The Haunting Of Syracuse City Hall ~ CNY Paranormal

Deep in downtown Syracuse, surrounded by the historic buildings that make up the city’s core, is the Syracuse City Hall. This iconic landmark holds a long and tragic history and more than a few ghost stories.

Construction was started in 1889, and completed in 1893. It was constructed in the Romanesque Revival style, leading the building to have an elegant, yet foreboding appearance.

In the back of the building was the police station, with offices, an armory, the courtroom, as well as the local jail. It is the jail that plays a key role in the alleged haunting of this building, and the ghost they have come to call ‘Charlie’.

In 1893, James Harvey, a Syracuse police investigator was murdered while apprehending two criminals, brothers Lucius and Charlie Wilson. Lucius was sentenced to death, but Charlie’s death sentence was commuted to a life sentence. He spent the rest of his days in the jail in the basement of City Hall.

Some also believe that the ‘Charlie’ who haunts the building may be the original architect, Charles Colton. He was fired when the building was almost finished, due to an argument over the installation of a working bell in the bell tower.

Regardless of the origin of the spirit, those who work in City Hall are convinced that the place is haunted. The primary manifestation of this spirit involves the rear elevator in the building. When workers stay late, they will hear the elevator operate on its own.

Additionally, when a floor button is pushed, the elevator will not always go to the correct floor. Although the elevators have been inspected multiple times, there are no known causes for that strange behavior. Additionally, footsteps can be heard walking down the stairs, and a presence has been felt in the basement.

Is it Charlie Wilson, his spirit not able to leave the jail where he spent the rest of his life? Or a disgruntled architect, unable to let go of the project he was unable to complete?

[Contributed By NY Shadow Chasers]

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