Sometimes, history has a way of rewriting itself. Real life tragedies can have a tendency to get a few words or embellishments added here and there as time passes. Unfortunately, this is likely the case in the tragic and haunting tale involving a North Carolina orphanage.
In 1901, the Nazareth Community in Raleigh encompassed several hundred acres of land just outside the city. On it, a brand new orphanage was built by the Catholic diocese.
Over time, several fires caused new buildings to be erected on the site, located between Bilyeu and Nazareth Street. But Raleigh legend has it that the last orphanage built here burned in the mid 1950s, killing many of the orphans who were unable to escape a fire that quickly consumed the entire building and burned it to the ground.
The haunting legends behind this event are centered around a field most easily accessed at the end of Bilyeu.
Brave souls and people who seek out the paranormal have visited and claimed to have sensed the great tragedy that was bestowed upon the little ones that perished in the great fire.
Others claim to hear the screams of those who suffered before the fire took their lives. By most accounts, a visit to this cleared field is a creepy and sad experience.
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But the untold story is that the actual Nazareth Orphanage was nearby, but never in the field in question. It was reportedly right on the nearby spot of the Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral.
While it's possible the spirits or energies of those that may have died over the years at the orphanage may still linger in the area, according to one source, there were no fires in the mid 1950s that destroyed the building or that killed the children. What's more, the orphanage was more likely a bit further to the northeast than the field in question.
So then, what are the scores of people who visit the field on Bilyeu actually encountering?? Go see check it out for yourself and let us know! Have you ever gone in search of, or encountered a paranormal experience in North Carolina? We’d love to hear all about it! Feel free to send a Facebook message, or to add a comment below or on the Facebook page!
For the best places to spot a ghost in the Tar Heel State, keep reading here!
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