Seattle's Pike Street Marketplace at night

A closeup of the gum wall on 1st and Pike Street 

The ghost of a young woman often appears at the top of the staircase of the Butterworth Building on First Street in Seattle

Apparently there are many of them, as our tour guide - who had spent much of his childhood in the marketplace as his family ran two shops -  had story after story of souls lost between the physical and spiritual world, trapped in the routine of their physical lives in the marketplace.  Adults and children haunt various businesses in and around Pike Street Market, and some of their stories are formidable. One of the most interesting stories was about a hotel where two sisters stayed while in the care of a doctor, Linda Hazard, whose prescribed starvation diet claimed to cure what ailed them, but ended up claiming their lives, and Dr. Hazard, their estate.  The hotel later turned into a brothel is rumored to be haunted. Several buildings in the area are rumored to be haunted as well, including some stores on Pike Street, some shops in the underground market area and a building that was once a mortuary.  And a busy mortuary it was, as Spanish influenza and diphtheria were epidemics that plagued the city in the early 1900's. Sailors, miners, entire families and many small children lost their lives to these diseases, many of whom were not identified.  The energy of these wayward souls seem to linger decades after their passing.  Edgar Butterworth owned the building, and eventually had to relocate his mortuary business to a larger facility.  The ghosts of those who died in the area and were brought to the mortuary are purported to still haunt the building, including Mr. Butterworth's daughter, who has been seen by various people over the years at the top of a flight of stairs, wearing a green dress and looking downstairs. The building has had many tenants over the years, many of whom experienced paranormal activity.

No ghost encounters occurred during my tour, however the history told was fascinating and the stories rich with controversy and intrigue.  It piqued my interest in learning about Seattle more, it's heritage and lineage that gave Seattle it's unique edginess before grunge and Starbucks became part of the culture.

The regular Wed-Sat evening tour schedule resumes the last week of February, until then call 206-322-1218 for reservations.

For more information: visit the Market Ghost Tours at http://www.seattleghost.com/ 

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