Is Binghamton’s Roberson Museum Still Haunted by Its Original Owner?

If you’ve ever driven past the Roberson Museum on Front Street in Binghamton and felt like someone was watching you…well, you might not be imagining it. Some locals swear that the grand estate, now a museum and planetarium, is still occupied by its original owner, more than 90 years after his death.

A Mansion Built for Prestige and Comfort

Back in the early 1900s, wealthy lumber baron Alonzo Roberson Jr. and his wife, schoolteacher Margaret Hayes Roberson, decided their Main Street home wasn’t cutting it anymore. So in their 40s, they said goodbye to modest living and hello to Front Street luxury. They hired C. Edward Vosbury, one of the most sought after architects of the time who received training in New York City, Boston, and even Paris. Vosbury designed mansions for the elite of Binghamton’s Front Street and Riverside Drive, and the Robersons’new home was one of his crown jewels.

Construction took three full years, and no expense was spared. The mansion featured unheard of amenities for the era: an elevator, central heating, gas and electric lighting, basically the 1900s version of a smart home. The final price tag? Around $107,500, which was an absolute fortune back then.

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From Family Estate to Public Treasure

When Alonzo passed away in 1934, he was still a major figure in local business, serving as President of Roberson & Son Lumber Company and Chairman of the Board at Marine Midland Bank. Since the Robersons had no children, the plan was simple and generous: when Margaret passed, their home and estate would be turned into an educational institution for the public. And that’s exactly what happened. In 1954, the Roberson Memorial Center opened its doors. Over time, it expanded into what we know today: the Roberson Museum and Science Center, complete with art galleries, a planetarium, and interactive exhibits.

Ghostly Sightings in the Halls

Ask around town and you’ll hear the same rumor again and again: Alonzo Roberson never left his mansion. Plenty of people insist that if you drive past the museum late at night and look up at the large front windows, you’ll spot a figure, often described as an older gentleman, gazing down at the street below.

Paranormal Reports From Inside the Museum

In her book “Haunted Southern Tier,” author Elizabeth Tucker gathered stories from Roberson staff members who claim they’ve seen a man resembling Alonzo wandering the second floor hallway or sitting quietly in the old theater. But Alonzo may not be alone. Visitors and employees have reported all kinds of strange experiences inside the museum, from sightings of a stern man dressed in what looks like a West Point uniform to the soft sound of a Native American woman singing gently to a baby. Others say they’ve heard the laughter of children even when no kids were around.

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Haunted or Just Historic?

Whether you believe in ghosts or not, one thing’s for sure: the Roberson Museum doesn’t just hold history, it feels alive with it. Maybe it’s the elegance of the architecture. Maybe it’s the spirit of generosity the Robersons left behind. Or maybe…just maybe…it’s Alonzo himself, making sure everything is still in order.