The landmark Ashton Villa,
built in 1859 by wealthy busi-
nessman James Brown, is no lon-
ger open to the public other than
infrequent seasonal tours and
private rentals. Reported resi-
dent ghosts are Brown’s daugh-
ters—the adventurous Bettie
Brown and piano-playing Tilly
Brown-Sweeney—and Confeder-
ate soldiers seen patrolling out-
side. 2328 Broadway, Galveston.The majestic Hotel Galvez
hosts ghost tours (reservations
required) with tales of spooky
occurrences and spirit sight-
ings—most famously a sailor’s
distraught bride-to-be “Audra”
from the 1950s; “Sister Cather-
ine,” a heroic nun killed in the
1900 storm; and naughty, laughing
phantom children. 2024 Seawall
Blvd., Galveston.The third iteration of the elegant
Tre mont Hou se features ethe-
real as well as physical vestiges of
its earlier incarnations, including a
Civil War soldier; the mischievous
small boy “Jimmy;” and the gam-
bler “Sam,” murdered for his win-
nings. 2300 Ship’s Mechanic Row
St., Galveston.In Houston, Market Square’s La
Carafe Wine Bar, built in 1860
and the oldest commercial prop-
erty in the city, is home to the ghost
of bartender/manager “Carl,” plus
footsteps, loud noises, and unex-
plained lights from the empty up-
stairs. 813 Congress Ave., Houston.Visitors to the USS Lexing-
ton, an aircraft carrier used during
World War II, can take self-guided
tours of the decommissioned
ship where they might encoun-
ter “Charly,” the polite seaman in
white; other ghostly sailors; or a
uniformed Japanese pilot. 2914 N.
Shoreline Blvd., Corpus Christi.and around the building. The bloodied, teenage “factory worker” is a
vestige of the building’s cotton-grading days. “The lady in white” and
the running and playing “little boy” and “little girl” are thought to be
1900 storm victims. The upper floors house apartments and offices
now, but Hendley Market’s glass ceiling reveals views of stairs and
landings (and perhaps apparitions). During renovations, workers re-
ported tools mysteriously moving around.
Jenkines and staff recall other spooky experiences. Some years ago,
a friend gave her an old photo—of “Dr. Wilbur,” from a house on Church
Street—that’s always displayed in the shop. When Hurricane Ike inun-
dated the building with 10 feet of water in 2008, the photo went undam-
aged while many other things were destroyed. Every year on Nov. 1, Jen-
kines constructs an elaborate Day of the Dead altar that includes the
photo and lighted candles. Before closing, the staff follows a three-person
backup routine to ensure the candles are completely extinguished, even
dousing them with water. Yet almost every year, one or more candles are
burning the next morning. And Jenkines has photos of lighted candles at
night, taken by a passerby through the shop window. Perhaps Dr. Wilbur
is afraid of the dark. –M.M.P.
From Left: The picture
of Dr. Wilbur hangs at
Hendley Market; the
exterior of Hendley
Market; this staircase is
where the mysterious
“lady in white” is seen..