Mobjack Bay Coffee Roasters and Petite Cafe

Stories & Folklore

Stories & Folklore are just that. Stories and personal accounts that have been reported about the location and passed down from generation to generation. This section could also contain research notes as well.

The Cole Digges House, dating to the early 18th century, has long been associated with ghost stories tied to its Revolutionary War and Civil War history. One tale involves a young British soldier who reportedly sheltered in a hidden staircase after a cannon shell struck the house. Witnesses claim he later appears as a blood-covered apparition in the stairwell, reenacting his final moments.

Much of the haunting lore centers on the second floor, which reportedly served as a Civil War hospital. The upper rooms grew unbearably hot and odorous, compelling staff to keep the windows wide open to vent the smell of decay. Some visitors now report hearing the sobbing of a woman or nurse echoing from those rooms, perhaps mourning fallen patients she could not save.

Several former tenants of the house have recounted seeing colonial-era apparitions carrying on as though the past centuries never passed. One couple shared how the previous occupants left, unnerved by nightly sightings of a man dressed in colonial garb standing silently in doorways and hallways. A female figure has also been glimpsed moving through dim corners before vanishing. Some visitors have described seeing a ghostly man and woman walking hand in hand through the garden at twilight, pausing to look at the house before fading away. They are often thought to be a former owner and his wife, eternally bound to the place they once called home.

Other strange experiences include fireplaces mysteriously lighting on their own and furniture shifting without cause. In one story, a hostess dismissing talk of ghosts reportedly had the secret door to a hidden passage slam open violently, knocking objects off shelves and startling guests. These dramatic episodes fuel local lore about active spirits residing in the house.

Even today, ghost tours in Yorktown recognize the Cole Digges House as one of the town’s most haunted buildings. Evening visitors often say the air feels heavy inside or the temperature inexplicably drops in certain rooms. Whether interpreted as residual energy or active hauntings, the building continues to draw those interested in the spiritual echoes of America’s early conflicts.

Added by: sdonley on 07/27/2025 DB#: 1760
Source(s): Various

Paranormal Claims

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