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Apparition

The Grey Lady of Willard Library

A ghostly woman in grey haunts America's oldest public library building.

1937 - Present
Evansville, Indiana, USA
500+ witnesses

The Grey Lady of Willard Library

The Willard Library in Evansville, Indiana, has been haunted by a ghostly woman in grey since at least 1937. She is one of America’s most watched ghosts, with webcams streaming from the library around the clock.

The First Sighting

In 1937, a janitor encountered a veiled woman in grey in the basement. When he approached, she vanished. He was so frightened he quit immediately. Sightings have continued ever since.

The Identity

The most popular theory identifies the Grey Lady as Louise Carpenter, daughter of the library’s founder. She contested her father’s will, which gave his fortune to the library. Some say she haunts the building out of spite.

The Activity

Staff and visitors report seeing the Grey Lady throughout the building. She turns on lights and water faucets. Books are found moved. Cold spots appear suddenly. The scent of perfume accompanies her presence.

The Webcams

The library installed webcams that stream continuously, allowing viewers worldwide to search for the Grey Lady. Many claim to have captured her image on the cameras, though photos remain ambiguous.

Assessment

The Willard Library has embraced its ghost, making her part of the library’s identity. The Grey Lady webcams make this one of the most observed haunts in the world, yet she remains elusive and unexplained.