Reflections of figures on computer screens, door chimes chiming when no one is present, strong scents of women's perfume from where a staircase once existed -- all are stories from Pieces of the Past, a furniture and antique store in Winona owned by Cheri and Duane Peterson.

"The building was built in 1856 with quite a bit of history," Cheri says. "According to the Winona County's Old Settlers Scrapbook, the building was partially burned in the Fourth of July fire in 1862. The fire consumed 114 structures."

The brick building on East Second Street, however, was the only building to survive the fire.

Filled with history

In the 1880s, the building was home to a first floor law office and a hotel with a brothel on the top floor, Cheri says.

"The ladies of this brothel usually directed their business toward the single men who got off at the local train station which was located across the street. The infamous 'Winona Line' or red-light district brought the town nationwide fame."

The Peterson's building was known for its brothel and "ladies of the night." Many ghost stories have been linked to these "ladies of the night."

One in particular tells the story of a lady that was killed on the building's original staircase.

"This staircase no longer exists but the strong scent that this particular lady wore during her days is says to appear in the area where this staircase once existed," Cheri says.

In July of 1906, the Winona Candy Company moved into the building, Cheri says. They added a four-story building at the back of the block in 1910. Cal's Auto Body Service was also housed in the building. In 1925, it was the Sunshine Cafe and Bar, with apartments above.

"Banger's Bar and Jake's Saloon occupied the building until we took possession in May of 2000," she says.

Stories from the past

Many ghost stories, including those of the Peterson's, have originated from the old brick building.

"We have had many bartenders stop in to share their stories," Cheri says.

"Most did not like to go into the basement after 10 p.m. One person shared that when she was alone at Banger's, she would hear the balls moving and banging on the pool tables in the back, but when she would check, the place would be empty.

"Another bartender told of a time when he and another bartender headed into the basement together to get supplies. Halfway down the stairs they stopped, looked at each other, but continued in silence to get what they needed. When they got back upstairs, one turned to the other and says, 'Write down what you just saw.' They both wrote, 'lady in a pink dress.' They had passed her on the steps."

'I turned around and no one was behind me'

Cheri says since she and Duane bought the building, they've had several eerie experiences of their own, such as walking through cold spots and hearing names called out when no one else was there.

"Another time was while sitting at the computer in the basement, I saw a figure reflected in the computer screen," Cheri says. "I turned around and no one was behind me.

"When our employee Megan did some computer work in the basement for us around Halloween time last year, we had a motion-activated decoration near the front door that would make ghost sounds when people would come in, and a door chime that would ring a bell in the basement so we knew when the door was opened. While working in the basement, she heard the ghost sounds but the door chime did not go off. She went upstairs to investigate and found no one in the store. She returned to the basement and the same thing happened several more times before she left."

Searching for answers

"I don't really know who might be haunting the building or why," Cheri says. "We had a Minneapolis group of ghost hunters spend some time in the building. They did some research and discovered that this building is tied to five deaths," one of which reportedly was wearing a pink dress for her funeral. "We wonder if she is the one that the bartenders saw."

When asked, Cheri says she does believe in ghosts.

"I grew up in a haunted house and had the pleasure of actually seeing the ghost in that house," she says. "We have people come through quite often hoping to see or feel something. We have had customers tell us that they have felt a presence standing behind them."

Cheri says that despite the eerie feelings some people might have when in the building, nothing bad has ever happened to any of them while in the building. In fact, most enjoy swapping the stories of their encounters with others.

"We have been listed in a couple of books," she says. "One is 'Haunted Places in Minnesota.' It's kind of funny, because right after the one book came out, there was a little more activity by the spirit, almost like they enjoy the publicity, too."

Sandy Erdman is a Winona freelance writer. Antiques & Collectibles runs every Saturday in Simply Southeast. Send comments and ideas to life@postbulletin.com.

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