​The Haunted Skyscraper

The Haunted Skyscraper (aka the old Union Trust building) in New Haven, Connecticut has been the center of some of the states most infamous haintings. The building sits among the paranormal elite for being one of only three known skyscrapers in the world believed to be haunted. The other is the Sunshine 60 Building in Tokyo, Japan and the Sathron Unique Building in Bangkok, Thailand. The following ghost stories I've archived from the Haunted Skyscraper's old page which no longer exists. I first read about this story on the BBC and became interested in learning more. Please enjoy! Linnea xoxox

 

New Haven seems to have a rich past regarding paranormal activity, as does the state itself. In 1647, a huge ship set sail for England from the harbor and was never seen or heard from again. Until one year and six monthes later, when the colonists were cheering along the shore as they watched their beloved ship and crew returning into the harbor. But to their sudden shock, it was an apparition of the ship within the clouds hovering over the waters. They all watched as the sails and hull vanished into the abyss of time and space. This forced them to come to the sad understanding that the ship was lost.

 

 

The old Union Trust building was completed in 1928. The land was first owned by Mr. Richard Perry in the 1640s. The New Haven Green looms just across the street, which was once the cities old burying grounds. In 1812, the city decided to remove the headstones from the green and place them in the Grove Street Cemetery a few blocks away, leaving 5000 to 10,000 remains behind! On the eve of Halloween 2012, Hurricane Sandy up-roots a tree on the green exposing female skeletal remains from colonial times leaving the city spooked and on edge.  

 

The early '80s was the ominous dawn of paranormal activity within the old Union Trust building.

 

Secuirty one night at the Union Trust was checking the bank area when he continously heard walking and his name being called. The guard became desperate for the night to end and the next day insisted his post be changed to another building. He never worked the Union Trust again.
 

The 1984 Great Ghost Meeting is one of the most imfamous paranormal ecounters at the building. Two guards worked nights for a period of time. One would remain in the lobby and the other would conduct the rounds. As guard number one began his 11 p.m search he noticed lights on in the 10th floor conferance room and the din of people talking. Making a mental note he completed his rounds and returned to the lobby to inform his partner as to the meeting. A few hours pass when both guards become concerned as to why they have not seen any of the lawyers leave 10. One guard goes up to check as the other remains in the lobby watching the cameras. When the guard reaches 10 and walks down towards the conferance room, he notices the lights are now out. He slowly opens the door seeing no one! He radios to the lobby "has any lawyers came down?" The lobby guard reported "negative." There's only two ways out of the building and both were manned with guards and cameras. They came to the conclusion it may have been a meeting from another time and place.

 

The guard was doing his night round during a very stormy night. As he was walking by the exit door on 11, he opened it and heard the awful cries of a female screaming! Now, this was the wind pushing though the staircase from an old window. But he called his partner in the lobby to come up and listen. They both stood there for a while amazed and spooked as the storm winds howled like a woman yelling. Just a creepy moment in time, but later you will read about a woman's scream heard once in a great while within the basement.

 

One summer night during 1984, the guard was up on the roof about 2 a.m. The building was locked and alarmed. At this point they reduced guards to one per night. As he stood there overlooking the lights if New Haven, he heard heavy walking up the backstairs ( which at the time were in complete darkness ) coming towards him. Suddenly alarmed he called out with no answer. He then ran back inside towards the elevators and returns to the lobby checking the doors and camera system. No one entered or left. He was alone.

 

On December 26, 1986 the guard was in the bank area about 11:30 p.m. and began to hear the sound of children laughing and running. It was so clear and ominous he walked into the lobby to call his buddy working in another building close by. He tells him " man something really strange just happened here. " Before the Union Trust guard could tell him the story, his buddy says " oh man me too, I was walking into my building just a little while ago and I heard children laughing all around me but no one was there! " Shocked, the Union Trust guard then told him his story which matched. Hearing children in the Union Trust is a staple of paranormal activity, along with hearing your name being called.

 

Two carpenters on the 12th floor for a two week project during the late 80s encountered a resident from the past. As one was working, his partner looked over at his buddy and saw an old man hovering over him. Sudden terror rushed through them. The next day, one of the carpenters quit. It's believed the aparition is Old Man Scott who passed away in the penthouse from drinking too much. He died over a long weekend before he was found. He was the porter for many years.

 

During the early '90s the guard and his buddy were up on the roof talking one late night. They were hanging within the glass dome which was once the gym area. As they were talking they heard this huge and angry banging on the wall next to them!! They looked at each other and started to run towards the exit doors back towards the evevator, when they heard that banging again above their heads! Terrified they run down the staircase to the elevators and swing down to the lobby. After checking the camera and doors they learned they were 100% alone.

 

April 29th - May 3, 1992 the LA Riots rocked Los Angeles. Fifty-three people died during the riots. Material losses vary between $800 million and $1 billion. Approximately 3,600 fires were set, destroying 1,100 buildings, with fire calls coming once every minute at some points. The guard and his friend went up to one of the old abandoned offices where a radio still sat. After midnight they turned it on in the darkness and listened as news reported riots speading to other cities.

 

One night during 1993 the building manager was up on the roof gym, fixing a seat in the mensroom. As he was sitting there he suddenly heard all the toilets start to flush on their own, one after another. He placed his tools back into his box and left really fast! Same location of the wall banging.

 

Not long after the property manager witnessed the toilets flushing, he was in the basement around 4:30 p.m. using the boiler room bath. As he was washing up, the bathroom door knob was turned and the door pushed as if someone was trying to open it. He called out "who's there?" but no answer. I was up in the lobby and the basement was empty. As the manager opened the door, no one was there.
 

Summer of 1993 the night guard was doing his round on the 7th floor about 1 a.m. As he was turning the corner he saw this bright, round orb of light jump out from the office in front of him and right across his feet and vanished into the walls. It was so clear it stopped him in his tracks!

 

Also during the summer of 1993 the guard was doing his night round on the Mezz and to his right saw a burned like dwarf sitting there. This dwarf has been seen many times within the old Union Trust building including the 8th floor.

 

January 1994 arctic blast !! Historic cold invades New England with dangerous wind chills. One night the guard went on the roof during this arctic invasion while wind chills were forcast to hit -60F !! The roof cracked under his feet from the brutal cold.

 

January 6-8, 1996 the Great 96 Blizzard brings New England to its knees. Snowfall (on average) ranged from 12 to 24 inches. Many roofs collapsed, including a barn in Simsbury, CT. The Litchfield Hills were hit with 33" of snow with an estimated $40,000 worth of damage in the area.

 

April 1, 1997 the April Fools Blizzard strikes Connecticut! Winds were smashing the old Union Trust building between 40-60 mph that the lights began to blink on and off. Boston got up to 24" of snow. Forcast snowfall for New Haven was 4-10 inches and left 700,000 New Englanders without power.

 

1997 one of the guards and his girlfriend where up on the 4th floor checking out an old office. As they were talking and looking around they both heard a voice call out the guards name! Looking at each other they were startled to say the least.

 

During a warm and ominous Saturday evening in the summer of 1998, the guard was walking on the 6th floor. It has been abandoned for over a decade. Walking down the hall to the old Greenfield office, (which is now used for storage) he unlocked the doors to enter. Going into the room on my right, he noticed a collection of antique New Haven phone books going back to the 1920's. Before checking them out, he saw a black book. As he picked it up blowing off the dust, he realized it was in German. When he opened it, I understood it to be an old autopsy book with morbid illustrations. Curious, (he thought to myself) he brings it down to the lobby and look through it. Just as he thought to take it out of the room, two antique phone books flew off the shelves!! Terrorized, he placed the book down and said "Sorry" and backed out of the room running for the doors. He felt as if he was being chased until the doors were locked. He never entered the old Greenfield offices again until the winter of 2002.

 

On many nights within the lobby if a guard was grabbing a few hours sleep on the overnight hours, about 4:00 a.m. they would be awoken but the sound of Psst Psst !! That noise people make when trying to get your attention. This happened many times to most of the security crew.

 

March of 1999 the guard was in the lobby around 1 a.m. after his rounds and setting alarms. As he was walking towards the front doors, he heard walking coming down the lobby staircase. They building was empty and locked for the night, so he was alarmed. He approached the staircase and listened to the steps coming down. It sounded like a business man walking down he stated. As he called out " who's there " it suddenly stops! The guard looks up the staircase seeing no one. This stairwell only goes from the lobby to the 3rd floor. As you will see, this staircase is very active along with the lobby. Then about 2:30 a.m. the guard is sitting in the lobby when he hears running above him in the Mezz. Startled, he refuses to move from the lobby the remaining of his shift.

 

In the summer of 1999, the guard was on the 6th floor around 9 p.m. IHewas looking out the windows. Had a great view of the city. He then turned to sit down for a moment before going back to the lobby. He looked to his right, and saw a ghostly figure of a human glide then vanish! It was pure white as it floated down the hall. He was stairing right at. He then headed for the elevator to call it a night. He later stated that night was a very important moment when he should have made a very different decision in his life which he came to regret.

 

July of 1999 the guard was doing his rounds on the 8th floor around 10 p.m. He walked into an office on his left to shut some units off when he heard someone moving around down towards the library. He walks out from the office looking to his left, he can only the shadows of the stacks and the lighting dancing off the windows from the New Haven harbor. He stands there looking down towards the library and calls out " who's there??? " No answer........Then, as he's standing there he begins to feel the energy around him change. He becomes charged and dredful. This terrible feeling overcomes his being that something is about to happen. Feeling like the walls are about to close in on him, he hears this massive BANG !!! Like a wall came down. He runs at record speed towards the elevators back to the lobby. Checking the doors and cameras he's alone for sure. Then, he galvanizes his courage to return to 8 and check around turning on the lights. Nothing fell, no damage nothing. He was alone.

 

On many early mornings the guards sitting at the lobby desk, would look to the front doors (facing the New Haven Court House) and see a long, dark, lanky human, shadow figure walk by. It would always lurk from left to right, usually at dawn. There seemed to be no reason for this apparition. It would appear outside the doors during all kinds of weather or emotional dilemma. Odd enough, none of the guards would ever attempt to investigate. Once the haunting silhouette passed by, it became more a harbinger of dawn than a curiosity. This sort of stuporous attitude is common within haunted structures, and many times prudent. This image is known as Shadow People. Which often occurs at the Union Trust. 

 

Feb. 14, 2003. The cleaning lady was doing her duties on the 2nd floor around 6:00 p.m. The entire floor was empty. The 2nd floor belongs to the bank, but only eight people work on that level. The cleaning lady turned off all the hall lights and one office light and started walking towards the wooden doors. Just before she was ready to lock the huge wooden doors, she looked back and noticed the office light she just turned off was back on. So, she walked back to the office, looked in and saw no one. She then turned the light off once again. As she reached the wooden doors, she looked back and the office light was back on! Terrorized, she ran to the elevator to get the guard in the lobby. She told the guard that she turned off the lights twice, yet they were turned back on once she reached the exit doors. The guard laughed and said "you are crazy." He's a new guard. Well, they both ride up to the second floor and sure enough, the lights in the office were on. The guard looked in, laughed at the cleaning lady and said no one is here. He turned off the lights in the office and then both of them walked back to the wooden doors. As they looked towards the office, the light were back on! Both of them lost their courage and returned to the lobby.

 

Feb. 15-18, 2003 The Presidents Day Blizzard invades Connecticut. Average snowfall was about one foot with maximum snow reports of 20 inches in Union and 24 inches in New Fairfield, CT. Winds gusted as high as 55 mph. In New York City, the snow in Central Park by evening had reached a depth of 19.8 inches, just short of the 1996 total of 20.2 inches.

 

March 20, 2003 Iraq War begins. The building manager decides to stand outside during the day to assure the safety of the building during that unpredictable time.

 

April 19, 2003. the was taking the elevator from the basement to the lobby at 10:49 a.m. As the doors opened, he heard "Hi Joseph." He froze! It was right next to him. It was the first time he heard his name called in the 19 years at that building.

 

April 30th of 2003 at 7:30 a.m. the guard was at the lobby desk and the building manager was in the basement keeping an eye on his assistant, who was taking trash up on the sidewalk lift. The manager was standing by the basement bathroom ( which was closed ) when he suddenly hears this awful life and death struggle taking place inside it. He freezes in fear as he listens to a battle taking place between two large sounding men. He hears the doors banging and the trash can being smashed. Sounds of struggle between two large individuals. He trys to open the door but it's stuck! The guard in the lobby calls downs asking what's wrong, since he can even hear the fight from up there. The manager calls back on the radio " come down fast there's someone broke in " The guard then comes down to the basement and now stands next to the manager as they both listen in fear to this violent confrontation. They both try to open the door again and presto! It open to their shock .......... No one is there! There's only one way into this bathroom and they were standing right in front of it. They were all in shock and fear for a long time. This area of the basement you will discover is very active!

May 6, 2003at 7:30 p.m. the head cleaning lady was doing her duties on the 2nd floor when she heard very old music playing from the back area of the floor. She walks closer and closer as the sound becomes more clear. When she turns the corner and looks into the empty room it stops! This floor has been empty for a long time and now has been demolished since 2008.  She said the music sounded like the 1920s and could hear people talking as well. Her helper also heard this going on.

 

Spring of 2003 the assitant manager was in the basement around the afternoon hours when he saw a black figure ( shadow person ) walk by down near the sidewalk lift. He called out " who's there?? " but no answer. After walking down there he noticed no one was there. Being it's a dead end down there, there's no escape.

 

Spring of 2003 the assistant manager was resting in a small room in the basement, he just completed watching Wheel of Fortune. He then had a sudden terror overcome him! He felt if he moved just one inch on that couch, he was going to be killed. He could feel hands holding his shoulders down! He then had severe chills! Then with a burst of courage, he jumped up from the sofa, ran out of the room an down the basement hall as fast as he could. He then took the elevator to the lobby, just to be able to talk to another person. He felt there was an entity in the room with him.

 

May 21, 2003 around 11:45 a.m. the guard was in the basement and  saw the black figure again floating from left to right near the bathroom area.

 

Early June 2003: The gentleman who cares for the law firms kitchens was on the 12th floor in the CT conferance room, getting things ready for a meeting around 5:30 p.m. As he was walking towards the open door, the rubber door holder flew out from under the door and went across the room! He stood there for a moment shocked, then continued with his duties.

 

June 23rd of 2003 one of the cleaners and her husband were in the abandoned cafe in the basement where they were to empty the trash around 9 p.m. Suddenly they see this big fat guy standing there looking at in the dim room. They get so scared they run back through the mase of hallways to the elevator area and tell the head cleaning lady " fat man in cafe fat man in cafe " The head cleaning lady then goes to the lobby asking the guard if anyone is down in the abandoned part of the basement. He said no. The cleaning lady then told the guard what was going on. They investigate keeping one cleaner near the cameras to see if anyone leaves from the back, the only way out from that area in the basement. Once checked they find no one. Just before all this happened, the guard in the lobby saw a silhouette of a human standing looking in the door. As soon as I saw it, it vanished. This you will discover is another regular appearance in that area.

 

June 25th  2003 at 11:16 p.m. the guard was walking on the 4th fl. As he was heading back down the hall towards the elevators, he stopped in his tracks due to hearing a group of people talking. Male voices it seemed. It was so clear, but there was no one there. He checked every office right around me to make sure, and all were empty. Then that same morning around 5:30 a.m., he was in the lobby walking by the elevators when he heard a distant voice up near the ceiling. It was male, but it sounded so odd and distorted. There was complete silence and the building was still empty.

 

July 4, 2003 at 4:40 p.m. The assistant building manager was on the Mezz vacuuming a water spill from a broken A/C unit. The building was empty except for the guard and one man on the upper floors. As the assistant manager was using the vacuum, he saw a person walk into the hall to his left. He was so surprised, that he dropped the vacuum and ran around the corner to see who it was. He saw no one. Then he ran to the other side, and still no one. He picked up the phone next to him and called the guard in the lobby. The guard said no one came in or left. The Mezz is locked off from the other floors.

 

July 7, 2003: At about 6:30 p.m. the guard was walking down the basement staircase from the lobby. When he got to the bottom, he heard the sounds of a person moving something. He thought, ok one of the cleaners is there. So he went to wash his hands and noticed that no one was there! Then at 8:48 p.m. he was walking down the old marble staircase from the Mezz conferance room. As he began to walk down, he clearly heard chanting. So clear he froze to listen. As soon as he stopped, it stopped. He had to culminate all the courage to walk down and get those lights out. This staircase has also been the scene of footsteps during bankers meetings and no one would ever enter.

 

September 8, 2003 at 9:00 p.m. the guard was walking down the long narrow halls in the basement headed towards the old bank cafe. Half way down the hall, he heard a voice. He had no idea what it said, but it was clear enough for me to stop in my tracks. Then he continued walking and within a few seconds heard a deep groan. He really felt uneasy at this point but continued on. No one was in the hall or the cafe area. Besides, these sounds were right next him. Before he began his 9 p.m. round, he could feel the energy in the building culminating. This is always a sure sign action is to follow. Odd enough, before he entered the basement, Iheopened the brass doors going into the bank. As he walked in he thought Ihesaw a person walk from left to right inside the bank. But this was from the corner of eye.

 

September 27, 2003 at 8:35 a.m. the guard was walking in the basement going towards the elevator, when he heard footsteps. It sounded like the clicking of a woman's high heels. He stopped in my tracks and listened close. No doors, elevators or any other sounds were made. Just footsteps. He waited a little in silence to make sure no one was there, then investigated. He was 100% alone. This has been reported so many times over the years it just became common place to hear this sexy walk in the basement but no one was ever there.

 

October 27, 2003 at 5:30 PM An employee was walking in the bank door with one of the cleaners when he saw a shadow person dart from right to left near the old grandfather clock. Same location as the September 8th encounter. Then at 8:40 p.m. the guard was doing his round on the 4th floor when all of a sudden he heard a person talking. Same spot as on June 25th. He stopped a few moments to see if it would happen again, and it did! He was shocked! It was a males voice, but he could not understand what it said. But it was very clear the second time. He ckecked to see if the offices were occupied, all was clear.

 

Early December 2003 two lawyers who work on the 11th floor reported the smell of cat pee. It was right near the desk off the elevators. The smell lasted for about three days then vanished. Just a week ago, the smell was back at the same stop. But it only lasted one day. There are no cats or any animals in the building. This awful smell has been reported in different locations and no animals were ever found. Not saying it's paranormal, but no sources were ever found.

 

January 20, 2004 at 6:00 p.m. An employee of the law firm was working on the 10th floor near the end of the hall. As she was working, she heard a noise coming from the end of the hallway. She then had the feeling she was being watched.

 

January 21, 2004 at 2:30 p.m. The assistant manager and the building manager were taking a break in the basement. The guard got a phone call at the desk. It was the building manager asking him if any people were smoking in the lobby. The guard said of course not. There's no smoking allowed in the building. The both of them took the elevator up to the lobby, and told him while they were sitting in the basement, a very strong cigarette smell filled the air. It happened in the same location an old guard use to take his cigarette breaks. He passed away many years ago. The building manager told me this has happened many times to him since his passing in the same location.

 

January 25, 2004 at 10:23 a.m. the banker was standing on top of the marble staircase in the Mezz. He then heard the footsteps of a young child running up the stairs! He was shocked! It lasted about 3 to 4 seconds. He could see all the way down and no one was there. Plus the bank is closed on weekends. It should also be noted that days before, kids were playing on those stairs. The building seemed to reflect that activity. The Monday before, the guard was at the bottom of that staircase and heard mumbling. Four other people heard the same thing at the same time.

 

January 26, 2004 at 10:30 p.m. While the guard was in the men's restroom on the 12th floor turning off the lights, all of a sudden he heard someone running towards him. He froze! He waited a moment to see who would appear, but no one was there. His heart was beating fast. The building was empty. People left real early due to a huge snowstorm brewing. This encounter really spooked him. In 2008 and EVP was recorded in the same area where little children were heard singing!

 

April 5, 2004 at 9:00 p.m. the guard was in the basement walking out of the compressor room, when all of a sudden he saw an image rushing towards him from the bathroom off the elevator. It was so clear, that his whole body jumped back! It was coming at him with such force. It looked as if it had a cape. He also remember an amazing silence surround the encounter. The Shadow People once again very active.

 

April 16, 2004 the guard was walking in the basement around 2 p.m. when he saw an aparition of half a mans body walking from left to right towards the bathroom, where the manager heard the huge battle taking place that past March. Shocked at what he saw, the guard was overwhelmed but the image. He said it was so clear, only it was half of a human. It strided as if he knew where he was going.

 

April 29, 2004 at 3:30 a.m. the banker was on the marble staircase in the Mezz, when she heard a male voice talking very fast. She stood there and listend for about 45 seconds. It got louder as it continued, then it vanished. She could not make out what it was saying, but it was very creepy. It was coming from within the staircase. No one was outside.

 

June 11, 2004 at 1:14 p.m. the assistant manager called the guard on the radio while he was at my desk. He asked if he just let someone in the basement. He said no. Then he told him he was in the boiler room washing his hands, when he heard someone run down the stairs. He said maybe it's Mike? He's helping the assistant manager for the week. Then Mike called out on the radio saying he was at the other end of the basement. So he went looking to see who it could be. The guard told the assistant manager the basement door is locked, and I let no one down. Well, of course no one was there. The assistant manager said it was so clear.

 

June 27, 2004 at 3:14 a.m, the guard was sitting at the desk in the dark. As he looked down at the bank door camera, he saw the silhouette of a man walking near the door inside. It was so clear. His eyes looked right at it. This happened before, the night of the Fat Man sighting.

 

October 2, 2004 at 2:00 p.m. a man on 11 saw the black shadow of a person walking in front of him near the elevators. It was so clear he froze and checked to see if any one was there. He was also alone.

 

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