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Wednesday, July 22, 2009

The ghosts of Fresno's Roosevelt High School



The main entrance of Roosevelt High School

Ask anyone who has attended Roosevelt High School in Fresno if it's haunted and more likely than not the answer will be yes. The school is rumored to have two spirits haunting it, and they have been there for several decades.


The East Hall of Roosevelt High School, where the spirit of a student is said
to roam the old boys restroom.

The first one is regarding the story of a boy who committed suicide in the boys restroom in the East Hall. No one knows why he took his life, but the restroom was reportedly locked for many years because of this. People have reported hearing them when they are by themselves. A janitor who was working late one night said he heard someone coughing in the old restroom. When he went to check to see if anyone was there, no one could be found. Others have said they feel an unnatural cold sensation in the room. The restroom was used for storage for many years, but finally reopened in the 2007 - 2008 school year.


The auditorium of Roosevelt High School where the spirit of a student is
still seen on stage.


The other ghost can be found in the school's auditorium. The story goes that sometime in 1977, a student named Lester was performing on stage and suddenly died. Speculation said it was either dehydration or possibly a heart attack. Whatever the cause of his untimely death may be, for some reason Lester has not left the auditorium. People have reported seeing him mostly on the stage, though others have felt a presence back stage and even the seating area.

If you look at the thread I started on Fresno Famous, there are plenty of stories about Roosevelt's ghosts. Something has to be walking that auditorium late at night and roaming the boys restroom in the East Hall if people keep reporting it. Yet no one knows why these spirits continue to haunt the places where they have died.

51 comments:

Anonymous said...

wow.thats scurry.i go there right now.i heard one thts in the top of the school.some of the teachers heard it to.its in the room 500s.

steppen said...

The facts about the boy who died on stage at Roosevelt High School is this: His name was Leslie Earl Chambers. He died on the stage in October 1960 from a heart attack related to stage fright just one week before his 16th birthday. He was my cousin. I graduated from Roosevelt in 1966.

Anonymous said...

wow thats crazy fresno high is also haunted i go there
GO WARRIORS!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Haha Wow what a great way to end my Freshmen year now knowing my Highschool is haunted haha

Anonymous said...

Woooow ! Now i Know its really not me sensing all these things , and that there R E A L . This is my Last Year attending this skool as a Senior and I remember the first time they opened that door of the Boys East hall Bathroom. You'd feel the Cold Wind just Hit you , and suddently know that something was released . Truly i hope no One else suffers like the Spirits That are still Trapped at RHS . .

-Gracie

Anonymous said...

hi gracie :)

omgee
yeah im a cheerleader and theres alot of stories that happen in the east hall..
us cheerleaders have to be here late at night in the east hall bfor we head out to the basketball games and when i use the bathroom i bein to have the chills..
this year i have journalism and my friend dj is righting a stories on our ghosts here so i cant wait to hear or see if all these rumors are true


_____sadies[im cool]

Anonymous said...

two ghost??? i wish! there's actually more than dat like room 213! if u go to rhs u noe wat i mean!!! i went there jst graduated in 2009!!! GO ROUGH RIDERS I hav heard lots of things in the girlz restroom too at east hall.

Anonymous said...

I am a middle schooler at kings canyon im a cheerleader yesterday there was a game vs tioga and yosemite on the 2nd and all those times lots of the boys were getting hurt but thats just the start yesterday i wwent to the bathroom the girl i was walking with was telling me stories about some hauntings I think i wanna go to the school and see if that stuff is true...but remembber that one boy who got shot by the cop??? I do is the boy still there/ i think so

Samm;) said...

-Samm:)

I am a RSA student at Roosevelt. and I crewed One of the shows last year called The odd couple femlae version. And I Ran Backstage to get a prop we couldnt find during a scene change. and as i ran all of a sudden i stopped.. i didnt even know why i stopped. but something just told me to stop. And Then I realized i had to hurry up. And i couldnt find it anywhere. and when i was about to give up..i saw it roll out from underneath a rolling cart fot props..and then it was a cadel stick we needed for a certain scene...and i just thought maybe it just randomly rolled..but then i remebered how lester helps people out during a show. and i was really thankful to him and i believed he just helped us out...oh..but if you dont sign lester in on the student sign in sheet or you dont put his name in the programs, something WILL go wrong with the show..and we wouldnt want that to happen...

Unknown said...

I,ve work at Roosevelt High school for about 16yr. Yes we do have ghosts walking the hall,s of east@west halls. Also we have one in the kitchen. I can tell you more, but people have see then

Anonymous said...

wow i cant believe this im a freshman and i never seen the ghost hopefully their nice... yikes now im so freaked out thank god i dont work at the orditorian or go to the guys restroom (im a girl)!!!

Anonymous said...

I've never heard of these stories before, but i did however heard about the ghost who walks through the hall and a little about the kitchen ghost (Heard it from RHS Staffs). I'm a senior this year, and have been an Office TA for two years, Junior and Senior, but i've never seen a/the ghosts around campus while walking around. I've been to many rooms, many locations, and still, i see no ghost. I would actually love to see a ghost of roosevelt, so i can verify and confirm this RUMOR it has. Btw, yes, i've been in the Roosevelt Basement too, kind of creepy and dark, but nothing. =]

Anonymous said...

Hi Am a Student at Roosevelt High School & Yeah All These Rumors Are True When Yuh Walk In The East HAll Restrooms Yuh Can Feel That coldd Air Everyone That Goes In Into That Restroom Gets The Chills I couldnt Belive It At First But Then It Happened 2 Meh.

Theres A Few Persons That said They seen "Lester" In The aditoriam I Never seen It But I Heared The Curtins Move Everything I Would Have 2 stay For Rehersals Belive It Or Not Its True

Anonymous said...

-N.Z.A.
Ever Since I was a Freshman I have heard all kinds of stories about the Ghosts that haunt Roosevelt. I've been seeing, hearing and feeling ghosts since I was 4 years old, But I have to admit, I was a skeptic of the stories. Some were of students hanging themselves in the bell tower. Other were of kids jumping off the edge of the bell tower. I also heard the story of a girl who killed herself in the east hall bathroom. Others are kind of out there, like a pregnant girl having her baby in the east hall bathroom and then flushing the child down the toilet. I never believed anything until I expierenced it my freshman year.
When I was walking down the hall of the story to east hall during school one day I heard one of the lockers slam behind me. I thought it was a friend of mine or an upper classman trying to scare me, but when I turned around no one was there. The very next day when I was waiting for my bus, I went to use the restroom in East Hall and when I entered no one was there. While in the stall I heard someone in the stall next to me...and then as I was drying my hands I heard the stall door squeak and move. I ran out of there as fast as I could. lol :D

Anonymous said...

judith turner here c/o 2012
-im a junior at roosevelt high and what i've seen or heard is that there are many ghosts here if you believe in that stuff...my best friend had to sleep in the auditorium for her rsa thingie and she heard screaming in the night...creepy and hi carmen lol

Anonymous said...

i attend roosevelt highschool and many strange things have happened.... its those types of things that you never really think about. but if you really think about it., all these things dont just happen.. during my freshmen year i had to owe time after school alot with my teacher he kept me there for a good 10 minutes and by that time everyone has left.. so i walked down stairs and passed the bathrooms and i clearly heard someone say "hey", when i turned, there was no one there. i wanted to run but i froze and then started to speed walk out of there.. so just be aware. things do happen.

Anonymous said...

OMG HOW CREEPY!!
weLL IM A (HMONG) STUDENT WHO GOES TO FRESNO HIGH SCHOOL RITE NOW (GO WARRIORS!!:D)AND WOW I CNT BELEIVE THAT RHS HAS THAT MANY THINGS THERE TOO.. WOW I ACTUALLY HAVE FRIENDS THERE I SHUD ASK THEM.. AND ALSO FHS HAS TONS OF THINGS HAPPENING THERE TOO!! I REALLY SOMEHOW WANT TO HAVE A PROJECT OR A GHOST HUNTING THING THERE... PURRTY SCARY!

Unknown said...

omgggg thatz scurry

Unknown said...

ommmggg mahh cuzin goes der ima tell em lets see wat dey say

Anonymous said...

mann im not scared i go to that school and im a freshman hahah im not afriad


..........aaron ibal :p

Anonymous said...

Well I go to rooseelt and experienced both of the ghost. When I was a freshman I never really heard about the ghost and walked into the east hall restroom an it got really cold and felt like someone was in there with me and then I heard the story and never went in there again. The other time was when I had rehearsal in the recording studio and it was 6 pm already dark and had to go use the restroom. When I walked out I drank water and all of a sudden banging noises went up and down the hall like someone was running up and down. I got freaked and ran out.

Anonymous said...

my sister in law use to be a tutor in 2005 and one night at 3:00am she had a miss call from the library. it was scary she show the janarers but they say that at the time the school is empty and she show her miss call they were scare and they also say that when they are cleaning the school someone turns the printers and they are olone...

Anonymous said...

Omgeezers I am in the band over at Roosevelt high and where we keep our band equipment is over at the auditorium and best believe that when it was just my friend and I the last ones to get out equipment we seen Lester!!;( I remember how he looked and he was tall and was just white and standing on the stage and it was just stating at me but my friend felt someone staring so that when I turned and seen em!!!;0 after that I was left speechless and that's why I decided to transfer to Duncan...;( I keep having nightmares and I will never forget his look on his face it was almost as if he wanted to live and still be performing;( I felt blue and a little scared but mostly gloomy... He was trying to tell me something with that look.. Well good bye I hope the comment doesn't scare you guys... Have fun!!!

Anonymous said...

Omgeezers I am in the band over at Roosevelt high and where we keep our band equipment is over at the auditorium and best believe that when it was just my friend and I the last ones to get out equipment we seen Lester!!;( I remember how he looked and he was tall and was just white and standing on the stage and it was just stating at me but my friend felt someone staring so that when I turned and seen em!!!;0 after that I was left speechless and that's why I decided to transfer to Duncan...;( I keep having nightmares and I will never forget his look on his face it was almost as if he wanted to live and still be performing;( I felt blue and a little scared but mostly gloomy... He was trying to tell me something with that look.. Well good bye I hope the comment doesn't scare you guys...

Anonymous said...

Wow thats scary i attend rhs and im a student there i never knew about that....

Anonymous said...

I graduated in 2009, & yes its true about East Hall boys bathroom...as soon as you step in that hall heading to the boys restroom you can feel that breeze...i used to catch the bus on Barton street around 4:30ish when everyo was gobe maybe some teacher would be in their rooms but i would get the chills just to walk through that hall.
I've also heard the story of the printers at the library turning them selves on...
And the two friends that jumped off from the East Hall tower...
And the couple who died out in the baseball field...the guy in the auditorium...
And some other ones too...

I miss high school :(
Class of 2009 Best Class Roosevelt Ever Had!

Anonymous said...

its all true ive been at rooselelt high i was class of 09 nd also in the midway its also said to be haunted by big red a girl who died there all i know is that she is looking for help and my friend jesse rip haunts the old bangalos that now they distroyed and now new building are there

Anonymous said...

I heard a story of a boy who died or commeint suicide in that restroom back in 2000 when i was a sophmore things never change. I grad in 2002...now my little bro goes to roosevelt.

Postman559 said...

http://tinypic.com/r/21mg3yc/6

seen tonight at Roosevelt

Anonymous said...

none of this is true. the ghost in the auditorium is a way to have the theater kids feel the thrill of being apart of a dramatic arts program. roosevelt specifies this accordingly.for years i stood alone in the auditoruin mimicking lester. theres nothing there. he might have dies at roosevelt but he does not haunt it. as for the ghost in the auditorium. everyone wants to believe their school is haunted, to be self righteous about it. so the see things that arent really there. why do you think the only ones who feel its "sensation" are always alone. imagination runs free just as much as these rumors. THERE NOT TRUE.... - anthony, senior.. class of 2013 baby..

Anonymous said...

I know for a fact that the ghost in the restroom and auditorium are real. I have had experiences in both. Mostly watching the chains shake violently and hearing shuffling behind the locked doors in the east hall restroom.

As for the auditorium I was painting one of the sets one day for a play I was in back in 07. I was by myself and I heard footsteps going from the stage into the hall. Thinking it was my teacher I went to follow him. I saw the doors to the shop room close and went in to ask something when I opened the door no one was in there.

If you believe it or not there are things that happen in that school that can't be explained.

Anonymous said...

Well I'm a freahman at rhs and I was spending the night at school for theatre retreat ... it was midnight or 2 in the morning and all of the kids and teachers were on stage in the auditorium and they told us about lester andthen the lights turned off .. later i went to the restroom and I got locked out the auditorium and I felt something touch my shoulder and then I heard footsteps .... then the door was unlocked and I went back on the stage ... and all you hear is footsteps an squeaks where the audience sits

Anonymous said...

I attended Roosevelt as a student in the early 70's, worked there while I was in college in the late 70's, early 80's and coached there for 30 years. I also ran athletic ceremonies in the auditorium and I spent many afternoons and nights in there by myself. I NEVER saw, heard or felt anything abnormal there. The same for East Hall. I NEVER had any paranormal experience at RHS.

Unknown said...

I WENT TO RHS BACK IN 05-06
ANY WAYS YES THAT SCHOOL IS HAUNTED ... I REMEMBER THE EAST HALL ALWAYS GIVEING ME CHILLS IT FELT LIKE THE HAIRS BEHIND MY NECK STOOD UP FEW TIMES,, I REMBER USEING THE GIRLS REST ROOM AND IT SOUNDED LIKE ANTHER PERSON WAS IN ONE OF THE STAULS NXT TO ME TAPPING THERE FEET ON THE FLOOR BUT AS I WAITED FOR THEM TO LEVE CUZ OF COURSE I WAS JUST KILLING TIME FOR CLASS TO GO BUY FASTER ,,, THE PERSON NEVER CAME OUT AND I HERD A SQUEEKING SOUND FROM ONE OF THE DOORS BUT NO ONE HAD NEVER ENTERD OR LEFT IT WAS UNEXPLAINABLE ....OF ALL THE NOSISES AND GLIMPSE OF THINGS THAT U CATCH THAT ARE UNEXPLAINABLE THERE,,

Anonymous said...

I would like to know about him please if you don't mind

Anonymous said...

Yes the End of East Hall is Haunted. Class of 1975. When I was a student at RHS, I was waiting for my next class to start. I was looking out the glass doors thinking to myself, why do they have the doors locked and chained and the bathrooms not used and locked? The Door us students would use this door to leave instead of walking all the way around to go to lunch or go to our cars after school.The bathrooms would have been useful also. I heard a guy say "Hey" close behind me, I turned around expecting to see that guy but there was no one there, I was alone. The closest students were halfway down the hall, class had not been dismissed yet that is why I was alone. at the time I did not know that east hall was haunted. Someone told me that they used those bathrooms for storage.

Anonymous said...

Class of 99 and restrom in east hal were never closed durring my 4 yrs bs story told to FRESHMEN

Unknown said...

Im a junior at Roosevelt & I'm in cheer & one day during practice, I was using the bathroom & I was alone & we always keep that door wide open & after I got done I washed my hands & I was about to leave, but then the door was closed all the ways. I was like wtf? But didn't think anything of it, so I just left. But I'm also in dance & one day at my performance, I was on stage dancing & I felt like someone had their hand on my shoulder when we stopped dancing & stood there.

Anonymous said...

I’ve been hearing so much rumors, like people said in total that there were 4 deaths in that school someone explain aha . I’m a sophomore &’ a cheerleader also a RSA student , we most likely come back around 10ish from games and east hall would open so the girls could get there stuff an I would most likely be the one that leaves after everyone else , I used the restroom one night next to the water fountain and I would here someone crying but no appearances from anyone , there was a Snapchat posted that went viral where a red balloon appeared and went straight down the stairs and roamed the whole hall (no wind) ,ive experienced one encounter so far in room 500 that is used for storage for stage costumes I was organizing some clothes and helping my teacher, she left for a few minutes to go do what ever she had to do and the clothes rack shook and kinda moved, my dumb self wasn’t having it so I went yeeeet don’t blame me.

My friends and I were invited to stay a night at Roosevelt in the auditorium to help out with the up coming shriek and fashion run way , I had no idea my friend had a ouiji board ....but I agreed to play because I wanted to know and I was curious, but luckily we communicated with the spirit known as Lester. I could admit it wasn’t his time to go which put me down , he was so nice literally he also said once that he kinda liked it in the auditorium (only when people attended in there) because he’d like to play pranks on people, therefore he didn’t like it because he would become bored just by him self.
-lexis

GhostTPITMAMA said...

About Us:
Tulare Paranormal Investigation Team T.P.I.T


Our team currently consists of seven members: Peter and Nancy Lombardi, Greg Swason, Richard Alton, Chucky, Perla, Chris C., who helps out behind the scenes! However, when he is available, he will be participating in investigations. Together we are dedicated to helping those who believe they have haunting s, and to educate our community. We are based in the Tulare area, but we do travel often.

The Founders of T.P.I.T, Peter and Nancy, were trained by a lady who has been in the Paranormal Field for over 14 years. They carry that knowledge with them, and spread it throughout the team, as well as the community.

We understand that you are a person and not just another case to be dealt with. We handle every person who comes to us looking for help with great care, and great respect. We take every request to heart, and will do exactly as you wish during our investigations. All of the services we offer are 100% free of charge to everyone!

Meet The Crew:

Nancy, has witnessed paranormal events since she was a child. She has always had the ability to be able to sense spirits, of all types, easily. Since living in a very active location in 2006, she has been wanting to reach out to people having experiences of their own, and to help those who have no where to turn. Her goal is to educate, research, and document as much as she possibly can.

We would love to investigate there.
Contact us at : Madamstarn@aol.com
Give us your true experiences about any activities in your home or business. A phone number to call for a phone interview. Thank you.

GhostTPITMAMA said...

About Us:
Tulare Paranormal Ivestigation Team T.P.I.T

Our team currently consists of seven members: Peter and Nancy Lombardi, Greg Swason, Richard Alton, Chucky, Perla, Chris C., who helps out behind the scenes! However, when he is available, he will be participating in investigations. Together we are dedicated to helping those who believe they have hauntings, and to educate our community. We are based in the Tulare area, but we do travel often.

The Founders of T.P.I.T, Peter and Nancy, were trained by a lady who has been in the Paranormal Field for over 14 years. They carry that knowledge with them, and spread it throughout the team, as well as the community.

We understand that you are a person and not just another case to be dealt with. We handle every person who comes to us looking for help with great care, and great respect. We take every request to heart, and will do exactly as you wish during our investigations. All of the services we offer are 100% free of charge to everyone!

Meet The Crew:

Nancy, has witnessed paranormal events since she was a child. She has always had the ability to be able to sense spirits, of all types, easily. Since living in a very active location in 2006, she has been wanting to reach out to people having experiences of their own, and to help those who have no where to turn. Her goal is to educate, research, and document as much as she possibly can.

We would love to investigate there.
Contact us at : Madamstarn@aol.com
Give us your true experiences about any activities in your home or business. A phone number to call for a phone interview. Thank you.

Anonymous said...

I've seen shadows in the audiotorium there. But it wasn't East Hall the boy committed suicide in, it was West Hall. I'm class of 2020

Anonymous said...

I've seen shadows in the audiotorium there. But it wasn't East Hall the boy committed suicide in, it was West Hall. I'm class of 2020

Unknown said...

Bro i going there for my field trip i hope i dont experience that if i do that would be my first

steve reyes said...

I was there in 90s 91 I remember the east building the bathroom at the end were always close and it look like storage because we snuck in there and the auditorium we were snuck in there too and by the back stage we heard noises so we freak out and ran out but that high school I had a lot of memories

Unknown said...

So, if the one that died in the auditorium is named Lester, then what's the name of the one that died in the East Hall Bathroom?

Anonymous said...

Hello,
I'm a Freshman at Roosevelt 2021. I once went into the East Hall Boy's Bathroom the first time in the morning since I had algebra on 2nd floor. I at first didn't knew the boy's bathroom at east hall but after entering inside the building. I saw the sign with restroom above the door entrance. I decided go watch my hands. So, I walked inside the boy's restroom. I felt the breeze cold already just by entering inside the restroom. Nothing much going on but went in there to wash my hands. The restroom didn't feel right while I still felt the cold presents around me. I left the restroom and went to my first period class. I didn't feel like going in there then.

Cristian Villasenor said...

One of my favorite theories out there for some reason lol

Anonymous said...

The ghost in east hall is so true. He said hello to me as I was standing at the glass doors looking out. I turned around to say hello to who ever was there. There was no one there. The closest person there to me were way down be the stairs. This happened decades before I knew that the boys bathroom was haunted. But I never forgot about it. No one should be afraid of ghost, remember they were alive like you and me at one time. I lived in a haunted house at one time. That is when I saw the little boy apparition (ghost) who was haunting the home. I just smiled at him as he disappeared from his feet first. I really appreciate the experience from those two people.

Anonymous said...

My experience was exactly the same as yours.

Anonymous said...

I have experienced the ghost at Roosevelt east hall. I lived at a home that was haunted by a little boy. I saw the boy once and heard him everyday. As I looked up saw him as he started to disappear from his feet up. I never have been afraid of ghost they were alive at one time like you and are.