Haunted Ohio: Webster Elementary School in Dayton, OH

 

Webster Elementary School - Photo from Aaron Turner on Flickr

Despite being right in my backyard, I can't tell you much about Webster Elementary School. I can't even find out when it shut down, though you can watch the demolition video here. It was open as early as 1958 based on a Classmates.com photo.

I also found a defunct discussion on a nearby store students visited before or after school.

Though some of its ghost stories appeared when the school was open, they seemed to grow after it shut down. Dayton Public Schools closed the school due to budget issues, the lack of funding, and the construction of a new nearby school. Located on the East Side, the school was in a fairly rough neighborhood. I live less than 10 minutes away and can't remember ever driving by, despite also being on the East Side.

Most of the stories surround a former student. As many kids did, he was playing around at school and not paying attention. He didn't even notice that the janitor had recently cleaned the floor. After hitting a slick spot, he slid across the floor, lost his balance, and hit his head on the ground. The boy passed away on the spot.

Legend says the janitor was worried about taking the blame for the accident and moved the boy's body. It took longer to find him tucked behind a door in the girl's restroom on the first floor. Given his supposed fate, it's not surprising he would haunt his former school.

Some who live in the neighborhood claim he liked to play with things in the halls. They would hear balls bouncing or rolling across the floor and see toys that seemingly came from nowhere. Others felt someone tapping or touching them when they were alone. During its heyday, some students even refused to use this specific bathroom alone.

Webster Elementary School was located at 1115 Keifer St. in Dayton, Ohio. Judging by Google Maps, it looks like it's an empty lot now. Given I lived in or around Dayton for most of my life and never heard this story or about a ghost until recently, I'm guessing this is fake.