Lily is the resident ghost of Trans Allegheny Asylum in Weston, West Virginia. A cute little girl ghost loved by many visitors. It’s why, to this day, they try to talk with her. And if she’s shy, they’ll leave a toy behind.
A cute reason to visit. But being alone in the building with vivid spirits like Lily is one of many reasons to never be a security guard in such a haunted place.
Little Lily in Ward R
Lily is said to haunt the 4th floor in Ward R. Even in the time before a fire gutted it. The original design of the space was changed in the 1930’s.
Yet her strong energy remains. Always talking with ghost hunters during investigations of the building.
Lily’s Origin Story
But do we know who Lily was? There are two origin stories…
- She was a former patient. Spent her short life inside the walls of Trans Allegheny Asylum.
- The other legend says a patient got pregnant. Lily was born inside the Asylum and kept secret and safe by hospital staff. Not meant for this world, the girl only lived to 9 years old. Dying from pneumonia.
Mother was Gladys
One version of the second legend names the mother, Gladys. Saying she was a widowed woman from the Civil War.
Left alone in West Virginia, she was attached and taken advantage of by a group of wandering soldiers.
This drove her mad. Eventually finding her way to the Asylum. This is where the nurses found out, Gladys was pregnant.
Lily was born months after in 1863. Meaning she died in 1872.
Either way, her energy got into the building. And there is no denying to ghost hunters that she’s around today.
Making contact with her spirit many times.
Her Toys
Some ghost hunters will lovingly leave toys for her to play with. Spread around her room on the 4th floor.
This includes some rubber balls, which have been witnessed moving around the floor.
During tours, guides will play an audio recording captured inside Lily’s room years back. Known as an EVP, or ghost voice caught on tape…
It sounds like a little girl’s voice saying, “…mommy”.
Kitchen Ghost
Workers and visitors feel like they’re being watched. Even during the day when others are all around.
Imagine being a security guard. Alone, walking the building at night.
Exactly what one was doing. Taking his rounds alone, he was walking near the kitchen.
Then he felt it. The common sensation in Trans Allegheny … like someone was watching him.
There was movement! From the open access window leading into the kitchen.
A grayish figure walked by the frame, from one side to the other. It was quick, but to the guard it felt like forever. Taking in all details of the figure which he’ll never forget.
Said it was a woman. That she stopped still for a moment in the opening, as if acknowledging him.
This is an argument for the energy being conscious (actively haunting the building, and not just residual).
Because, even though the Guard did not see her eyes, he know she was staring at him.
A feeling remaining until she disappeared behind the window frame.