The eerie old house where a phantom cat disappears around corners is just one of the hauntings reported in this copper-mining town with an active paranormal reputation. Others include Quarters Number 1, whose occupants have included Abraham Lincoln, and the spirit of a former officer who hanged himself in his bed. A paranormal crew that visited the house reported hearing disembodied voices, a horse’s hooves, and knocking sounds.
Among the best-known ghosts are the White Lady of Fort Monroe, who was shot by her husband after being discovered having an affair with a handsome soldier. The White Lady is said to wander the halls at night and sometimes scream for help. She also appears to float and flit from room to room, often in a translucent form.
In some cases, ghosts are benign and merely stick around to protect their loved ones or to seek out an evil enemy who murdered them. Other times, they manifest to warn their victims or even to reveal where to find a hidden will.
Unlike other forms of fiction, ghost writing relies on the suspension of belief in the supernatural to create a sense of fear and suspense in the reader. This is difficult to sustain for long periods of time, which limits the popularity of ghost novels. Typically, the genre’s heyday was in short stories such as those by Dickens, HP Lovecraft and Charlotte Riddell.