The Ghosts of the Esperson Buildings

There are buildings, and then there are monuments. The Esperson Buildings in downtown Houston are undeniably the latter—a testament to one woman's extraordinary devotion to her husband, a devotion so powerful that it seems to have bound her spirit to these twin towers for eternity.

With their ornate Italian Renaissance styling, their distinctive red tile roofs, and their matching colonnaded tops, the Esperson Buildings look like they were transported directly from Florence or Rome. But their story is purely Texan, a tale of oil wealth, enduring love, and a widow's determination to ensure her husband would never be forgotten.

And if the reports of those who work within these walls are to be believed, Mellie Esperson succeeded beyond her wildest dreams. Not only did she create an eternal monument to Niels Esperson—she seems to have bound herself to it as well, her spirit still walking the halls she designed in his memory.

• The Niels Esperson Building was Houston's first skyscraper when it was completed in 1927, standing 32 stories tall and visible for miles across the flat Texas prairie.
• Mellie Esperson commissioned the building after her husband Niels died suddenly in 1922, designing it as a memorial to their love.
• The buildings' distinctive Italian Renaissance style was inspired by Mellie's travels in Italy with her husband and was designed by the firm of John Eberson, famous for his atmospheric theater designs.
• The matching Mellie Esperson Building was added in 1941, creating the twin tower effect we see today.
• Security guards and maintenance workers have reported seeing Mellie Esperson's ghost inspecting the buildings late at night, as if she's still ensuring her monument remains perfect.

To understand the hauntings of the Esperson Buildings, you must first understand the love story that brought them into existence. It is a tale of two remarkable people, their partnership in life and business, and one woman's refusal to let death have the final word.

Niels Esperson was a Danish immigrant who arrived in America with nothing but determination and intelligence. He made his fortune in the Texas oil fields, becoming one of the wildcatters who transformed the state into an oil empire. But Niels's greatest discovery wasn't oil—it was Mellie, the woman who would become his wife and partner in everything.

Mellie Bering was no ordinary woman, especially for her era. When she married Niels in 1893, she became not just his wife but his business partner. While other women of her class focused on domestic duties, Mellie worked alongside Niels in the oil fields, learning the business from the ground up. She was by his side through the failures and the successes, through the lean years and the boom times.

When Niels died suddenly in 1922, Mellie was devastated—but she was also determined. She would build something that would ensure Niels Esperson would never be forgotten. She would create a monument that would stand for generations, a testament to the man she loved and the partnership they had shared.

Building the Monument

Mellie threw herself into the project with the same intensity she had brought to the oil business. She hired John Eberson, one of the most creative architects of the era, to design a building unlike anything Houston had ever seen. While other Texas cities were building skyscrapers in the popular Art Deco style, Mellie wanted something that reflected her and Niels's love of Italian art and architecture.

The result was extraordinary. The Niels Esperson Building rose 32 stories above Houston, its cream-colored walls topped with a distinctive red tile roof and an ornate tempietto—a small, circular temple—at its peak. The building's design was inspired by the Italian Renaissance, with classical columns, decorative carvings, and attention to detail that set it apart from every other building on the Houston skyline.

The interior was equally magnificent. The lobby featured marble floors, ornate bronze fixtures, and a sense of old-world elegance that transported visitors to another time and place. Everything was designed to be both beautiful and enduring—a fitting memorial to a man who had built his fortune from the earth itself.

Mellie didn't stop with one building. In 1941, she commissioned a matching tower adjacent to the first, the Mellie Esperson Building. The twin towers stood side by side, just as Mellie and Niels had done in life. It was, in every sense, a monument to their partnership.

Mellie continued to oversee her buildings until her death in 1945 at the age of 73. She was known to visit frequently, walking through the lobbies, riding the elevators, and inspecting every detail. The buildings were her life's work, her gift to Niels's memory, and she was determined that they would be perfect.

A Love That Transcends Death

Perhaps it's not surprising, then, that Mellie seems unwilling to leave her creation even in death. The Esperson Buildings have been the site of numerous ghostly encounters over the decades, and the most frequently reported spirit is Mellie herself—still inspecting, still watching, still ensuring that her monument to Niels remains as magnificent as the day it opened.

The paranormal activity in the Esperson Buildings has been documented for decades. Security guards, maintenance workers, and office workers have all reported experiences that defy explanation. While the buildings have never been formally investigated by paranormal research teams, the sheer volume of firsthand accounts suggests something extraordinary is occurring within these walls.

Mellie's Eternal Inspection

The most frequently reported ghost in the Esperson Buildings is Mellie herself. Security guards on the night shift have reported seeing an elderly woman in period clothing walking through the lobbies, riding the elevators, and peering into offices as if conducting an inspection.

One long-time security guard, who worked in the buildings for over twenty years, described multiple encounters with what he believed was Mellie's spirit. 'She would appear in the lobby late at night, always dressed in old-fashioned clothes, always walking with purpose. Sometimes she would nod at me, like she was acknowledging that I was doing my job. Then she would just... fade away.'

Another witness, a maintenance worker, reported encountering the ghostly woman in one of the upper-floor hallways. 'I turned a corner and there she was, looking out a window at the city. She was transparent—I could see the wall through her. When she noticed me, she smiled and simply vanished.'

These sightings are so common that long-time employees have given the ghost a nickname: 'The Lady.' They speak of her with respect rather than fear, noting that she seems benevolent, even protective, as if she's still watching over her beloved buildings.

The Ghostly Businessman

While Mellie is the most frequently reported apparition, she is not alone. Some witnesses have reported seeing the ghost of a man in early 20th-century business attire, believed by many to be Niels Esperson himself.

One witness, an office worker who stayed late one evening, reported seeing a man in a three-piece suit and bowler hat standing in the lobby. 'He looked completely solid, completely real. I assumed he was someone dressed up for a themed event. But when I looked away for a moment and looked back, he was gone. There was nowhere he could have gone that quickly. He just... disappeared.'

Could this be Niels, reunited with Mellie in the monument she built to his memory? Some believe so, pointing to the fact that both apparitions are most often seen in the same areas of the building—the lobby, the elevators, and the upper floors with views of the Houston skyline.

The Elevator Phenomena

Like many historic buildings, the Esperson Buildings' elevators seem to be a hotspot for paranormal activity. Employees have reported elevators stopping at floors where no one is waiting, buttons being pressed by invisible fingers, and the distinct sensation of a presence standing beside them in an otherwise empty car.

One particularly unsettling account comes from a janitor who was working alone late at night. He stepped into the elevator to go to a lower floor and immediately felt the temperature drop. 'It got so cold I could see my breath. Then I heard a woman's voice, clear as day, say 'He would have loved this building.' I looked around and I was completely alone. I took the stairs for the rest of the night.'

The Upper Floor Activity

The upper floors of the Niels Esperson Building, particularly the floors near the distinctive tempietto at the top, are reported to be especially active. Workers in these areas have reported lights turning on and off by themselves, doors opening and closing with no one nearby, and the persistent feeling of being watched.

Some have reported hearing music—faint strains of what sounds like early 20th-century jazz or classical piano—drifting through empty hallways. Others have smelled perfume or cologne with no apparent source, scents that seem to belong to another era.

One executive who worked on one of the upper floors for several years reported that he often felt he wasn't alone in his office, even when he knew for certain that he was. 'I would be working late, the only person on the floor, and I would feel someone standing behind me. I would turn around and no one was there. But the feeling never quite went away. I started leaving earlier.'

What makes the Esperson Buildings such a hotspot for paranormal activity? Several theories have been proposed by those who study such phenomena.

Emotional Residue

The most commonly cited explanation is the intense emotional energy that went into the creation of these buildings. Mellie Esperson poured her grief, her love, and her determination into every aspect of the design and construction. Such powerful emotions, paranormal researchers suggest, can leave an imprint on a location that persists long after the person who felt them has passed on.

Intentional Haunting

Some researchers have suggested that Mellie may have intentionally bound herself to the buildings. Her determination to create an eternal monument to Niels, combined with her lifelong attention to every detail of the buildings' operation, may have created a bond so strong that death itself could not break it.

The Power of Love

Perhaps the most romantic interpretation is simply that the love between Mellie and Niels was so powerful that it transcends death. The buildings were created as a monument to that love, and the spirits of both partners seem drawn to remain within them, together in death as they were in life.

Whatever the explanation, the Esperson Buildings remain one of Houston's most persistently haunted locations. For those who work within them, the ghosts are simply part of the building's character—benevolent presences who seem more concerned with preservation than provocation.

The Esperson Buildings remain active office buildings in downtown Houston, and while there are no formal ghost tours of the interior, visitors can still experience their haunted atmosphere.

The Exterior

The most striking view of the Esperson Buildings is from the street, where their Italian Renaissance architecture stands in beautiful contrast to the modern glass towers that surround them. The buildings are particularly stunning at night when they are illuminated, their ornate details casting shadows that can fuel the imagination.

Take time to walk around both buildings and appreciate the craftsmanship that Mellie demanded. The decorative carvings, the classical columns, the red tile roofs—every detail was designed with love and care.

The Lobby

The lobby of the Niels Esperson Building is open to the public during business hours. While you may not encounter Mellie's ghost during a daytime visit, you can appreciate the elegant space where so many witnesses have reported seeing her apparition. The marble floors, bronze fixtures, and general atmosphere of old-world elegance remain much as they were when the building opened in 1927.

Ghost Tours

Several Houston ghost tours include the Esperson Buildings on their routes. Knowledgeable guides can share the history of Mellie and Niels, recount the ghost stories associated with the buildings, and help you understand why these twin towers remain one of Houston's most beloved—and most haunted—landmarks.

Photography

The Esperson Buildings are a popular subject for photographers, particularly at twilight when the interplay of natural and artificial light creates dramatic effects. Some photographers have reported capturing unexplained anomalies in their images—orbs, mists, and shadowy figures that weren't visible to the naked eye.

Whether or not you encounter anything supernatural during your visit, the Esperson Buildings are worth the trip simply for their beauty and history. They stand as a testament to one woman's extraordinary love and determination—and perhaps to the power of that love to transcend death itself.