The Friendly Ghosts of the Old Seed Bank

Every historic building seems to collect stories over the years. Some are documented in photographs and newspaper clippings. Others are passed quietly from one person to the next—usually beginning with, "I don't know if you believe in ghosts, but..."

During the Seed Bank’s tenure in the building from 2009–2018, there were many ghostly sightings by Seed Bank staff. During a recent conversation with Seed Bank owner, Ellyn, Hall of the Above’s Diane Schlactus asked about the long-rumored ghost stories surrounding the old bank building.

One story even comes with a possible origin.

According to local lore, someone was killed during construction of the building's elevator many years ago. While there's no way to confirm whether that's true—or whether it explains the mysterious happenings in the basement—the tale has become part of the building's history. Another familiar character is a little girl said to delight in flickering lights and playing harmless pranks on staff.

Whether you believe in ghosts or simply appreciate a good story, these accounts have become part of the personality of the old bank.

The Little Girl Who Wanted Attention

Among staff, one ghost quickly earned a reputation as the building's most mischievous resident: a little girl - mischievous, and only ever interacted with one staff person in particular, Claudia.

Claudia described seeing a young girl with medium-length blond hair wearing a white dress. The little girl seemed especially interested in getting Claudia's attention.

Most of the time the activity was subtle: objects nudged out of place or small items mysteriously knocked over. But one particularly quiet day, after Claudia had ignored the commotion for a while, an entire display board covered in magnets suddenly launched itself off a table and crashed onto the marble floor.

Instead of running, Claudia simply laughed.

"Alright, I see you," she called out. "You can stop now."

Nothing else moved for the rest of the day.

Apparently, all the little ghost wanted was to be acknowledged.

The Quiet Gentleman Between the Seed Racks

Another longtime employee, Vicki, described a very different encounter.

She would occasionally notice an older man moving between the seed racks—a tall figure dressed in dark clothing with a slight hunch. Whenever she tried to walk around the displays to speak with him, he would slip just out of sight, weaving between the aisles until he disappeared entirely.

No sounds. No conversation.

Just a quiet visitor making his rounds.

Learning to Live with a Ghost

Ellyn’s experiences with the building's guests started in 2011, and she seemed to have had the most experiences of all the staff (or at least was the most willing to talk about it).

The basement always seemed different. Cold spots would suddenly pass through the room. The hairs on the back of the neck would stand up. Fleeting flashes of light appeared in the corner of the eye. Oddly enough, these sensations almost always happened while walking up the marble basement stairs—not down.

Eventually, the mystery became routine.

Morning greetings became part of the daily ritual.

"Good morning, ghosty. Please don't walk through me today."

And after one especially startling rush of icy air while carrying boxes upstairs:

"Will you PLEASE not do that while I'm on the stairs?"

It may sound unusual, but talking to the unseen companion somehow made the building feel less eerie and more... occupied.

The basement of the Seed Bank

Footsteps on the Marble Stairs

Late nights preparing for the Heirloom Expo often meant only a handful of staff remained in the building. More than once, unmistakable footsteps echoed up the marble staircase toward the second-floor offices.

At first, only Ellyn heard them and endured plenty of good-natured teasing from coworkers. Then came the night when the office fell completely silent. All three staff members distinctly heard the steady sound of hard-soled shoes climbing the stairs. Everyone looked toward the stairwell.

No one appeared.

That seemed like a perfectly reasonable time to call it a night.

The Day the Ghost Showed Himself

Perhaps the most remarkable story happened one quiet morning before opening.

Working upstairs near the stairwell, Ellyn glanced across the floor and saw what appeared to be Brett—the employee opening the store that day. He was walking through the building carrying a lunch pail and a few other items. One detail seemed odd. He was early.

Leaning over the upstairs railing came the friendly reminder:

"Brett, don't clock in yet. It's too early."

No response.

The figure continued into the back of the building and disappeared from view. Confused, Ellyn started toward the stairs. Just then, the front door opened.

The real Brett walked in. The man seen moments earlier wasn't Brett at all.

He looked to be in his thirties, with dark hair and brown work clothes, carrying a lunch pail and supplies—similar enough at a glance that no one would have questioned seeing him in the building.

From that day forward, Ellyn assumed that that the entity in the basement was him, and changed their conversations accordingly.

The view of the Seed Bank from the mezzanine

Every Historic Building Has Its Stories

Were these genuine ghost encounters? Coincidences? Tricks of old buildings, tired eyes, and active imaginations? Everyone can decide for themselves.

But one thing is certain: for those who worked in the old Seed Bank, these stories became part of everyday life. The ghosts—if that's what they were—never seemed threatening. If anything, they felt like longtime residents who had simply decided to stay.

Historic buildings preserve more than bricks, marble, and architecture. Sometimes, they preserve stories.

And every once in a while...

They might even say good morning.