sure to give you the chills are places like:
- The Brumder Mansion
- Boy Scout Lane
- The Karsten Hotel
- The Pfister Hotel
- Are there any genuinely haunted places in Wisconsin?
The list of haunted places in Wisconsin doesn’t end there – nope. Other notoriously haunted places in Wisconsin are said to be:
- Hotel Retlaw
- Hotel Chequamegon
- The Grand Opera House
- The Four Seasons Island Resort
