Mystery footprints appear at coffee shop ‘haunted by soldier from 1800s’

A man who bought a coffee shop claims his business is being haunted by the ghost of a soldier.

Joshua Dairen, and his wife, Keema Miller, both 31, bought a coffee shop in Opelika, Alabama, in April 2023 – and quickly began experiencing odd things.

In the first week of owning the coffee shop, Joshua claims that he started hearing ‘rustling’ noises in the back office when nobody else was in.

Joshua said that whenever he is in the shop alone to open up or close he can hear footsteps going from the main office to the counter.

On September 5, 2024, at 5:42am, a member of staff was in the shop alone when they saw a ‘soldier’ walking towards them before disappearing.

Since then, Joshua has researched the area and believes that the shop is being haunted by a ghost who died in the Civil War.

Joshua, a business owner and paranormal investigator, from Opelika, Alabama, said: ‘We have experienced strange activity ever since we bought the place. Within the first week of the shop, I kept hearing the sound of rustling noises in the office.

‘The building was built in the 1800s so I thought it might be wiring but no, I have continuously heard the noise ever since. We’ve seen a figure walking around the shop when nobody has been in and I have seen unexplained boot prints on the floor.’

Joshua purchased the coffee shop in April 2023 after the previous owner didn’t want to own a coffee business.

Ever since he owned the property, Josh said he has experienced paranormal activity – including figures moving across the room, unexplained footprints and noises.

He said: ‘It seems to pop up around July, we constantly hear footsteps no matter what time of day. I could be by myself to open up or close up and I can hear footsteps going from our office to the counter.

‘We have a little office window that connects our main floor to the office and I saw a shadow figure poke its head of out the window when nobody was in there.’

Joshua said the most significant activity that he can’t explain happened was when a milk carton exploded.

He said: ‘We had some expired milk I put towards the back office and forgot about it. Two days later, my wife came up to me and said I had a mess in the back that I needed to clean up.

‘I thought the milk had just expired and exploded but as I picked the gallons up there was a boot print on the carton. It was an old army boot or something, nobody in our shop has ever worn combat boots.’

During the American Civil War, warehouses in the town were converted into Confederate supply depots.

After a raid on the town, many soldiers lost their lives so Joshua suspects the coffee shop is being haunted by a soldier.

He said: ‘This circles back to my barista telling me they saw boots and pants walking towards them. They were in the shop alone at around 5:40 in the morning when they saw a figure walking from the back office to the counter. Luckily, nothing has presented itself as threatening towards us.’

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