Ghosts Stories of Kindleberger Mansion

It has been seven years since OCBA’s offices moved out of the Kindleberger mansion in Parchment and into downtown Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids, so the memories of that old place are starting to fade. But the Halloween season always brings them back because there are many people who worked there that claim the house is haunted. They say that the spirit of Jacob Kindleberger, who founded the paper mill and City of Parchment and built the mansion, still roams the hallways. I never personally experienced anything in my 25 years working there, even during the late nights and early mornings when I was there alone. But there are so many great stories I’ve heard over the years; I just have to share a few snippets.

One co-worker who sat in one of the big rooms upstairs facing the wall with her back to the door into the room behind her would often see movement in the room reflected on her computer monitor screen, but when she turned around, no one would be there. Another knew he was in for a late night working in the studio so decided to just bring a sleeping bag and stay over instead of driving home. When he finished working, turned out the lights, and laid down to go to sleep he distinctly heard someone coming up the stairs and got up to see who was there. The house was empty. He decided to drive home after all.

My two daughters served in the long line of employees’ kids who OCBA hired to clean the office over the years. My daughters hated being in the office at night and would never go alone even during the day; they said they always felt like someone was watching them. When one did have to be there alone she would bring a friend’s dog to keep her company. More than once the dog reached a particular spot in the upstairs hallway where he would stop, start growling with the hair raised on his back, and refuse to move in spite of there being nothing there that she could see. Another time she tried to get a friend to help her, but she said he walked into the front hallway and promptly turned around and walked back out. He said there was an overpowering feeling of something there and he did not want to find out what it was.

I had heard all the stories but never run into Jake myself in the old house. But I was wondering if having everything stirred up in the building during the last few days before we moved out would prompt a visit from him.

So, my ghost story starts with the perfect setting: 5:30 on a foggy, rainy Halloween night, a week before the move. I’m alone on the old house in one of the upstairs studios, looking at a cabinet of old financial records that I have to pack up. It’s the same studio my co-worker decided not to spend the night in ten years earlier. I get to work and am diligently packing when I hear footsteps coming up the stairs. OH MY GOSH, IT’S HAPPENING - Jake is finally going to make his presence known to me like he has so many others. I bravely stepped out into the hallway, expecting it to be empty or to see something shadowy… and there was Jon Rambow coming up the stairs. He had been in his office packing, saw the light on, and came over to see who was there. I don’t think I’ve ever been that happy to see a real person!

Today the Kindleberger mansion has been turned back into a private residence. I drive by it often on my way to the downtown office. I assume the new owners are as oblivious to Jake as I always was. Or maybe they just don’t mind having him around?

— Sandy Bliesener

OCBA President