THE STORY
Reported Haunting
The former jail cells beneath Columbia Market House are associated with apparitions, shadow figures, and other unexplained activity. Market House manager Chris Vera has described witnessing a black mass crawl up a dungeon wall, spread across the ceiling, and move toward him and his brother.
Beneath the historic Columbia Market House lies a row of former municipal jail cells commonly known as the dungeon. Originally constructed as storage beneath the 1869 market building, the basement was converted during the late nineteenth century into seven temporary holding cells used for drunks, thieves, violent offenders, and other prisoners. The dungeon later developed a reputation for paranormal activity. Columbia Market House manager and local historian Chris Vera has described a particularly disturbing encounter in which he and his brother reportedly watched a black, amorphous mass crawl up a wall, spread across the ceiling, and begin moving down the corridor toward them, causing both men to flee upstairs. Other legends involve a pacing spirit called Andrew and another entity known as "Big John," although their identities and histories have not been independently established. Reports have also included apparitions and unusual activity in and around the Market House. The surviving cells remain beneath the building, preserving the location that inspired decades of local ghost stories.