PHILADELPHIA, AMERICA'S MOST HAUNTED CITY

Academy of Music

Date:November 1943 Location: Independance Hall Philadelphia *Mouseover sound fx

A fresh *snow had blanketed Independence Hall at Philadelphia in the early morning hours creating a scene of serenity and quietness, America was at war, but all was calm at the birthplace of the United States, as night watchman, Bob Miller made his rounds.

The weather forecast had called for heavy snow and for a change they were right on the money, Bob Miller's *footsteps pockmarked the virgin snow as he made his rounds checking and rechecking locks, making sure that everything was *secure. Bob was an old soldier , a veteran of the first world war, he took great pride in protecting the treasures of Independence Hall,he would always say, " what a honor it was to work there".

Because of the war time curb on street and interior lighting, the only source of light came from his lantern , which he kept very low and shaded.

It was now aproaching 2 am and Bob was ready for his break , all he wanted to do was sit back in his comfortable chair and have a hot cup of coffee from his thermos on this cold and lonely night, Bob had settled in his chair and was starting to relax,there was nothing but dead silence until a faint *creaking sound brought him to full alertness, out of the corner of his eyes he noticed the handle of the door which lead to the gallery where the Declaration of Independence had been signed, turn. ..ever.. so... slightly!. He turned his full gaze upon the handle and rubbed his eyes, this can't be ! he thought, he knew he was all alone, what seemed like an eternity were mere seconds as he gazed at the handle in disbelief, Suddenly!-, the door handle jerked violently , up and down, and then there was a knock, somebody was trying to get in he thought.

Bob Miller never knew fear but tonight he was given an introduction , he was no coward, he had seen action in the front lines in the first world war, his best friend had been killed right next to him in hand to hand combat with the enemy.He was a tough nononsense man, born in one of Philadelphia's hard scrabbble neighborhoods, nothing scared him, ...until now that is, somthing was different about this night and he knew it, he felt it!

The door... *slowly... - creaked open with a rush of cold air that sent shivers up his spine and made his hair stand on end, his short quick breath was now visible.Then! a low *moan sliced through the night,to Bob it felt as if this unembodied voice was standing right next to him, there was nothing but pitch black darkness beyond the half open * door that lead into the gallery

For a moment he wanted to hide, to shrink to nothingness, for a moment he felt paralysis, he could not move his arms or legs, even though he very much wanted to. But he was an old soldier with a sense of duty, his job was to guard and protect, no matter at what cost to his own personal safety or well being.With every ounce of strength he could muster, he rose upon his shaking quivering legs, no one could blame Bob if he turned and ran, no one would call him a coward, but he forced himself through the open door into the cold * darkness

No one knows exactly what happened to Bob that night, he only gives bits and pieces, Bob is not the same they say,he never went back to work again after that night, his family would never know the Bob Miller that had gone to work before that evening, the only thing his eyes show are the cold blank expression of someone who saw too much . Bob Miller had glimpsed into the supernatural.

City Tavern