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Location: South Ward School, Clearwater, FL - July 2025
One of the oldest buildings in Clearwater, with a tangled web of mysterious tales to tell:
Location and Appearance:
The South Ward School in Clearwater, Florida is an historic building that was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on June 18, 1979. Located at 610 South Fort Harrison Avenue, the school now serves as the home of the Clearwater Historical Society Museum and Cultural Center. The school's rich history and architectural significance make it a local landmark and a valuable cultural and educational venue in Clearwater.
Historical Significance:
The South Ward School in Clearwater, Florida, holds significant historical importance for several reasons:
First public school: The school was the first publicly funded educational institution in Pinellas County.
Architectural significance: Built in 1906, the school's architecture reflects the early 20th-century design, making it a local landmark and an essential part of Clearwater's history.
Connection to early settler: The school is located on the former homestead of John S. Taylor, a settler who established himself in the area before the Civil War.
National Register of Historic Places: South Ward School was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on June 18, 1979, recognizing its historical and architectural significance.
Today, the school is home to the Clearwater Historical Society Museum and Cultural Center, serving as a vital cultural and educational hub for the community while preserving the city's rich past.
Additional Sources
727 Paranormal Life - Our Hssts for the Evening
Clearwater Historical Society - The official Clearwater Historical society page about the house
WikiPedia - The South Ward School Wikipedia page
Our group, which included Melanie, David, Linda, and Jack, convened for an overnight investigation at the historic South Ward School in Clearwater, Florida. This site, established in the early 1900s, served as an educational institution until its closure in the 1950s. The school's long history has led many to believe that it harbors paranormal activity, making it an intriguing destination for ghost hunters.
Our evening began with just David and me in the cafeteria, where we conversed with a spirit named Sam. Sam interacted with us by triggering an EMP tripwire rope, leading to a fascinating exchange. Later, I returned to the cafeteria on my own to further investigate and attempt to debunk the phenomenon, but the tripwire remained inactive, suggesting a genuine paranormal encounter.
Meanwhile, Melanie, Linda, and Jack engaged in a lengthy and absorbing session in the main school rooms. Using flashlights and an EMP rope as communication tools, they conversed with what they believed to be an old teacher. Concurrently, we encountered an unusual occurrence on the stairs as a REM pod triggered in inexplicable ways, though the spirit did not seem to respond directly to our questions.
During the night, I also attempted a solo "lockdown" in the old cold room. The pitch-black setting added to the eerie atmosphere, but unfortunately, I did not experience any paranormal activity while in there.
Despite the school's storied history and our numerous investigations, the building maintained a warm and friendly atmosphere throughout the night. The only exception was the unnerving painting in the cafeteria area, which emitted a dark, chilling feeling whenever we approached it.
As the evening drew to a close, we were just about to leave when a cat ball suddenly and inexplicably darted off the table in front of us, leaving us with one final, intriguing experience before our departure. Over all the South Ward School left us feeling like something had definately happened, but with nothing tangible or caught on camera it was difficult to pinpoint exactly what. Definitely a place I would like to go back t, possibly with a few more cameras to monitor rooms when we werent in them.