Lake Geneva TheaterTheaters are large attractants for ghosts and other phenomenon. Large numbers of people would spend their whole lives on stage, devoted to the masses, bring them laughter, and drama. Before TV brought it to the whole world, the place to go was the theater. It was usually the coolest place to be in hot summers, and a place to forget your troubles, even for just a few hours. Some spirits never left their troubles, or the stages they loved the most.
The Lake Geneva Theater is in this way similar to other old stages, complete with drama that echos through time.
Its has been said that in the late 1920’s an early 1930’s during prohibition that the theater was even used to transport booze to speakeasies.
Many people have felt dark ominous presences in the basement and the back of house areas, like they were being watched. People have heard a woman’s laughter, but could not find the source as they followed the sounds, they would disappear.
It has even been rumored that a woman in her early 20’s committed suicide by jumping from the balcony towards the stage while still in her costumes for which ever play she was involved in. Or was she pushed? Since laughter is followed by the sight of a woman in the balcony. Someone about to jump, does not laugh. But this memory seems to be imprinted into the building as a lasting reminder, the whole world is a stage, and we are merely players.

Lake Geneva is known for its beautiful waters, and easy boating. Very few deaths or drownings have actually happened here, but there are two that still are well known.
July 8th, 1895
A small pleasure steamer called The Dispatch was chartered for a cruise around Geneva Lake. Blending in with other launches dotting the lake she was set to cruise with John Preston at the helm. About an hour into their pleasure cruise, the weather started to turn threatening. All the other crafts on the lake began to take shelter, and make for shore, but the Dispatch. Suddenly the storm broke out in all it’s wrath and fury, tossing the small steamer launch upon waves and winds. It went to the mercy of the elements. Tossing and turning she dipped into the water, and righted herself several times, continuing up the lake. Immense waves and winds finally capsized her, drowning all on board. As soon as the weather cleared enough, the Majestic, a larger steamer, set out to recover what they could of the Dispatch.
Soon they saw the body of a woman floating in the lake near shore. She wore a fashionable dress with large puffy sleeves that were filled with air. This kept her body from sinking. The only other object found was the captains hat. A search crew went out again a few days later to try and find more lost souls, only to retrieve the body of the young child that was on the charter.
It has been said that if you are out on the lake, and you see a floating woman in a big poofy dress, make your way to shore as fast as possible. She is the warning in the water to save others from her fate.

On a visit to Lake Geneva from Chicago, my husband and I decided to have a picnic lunch in a neighborhood park. It was a beautiful day, sunny and warm, and the park we chose was huge, with trees, flowers and a gently rolling landscape. I remember that we found the park purely by accident. We were just driving around looking for a nice spot to eat, and somehow we found ourselves in a small neighborhood with a park literally just across the street from neighboring homes.
My husband insisted on sitting at the base of the tree. He is like that, always wanted to have his back to the corner. I just smiled and settled myself on the ground across from him. After a couple minutes of snacking and talking, I looked down at my husband’s soda and noticed he had almost finished it.
Looking up at him, I asked if he wanted another, and saw that he was staring at something behind me – his face white – eyes like dinner plates. I asked what was wrong. He just grunted, his eyes still wide, and then he lifted his arm and pointed. Now, my husband used to be an EMT, and I could not imagine what could possibly have shaken him so badly. I could only guess it was something bad. Looking over my shoulder at the ground – the first thing I noticed was the black lace up boots and black stockings – the kind worn during the nineteen hundreds. I fell backwards because suddenly the boots were right next to the edge of the blanket – it happened that quickly. Lying on my back, I looked up to see a woman, dressed entirely in black leaning over me. Her long sleeved dress reached to mid calf, and was overlaid in a matching black lace. She wore a black wide brimmed hat and matching black gloves.
She looked to be mid to late forties, no make-up,brown eyes, maybe about five foot six or so. I turned to look back at my husband. He just sat there staring. Then I looked around at the other people in the park to see if anyone else noticed her, but no one did. That is when I realized she was a ghost, but for some reason, I was not afraid. She was looking intently at me, like she was waiting for me to speak, so I did. I asked what she wanted. When she responded, her voice did not sound like anything I had ever heard. No joke; it was all around me and in my head and full of air and wind, but basically she just said that I was a special one. Then she bent down until her face was literally just a few inches from my own.
I do not remember what happened next, but I suddenly found myself standing in an unfamiliar part of the park. I had no idea how I got there or where my husband was, and I was freaked. I took a few steps then I turned around and headed back the way I thought I might have come. After a couple minutes, I found my husband under the same tree, just sitting there like nothing happened. I asked him what was going on. He just shrugged and asked if I was ready to go. I asked if she talked to him; he said no. He said when he got up to follow; she put out her hand to him and shook her head no. He said he loved me, but he did not think it was a good idea to follow.
Submitted by Mj to Ghosts of America
Several other people have seen this same spirit over the years, at different parks through out the Lake Geneva area. Same description of the woman, but different parks. If you have seen her and can remember more details of your encounters with her, please let us know. We would like to figure out if there is one park which is her favorite.