Haunted Cedar Key

Our quaint city has an intriguing history, one that dates back to the 1800's. It has always been a magnet for artistic, unique, adventurous people, and still is today. One visit often extends itself into a lifetime stay. There are even some whose lives become so linked to this place, that they remain tethered here even after death. Yes, that's right folks there are ghosts in Cedar Key. So lock your doors, turn on the lights, and let us tell you a tale or two about haunted Cedar Key.

Part One – The Hale Building

On the corner of 2nd Street and Highway 24 stands a simple two-story building built in 1880 by Francis E. Hale. It's colorful history includes use as a general store, grocery store, real estate office, bar, movie theater, doctor's office and gourmet restaurant. Now known as "The Quarter Note", it offers gourmet coffee, fresh baked goods,and herbal remedies (in the Yellow Door Coffee House), and on Sunday evenings some very excellent jazz.

Most often referred to as "The Heron Building" (after the four star restaurant it once housed), it has seen the passage of many lives through it's elegant etched glass doors. At least one of those who lived, worked, or visited inside it's aging tabby walls, decided to never leave. Those who have felt this other worldly presence say it seems almost maternal in regard to the building, and only occasionally mischievous in it's activities.

The most frequent comments are that of feeling a cold chill, and the sensation that someone is standing behind you, even when you know you're alone in the room. People have reported seeing the shadowy figure of a woman pass by the serving window of the coffee house, but when they turn their heads to get a closer look, no one is there. Workmen have heard footsteps in the upstairs rooms, when they were supposedly the only ones in the building. One man working on some electrical connections was having trouble holding the wires out of his way, and grumbled under his breath "someone hold these out of the way". The wires stayed put until he was done, and then slowly dropped back down into place. He was the only one in the room at the time.

The former restaurant owner, and her staff, experienced the most intriguing incident. Each night before closing, the staff would preset the tables for the next day's business. Freshly laundered napkins, and small bud vases of carnations, would be placed on each table. This night was no different, and after completing their final tasks the staff locked up and went home. The next morning when they unlocked the doors, and walked inside, they were greeted with a puzzling mystery. Every single carnation was gone! Just the buds themselves were missing; the stems of the flowers were still in the vases. The napkins and tablecloths were undisturbed. Not one flower petal was found on the tabletops or floors. Where had the buds gone? Who would want to pluck them off and carry them away? No trace of the flowers was ever found, an intriguing mystery indeed.

The staff at the Yellow Door and the Quarter Note always have a smile for customers(even the tranparent ones), so drop in for a visit and a chance to see their friendly spirit.

(Check back next week for part two of Haunted Cedar Key)