The Ghost of South Fred Booth School

Many reports have been made about the ghost that has been seen, heard or felt at the present site of South Fred Booth Elementary School. School personnel and passers-by note the strange noises, sighting of white flashes and sudden extremely cold wind bursts. These reports support the history of the school's structure. The brick building separates in two corridors, one long hallway that intersects with a shorter hallway that went to the nurse's station. Once used as a hospital, these hallways are now filled with students.

In 1918 a flu epidemic came upon the people in San Benito and the other nearby communities. It was known as the Spanish Influenza. To meet the needs of the people, a hospital was set up at the site of the school. The death toll was immense. Short of well trained personnel to care for the dead and to prevent spreading the disease, the dead bodies were quickly gathered and buried in community graves at the local cemetery. There were no local services and no time to get a priest or minister.

A long time belief has been that the soul or ghost of a person leaves the body where the person dies. It remains there until it has been given proper recognition such as a blessing or Christian burial. The reason for the ghost at South Fred Booth School is that it was not given a proper Christian burial. Because of this, the ghost continues to wander aimlessly around the school. The Spanish term for this is "penando", which means a spirit not at rest.

The ghost appears to teachers as a shadow, unexplained noises are heard, and sudden chills are felt. The ghosts appears to neighbors as shadows. When passers-by walk between the buildings or on the surrounding sidewalks, the ghost appears the same as it has appeared to the teachers.

The ghost may be more than one since many people died at that site. The late Lupe Aguirre, City Commissioner of San Benito, witnessed the ghost personally.

This story was told by Mrs. Clara Zepeda to Donna Dodson teacher at Berta Cabaza Middle school.