Ghosts in the old Courthouse? Paranormal group classifies the building as haunted
{Photos by CAPS Carolina Association of Paranormal Studies}
The Davidson County Courthouse has long stood as a landmark in Lexington—and now, it might be home to more than just historical exhibits.
The Carolina Association of Paranormal Studies (CAPS), a volunteer investigative group based in North Carolina, recently completed a confidential investigation of the courthouse. Their verdict? They believe the building is haunted.
Caitlin Williams-Cole, curator of the Davidson County Historical Museum, which operates the old courthouse, said the idea came after an unexpected drop-in visit from CAPS founder James Milbee. Many groups had asked to conduct ghost investigations in the past, and the answer had always been "no"—until now.
“I saw this as a way for people who wouldn't otherwise learn history,” said Williams-Cole. “When I go to other communities, I enjoy the ghost tours,” she added. “They’re often more about the buildings and what happened there than the hauntings themselves.”
Some believe that places steeped in history—especially those that have witnessed life-changing moments—can become hotspots for paranormal attachments.
Williams-Cole was intrigued by CAPS not just because of their approach to the paranormal—but their commitment to preservation. “We’re volunteers. Our most expensive item is storage,” Milbee said.
Founded in 2009 by Milbee, the Carolina Association of Paranormal Studies (CAPS) is a group of volunteer investigators who explore unexplained phenomena in historic buildings across North and South Carolina. Though Milbee’s wife Jen was involved early on, he leads a team that works purely for the love of the research, offering their services free of charge.
Their mission is fourfold: to investigate thoroughly, share findings transparently, encourage public interest in history, and support preservation through creative fundraisers. “This building will need maintenance in the future,” Williams-Cole said. “We’re hoping to host a creative fundraiser with them soon.”
As for the investigation, Milbee said they entered with no expectations. “I had no reason to think the building was haunted,” he said. “But we like to start with historic buildings.”
Williams-Cole doesn’t personally believe the courthouse is haunted, but she took the request seriously. “I checked with county officials and sought their permission, since the county is the official owner of the building,” she said. With their approval—and Lexington Tourism’s interest in expanding local walking tours—she gave the green light.
CAPS brought a six-member team into the building and began collecting audio and video footage over multiple visits. Milbee said what they captured was surprising.
“I have hundreds of hours of tape where people are speaking,” he said, describing high-frequency recordings of disembodied voices. “You can kind of hear women talking about moving a table” in the upstairs courtroom. “I really don’t want to try to interpret it. People will start to hear what they want to hear. All I know is that they are not the voices of anyone in the room.”
Even Williams-Cole admitted she’s heard strange things.
“If you ask me or other staff if the building is haunted, we would still say no,” she said. “But there have been instances when the building was locked and I thought I was in here alone and I heard voices. I worried that I had accidentally locked someone in the building, but I looked around and didn’t see anyone.”
She said those unexplained moments happened more often after a stairwell was removed in the basement. “We opened up a doorway—some people have asked if it might be a sort of portal.”
According to Milbee, the basement is a “hot spot.” He described one instance where all six team members were in one room when they heard voices and the gravel floor shifting. “Two of our team members looked outside and saw moving shadows,” he said. “And everyone else in the building was already accounted for.”
Whether it’s truly haunted is still up for interpretation, but both CAPS and the museum agree the ultimate goal is outreach.
“We aren’t trying to convince anybody,” said Williams-Cole. “According to CAPS, this building is officially haunted—but from the museum side of things, we are officially interested in the history of this building and making it available to our community. If haunted history is something that appeals to you, please come out and we can talk more about it. And if it isn’t for you—come out and we can talk about something else.”
The museum is planning a public event to share findings from the investigation. To learn more and stay informed about upcoming events, visit the Davidson County Historical Museum’s website: www.davidsoncountyhistoricalmuseum.com.
