Some workers in the federal courthouse in Pittsburgh say the building is haunted by the ghost of late U.S. District Judge Gerald J. Weber. He was a bearded, barrel-chested judge from Erie who smoked six cigars a day. The judge died of cancer in 1989, but the federal courthouse legend is that his ghost roams the fourth floor of the Grant Street building late at night in black robes, especially when contractors have been working on the building.
Dozens of people swear at least one contractor in years past fled the building in fear after a run-in with the judge.
Staff of the All Purpose Cleaning Service that works all hours of the night say they've felt and heard spirits for years on the ninth floor, the fourth floor and the first floor. "I've heard them call my name," said Janet Evans. "It's a male voice. He'd say my name while I was running the sweeper. I'd turn around and no one would be there."
About five years ago, an electrical contractor was working to install a new fire alarm system. As the man stood on a ladder with his work illuminated by temporary light bulbs hanging from the ceiling, he suddenly saw a figure in a black robe appear beneath him. "How's it going?" the figure asked, then walked away. He told the security officers someone was walking around in a black robe on the fourth floor. They asked him who he thought he saw. The worker went to the eighth floor, where portraits of all the judges who have served in the courthouse are displayed on the wall, and pointed to the picture of Weber. After that, the man left the building and swore he'd never come back.
