Trolley of Terror

Haunts of Albany come to life

Tales of a bird lady wandering halls, twisted nurses, and dark shadows in the windows send shivers down the backs of passersby.

Historic Albany has a bone chilling history in the moonlit night.

On Friday, Oct. 23, the Trolley of Terror in Albany got its ghostly start well before the witching hour. The tour began at the Historic Monteith House Museum on Southwest Second Avenue. The first trolley ride began at 6 p.m. and the last ride was at 9 p.m.

On Saturday, Oct. 24, there were four additional rides available for the Trolley of Terror at varying times. Friday, Oct. 30, will be the trolley’s last ride until next year. Muhaha.

The Trolley of Terror was brought to the city of Albany by the Monteith Historical Society. It is a fundraiser with proceeds from the trolley rides raise funds to maintain the historical pioneer home.

“This is a fundraiser to help maintain the Monteith House Museum, preserve the artifacts in the collection, and to continue to provide educational opportunities for the community,” said Amanda Pool, Monteith Historical Society volunteer.

The funds collected during the three days of spooky fun help to continue providing free tours to local school children and the public, as well as other projects that help tell the remarkable story of the Monteith family, and the brave pioneers who helped build Albany.

Oscar Hult the trolley tour guide. He had a mischievous laugh while he welcomed everyone aboard the trolley. All dressed in black with a top hat to match, Hult was summoning something frightful for that evening’s tour.

First stop was the Pfeiffer House Bed and Breakfast. A woman heard footsteps in the hall and a voice of a woman. Her son was sleeping in the basement at the time, so she was all alone upstairs. She didn’t know what to do! She tried to ignore the footsteps and the voice, but couldn’t. Not long after she woke up to a back rub and shouted out, “LEAVE ME ALONE!” Whoever or whatever it was left her alone.

Next door the Pfeiffer House is where the green lady, “the witch,” is said to live. And in this same neighborhood the specter of a dog with glowing red eyes roams, howling.

Apparently Albany had its very own “Bird Lady” some time ago. The Dawson House was home to a woman who had several birds. It was said that she even let the doors stay open so they could come and go as they pleased. The house was covered in bird droppings and smelled awful. The Dawson House has been known for sightings of the “Bird Lady” still wandering in the halls and tending to her birds.

Across the street in Fred Dawson’s house, a young boy was placed on the dining room table and his leg was amputated. The boy young died not long after the amputation. There have been sightings in the yard of a young boy running and playing, but he has both legs. Peculiar.

The Baltimore House is a blue victorian with a spirit of a woman in black clothes who walked through people during a current residents party one evening.

The N.H. Allen House is said to be haunted by laughing and screaming. After the house went up for sale and sold, renovations began. During the renovations shocking discoveries were made. Chimpanzee skeletons were found inside the walls! It has been said that previous owners had three chimpanzees and left them to roam free, only coming to feed them.

There is a twisted nurse who is said to haunt the halls of the Hochstedler House. She assisted the physician, however, her work didn’t end when the doctor’s shift ended. Her ghost has been seen with a tray of what could be nurse’s tools, perhaps.

Just beyond the yard is the previous Willamette Valley Hospital known as the Barnes House. Some say they can still hear the screams of past pet patients.    

“For Your Gifts,” located downtown on First Street., is haunted by an evil presence. “For Your Gifts” is a gift shop with lovely little trinkets and such, but beware a dark shadow that may throw a trinket or two your way.

The Trolley of Terror concluded at The Monteith House.

“Be careful while stepping off the trolley now,” said Hult. “Don’t want to add you to next year’s story now, do we?”

It was a candlelight tour of the home where Thomas and Christine Monteith lived so long ago. It was dark, musty, and unlike any home of the modern world. The candlelight tour began in the parlor where our tour guide Pool shared a personal story about a door in the room.

The tour group made its way up the narrow stairs to the first bedroom and listened to stories about the Monteith’s and the room. Just down the hall to the left was Thomas and Christine Monteith’s bedroom. It had their headboard from when they were married in the room and a few other original pieces from when they were alive. It felt as if they were there watching the tour.

Across the hall was the third room. On display was the dress that Christine Monteith wore during the mourning of her husband. Behind the dress was a crawl space. Where it goes, no one knows.

All throughout Albany there are frights to be had, screams to be heard, and ghosts to be seen. If haunts are your delight, creep on over to Monteith Historical Society and Albany Oregon’s Visitors Association for a spooky historic venture.