Ghostly tales and legends abound in Wright County

Tales of ghostly lore have captured the imaginations of many. The air of mystery, romanticism, and intrigue often appeal to the curiosity of our human nature. Many have pondered the possibility of an existence after our lives on earth have ended. We wonder about those who’ve come before us and shaped the future we live in today. Every place and every person has a story. Some are still out there, waiting to be discovered and told.  

Theresa Pierce, of Buffalo, is a local researcher and historian who has investigated area legends and stories of haunted locations in Wright County. Self-described as the “Unofficial ghost historian of Wright County,” Pierce has hosted talks and speaking engagements at the Wright County Historical Society for the past seven years. She also hosts “Coffee Chats,” which give people a safe space to share their personal experiences with the paranormal. She highlighted the importance of finding the beauty in history while honoring the lives and memories of its people. “Being a historian is about finding breakthrough evidence, talking to souls from the past and telling stories lost in time. It’s about finding beauty in history and folklore.”

On Tuesday, October 29, Pierce spoke at the Wight County Historical Society where she shared tales of Buffalo’s history surrounding Taylor’s Union Cemetery (now Veteran’s Memorial Park), which was moved in 1895 to its present location, Lakeview Cemetery.

Perhaps you’ve heard of some of these other historical Wright County locations and the legends that swirl around their past, or maybe you’ve experienced something out of the norm when visiting them.

Thayer Hotel:

The Thayer Hotel off of Highway 55 in Annandale owns a historic past. In 1894, a fire destroyed the original hotel known as the Annandale House, along with several nearby buildings. A year later, the Thayer Hotel was built. According to information on the Hotel’s website: The Thayer Hotel was more technologically advanced than most buildings and businesses at the time in the Annandale area. It was the first building to have gas lights and then electricity, which came in 1905.

The Thayer Hotel hosted many guests throughout its history with the railroad offering a mainline of transportation between St. Cloud and Buffalo. As rail transportation gave way to roads and highways, the hotel saw its number of guests slowly diminish. By the 1970’s, the hotel had succumbed to deterioration but was ultimately saved by a group of local investors and reopened in 1985.

Ownership has changed hands many times over the hotel’s 100-plus year existence. The hotel’s infamous Room 305 has been the sight of many ghostly encounters as reported by guests and visitors. Room 306 is said to host the spirit of Miss Lily, an apparition who supposedly haunts the establishment. 

The Thayer Hotel offers guided ghost tours for curiosity seekers. Paranormal investigators come from all over the world to stay in the famed establishment, hoping for the chance to catch a glimpse of something paranormal. Many often post videos of their findings and investigations online.

Mealey House: 

Tobias Mealey was a founder of Monticello who lived from 1823-1904. Mealey built his home in 1855, numerous additions were added through the years, and the home was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976, but later delisted in 2020. Tobias was an influential investor and entrepreneur who helped grow Monticello’s economy in its infant years. Mealey also served in the Minnesota Legislature in the 1870’s. 

Legend states that the spirit of Tobias Mealey still resides in the very home he built. Families who have lived there have reported that Mealey haunts the upstairs bedroom, watching out the window for people passing by. Today, the structure still stands, the abandoned remains sit just off of Territorial Road in Monticello.

Sturges Park: 

Sturges Park near Buffalo Lake is named after A.E. Sturges, a businessman in the 1800’s who lived near the park. Reports of floating lights and orbs moving through the trees have been documented in the area. Rumors once swirled that the old bathroom at Sturges Park was haunted, which have now been largely debunked as local youths having a little prank. However, others say that the spirit of a pioneer man can be found roaming through the park late at night. Could this be the ghost of A.E. Sturges, or merely a figment of an imagination lost in the history and intrigue of the past.