, Miami s haunted history
Three haunted locations around Miami reveal how the city has evolved over the past century BY EMILIA KOHNSTAMM, STAFF WRITER
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UT OF THE LIMITLESS range of human emotions, fear is one of the most powerful and quickly recognizable feelings. At the immediate notice that something is off, the brain sends millions of signals throughout the body. Blood pressure increases, the heart starts racing and breathing quickens. The instantaneous adrenaline rush that comes with fear can be pleasurable and is even sought out by some. Others do not necessarily feel the same way.
“The scariest movie I’ve ever watched is ‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish,’ where the wolf was death,” freshman Athanasios Grillas said. “All in all, I hate scary things.” Miami, known for its lively past of parties and cultural diversity, discretely holds some of the richest haunted history in the United States. From a range of mafia bosses to art collectors, Miami natives often stay around past their lifetimes. The following locations are renowned for the feelings they foster in visitors and residents:
fear, apprehension and anxiety, to name a few. With beautifully maintained locations honing their rich pasts, these landmarks are perfect for a spooky season visit. It’s important to recognize, however, that along with these emotions comes a lesson on the deep history of Miami and an immersion into the memories of so many and the residual energy of lives lived before the present. Transporting guests to the past, these three houses have well preserved their histories, evidently including their old dwellers.
Deering Estate Resting along the mangrove-filled causing extensive damage and requiring unknown whether he is a grandchild or southwestern edge of Biscayne Bay is six years’ worth of restoration. Over son of Deering or someone else entirely. Deering Estate, a monumental marker 70% of the cottage had to be rebuilt. “Once, they had an event in the Richmond of Florida’s history. The land has been Today, the estate is considered to be one Cottage, and they had the top floor marked inhabited for thousands of years, originally of the most haunted places in South Florida, off, and somebody wanted to go upstairs,” by Tequesta natives, who thrived along with many employees and visitors claiming employee David Horna said. “They said, ‘I’m the coast before the Spanish colonial era. to have experienced paranormal activity. sorry, it’s closed,’ and the guest says, ‘Well Excavators and archeologists who have “The Richmond Cottage has a heavy there’s a boy upstairs pushing a wheelchair.’” explored the grounds have discovered bones energy because that is the oldest property Scott explained that several investigations of megafauna, tribal burial mounds and other here. In the upstairs, the second floor, you can have been done and psychics have been archaeological artifacts on the premises. feel that there’s something there. It’s always a brought in to identify spirits and energies After Charles Deering, a wealthy Maine little darker,” museum educator and employee within the houses. People willing to businessman, bought a local cottage-turned- Tori Scott said. “There’s also the children’s experience these ghosts or energies in the inn on the property, he renovated it to be the room; that’s a hotspot. Some visitors come houses themselves should visit one of the perfect home for him and his family. The and can’t go to the second floor at all.” ghost tours held every Thursday night during Deering Estate website explains that after The second floor of the Richmond Cottage September and October, just in time the purchase, Deering added on The Carriage definitely draws the most attention. A little boy f o r a Halloween fright. House, a boat-turning basin that was built has been seen by psychics, to house his prized Barbee and Mar-y-cel, guests and workers, as well as a three-story limestone house. and it is In the basement, Deering designed a wine cellar that is only accessible by a secret passageway and hidden behind a thick metal door, looking for a creative manner to hide his liquor during the prohibition era. Deering, who greatly appreciated art, filled the home with paintings by El Greco, Diego Velasquez and Rembrandt. After his death in 1927, the home remained in the hands of the Deering family. Emilia Kohnstamm/highlights According to a 1999 article by STEP INSIDE: The Deering Estate’s eerie exterior and rich the Sun Sentinel, in 1992, Hurricane history offer an immediate entrance into the Halloween season. Andrew decimated the property
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Design by Carolina Castro/highlights
