The White Lady of Union Cemetery

Union Cemetery in Easton, Connecticut, has earned a reputation as one of the most haunted cemeteries in America, largely due to the persistent sightings of a Woman in White who appears on the roads surrounding it. Since the 1940s, drivers have reported a spectral figure stepping in front of their cars, sometimes seeming to be struck before vanishing without a trace.

The Cemetery

Union Cemetery dates to the 1700s and sits at the intersection of Route 59 and Route 136 in Easton. The old graveyard is adjacent to the Easton Baptist Church and is surrounded by winding country roads that have been the site of numerous accidents over the years.

The cemetery’s atmosphere is undeniably eerie. Weathered headstones date back centuries. Old trees cast deep shadows. At night, the roads around it are dark and isolated.

The White Lady

The most commonly reported ghost is known as the White Lady. She appears as a woman in a long white dress or nightgown, with long dark hair. She may appear translucent or seem solid enough to be mistaken for a living person—at least initially.

Her most disturbing characteristic is her tendency to appear in the road. Drivers see her step in front of their vehicles, sometimes making eye contact as if unaware of the danger. The driver swerves or brakes, often believing they’ve struck her. When they stop to check, there is no body, no blood, no damage to the car. The woman has vanished.

Major Sightings

The most famous account came from a fireman driving near the cemetery in the 1990s. He reported that a woman in white stepped directly into his path. He hit her—felt the impact, saw her body roll across the hood. He stopped immediately, called for help, and searched the area. Nothing was ever found.

Similar stories have accumulated over decades. A police officer reported an identical experience in the 1980s. Multiple residents of Easton have encountered her. The stories are remarkably consistent in their details.

Ed and Lorraine Warren

Famed paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren investigated Union Cemetery extensively. Ed Warren claimed to have captured video footage of the White Lady in 1990, showing a ghostly figure moving through the cemetery. The footage remains controversial—believers consider it compelling evidence while skeptics dismiss it as easily faked.

The Warrens featured Union Cemetery in their books and declared it one of the most haunted locations they had ever investigated.

Theories About Her Identity

Several theories attempt to explain who the White Lady might be. One story suggests she was murdered in the 1940s and her body dumped in the cemetery. Another claims she died in childbirth and wanders searching for her baby. A third theory suggests she was killed on the road itself and replays her death eternally.

None of these stories can be verified through historical records. The White Lady’s true identity remains unknown.

Other Phenomena

The White Lady is not Union Cemetery’s only ghost. Witnesses have reported a figure they call “Red Eyes,” which appears to be a male entity with glowing red eyes. This figure is aggressive and has been known to chase visitors.

Other reports include spectral figures among the headstones, sounds of footsteps and voices, and the feeling of being watched or followed. The cemetery’s reputation has made it a magnet for ghost hunters, though unauthorized visits at night are illegal.

Assessment

Union Cemetery combines multiple factors that create ghost legends: isolated location, old burial ground, dark roads, and fatal accidents. The consistency of the White Lady reports over many decades is noteworthy, though skeptics point out that expectation shapes experience—visitors seeking ghosts may be primed to interpret ordinary events as supernatural.

Whether the White Lady is a genuine spirit, a collective hallucination, or an urban legend that generates false memories, she has become an integral part of Connecticut folklore. Drivers approaching Union Cemetery at night still glance at the roadside, wondering if tonight is when they will see her step into the light.