Originally known as Public School Number Four, the institution now infamous as “The Devil’s School” was built in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1917. For over half a century, it served as a vital educational center for the city’s children, adapting and growing with the community it served. Its life as a school came to an abrupt end in 1972 with the construction of Interstate 95. The massive highway project was routed directly over the school’s grounds, forcing its closure and leaving the once-thriving building abandoned and derelict beneath the shadow of the overpass.
As the abandoned school decayed, a dark mythology began to grow around it. The empty, silent halls became a canvas for local legends and ghost stories. Rumors spread of a catastrophic boiler room explosion that killed students and staff, and tales of other tragic accidents and unexplained deaths within its walls took root in the community’s imagination. This collection of grim folklore, detailing restless and sorrowful spirits, eventually led to the building earning its sinister nickname: “The Devil’s School.”
The school’s haunted reputation persists to this day, fueled by more recent and unsettling events. In modern times, the structure became a shelter for the homeless, leading to a particularly chilling tale. According to local accounts, after one of the men passed away in his sleep inside the building, his companions fled in terror, claiming to have seen a “shadowy figure” lingering in the room where their friend had died. Today, the dilapidated school remains off-limits, with police patrolling the area to deter the ghost hunters and thrill-seekers drawn to its dark history.
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