A Haunted Bar with a Sinister Past

Bobby Mackey’s Music World is a nightclub unlike no other. Its history dates back to the 1850s, when the previous building occupying the location was a slaughterhouse. The slaughterhouse remained in operation for about forty years before it ended up closing. In the 1890s, satanists were thought to be performing rituals in the same location, many of the rituals included sacrifices of both the animal and humankind.

In 1896, the body, well part of the body, of Pearl Bryan, was found without her head attached. Pearl was a twenty-two-year-old young woman from Indiana who was in town for an illegal abortion. Her boyfriend, Scott Jackson, and his roommate, Alonzo Walling, attempted to perform. They felt they could perform the procedure as they were both students of dental surgery. Though that makes little sense to many, apparently it made sense to them. They ultimately messed up, killing her in the process, and then attempted to cover up their involvement in her death by removing her head and abandoning her body in an area that is not far away from Bobby Mackey’s. They thought they did a pretty good job of covering their tracks, but they did not. Both were arrested, tried, convicted, and eventually hung for her death. One of the men, Alonzo Walling, supposedly vowed to haunt the area forever as they placed the noose around his neck. Sadly, her family could never have full closure, as investigators never found her head. It was not for lack of trying, however, as they searched far and wide.

The remnants of the slaughterhouse were taken down not long after Bryan’s murder and a new building was built in its place in the 1920s. The place became an illegal speakeasy, casino, and regular meeting place for the mob during the era of Prohibition. By the 1950s, it was a nightclub and popular spot for up-and-coming singers. It also, once again, became the location of tragedy.

Robert Randall was a promising young singer who spent much of his time at the club. He also fell in love with one of the dance hall girls there named Johanna, who also was the daughter of the owner of the club. Their relationship was scandalous for the time, especially as Johanna was said to have become pregnant. Her father found out about the relationship between Robert and Johanna, and it is said that this turn of events did not please him. The owner of the club decided the best course of action was to use his connections with the local criminals to get rid of Robert, who he saw as the problem. After they worked out the details and the plan was in motion, Robert Randall was killed. This, of course, left Johanna angry and heartbroken by her father’s actions. She decided to seek revenge for the pain and heartbreak her father caused by poisoning him. She then killed herself inside the building, effectively ending an unnecessary tragedy.

Since the 1970s, the club has been known as Bobby Mackey’s. It has become a popular place to hang out, but it has also become a popular place for ghost hunters. The paranormal activity at Bobby Mackey’s is legendary. There are reports of apparitions, one in particular who looks like convicted murder Alonzo Walling. There have been claims of oppressive heat felt by patrons, something often felt with demonic activity. Other claims of paranormal activity include: the feelings of being touched, the powerful scent of rose perfume, disembodied voices known to scream at visitors, and, most alarming, a demonic possession. There are some serious vibes associated with Bobby Mackey’s. This is one location I cannot wait to check out for myself.