Ghosts of Billings - Haunted Montana

Ghosts of Billings
May 22, 2005
Gregan Wortmann
Examiner.com

I wanted to do an article on haunted places in Billings and the information on the internet was a bit sketchy but there is something going on. For starters there is Karen Stevens and Big Sky Paranormal Investigators and she even has a book:

Haunted Montana: A Ghosthunter's Guide
by Karen Stevens Riverbend Publishing Oct 2007

Karen has also had the "Ghost Hunting 101" tour of the Western Heritage Center.

The photo above is of Karen Stevens in the Western Heritage Center in Billings. One of the places that is supposed to be haunted is the Western Heritage Center at 2822 Montana Avenue in Billings, Montana (406) 256-6809 where a spectral woman wearing World War One era clothing has appeared.

The Western Heritage Center at 2822 Montana Avenue in Billings, Montana

I did find a copy of Karen's book in the Montana Room at the Parmly Billings Library and it is filled with stories of ghost sightings from towns throughout Montana. I read over the stories from Billings and here are the haunted buildings:

The Western Heritage Center where child-size footprints have been seen in the dust in the attic. A ghost of an elderly man was seen sitting in an armchair in front of the fireplace in the basement there too.

The Union Depot at 23rd Street and Montana Avenue where an apparition wearing an old fashioned conductor uniform and cap was seen in 1991.

At Juliano's Restaurant 2912 7th Avenue North a ghostly figure was seen by workers and poltergeist activity with plates and other objects flying off shelves has been witnessed.

At Parmly Billings Library 510 North Broadway the ghost of a dark-haired woman is seen in the basement and a ghost man wearing jeans and work boots has been seen on the second floor. These are just a very few of the many stories in Karen's book. http://ci.billings.mt.us/index.aspx?NID=258

There was a ghost reported at Billings Central Catholic High School. It was in the basement in the old gym. As people were walking past a ''frosted'' window they saw a figure, as it moved away on the hard wood floors no sound was emitted by the would be footsteps of a human. Upon further investigation it was found that there was no one in the room where the figure was seen and there was only one entrance, it had to be something of another world. There was also shaking, moaning, and the sound of a birds wings flapping.

I did look at one other story from Anaconda where in the old City Hall building which was built in 1896 there is considered to be a high ghostly activity level. Since 1901 footsteps are heard in the basement. The ghost is thought to be that of a prisoner who died in his cell in 1901.

Old City Hall Anaconda