The Legend of the Bootleggers Brothel
South of Detroit along the Detroit River lies the small town of Ecorse, home to the infamous Bootleggers Brothel. During Prohibition, this town became a premier hub for smuggling Canadian alcohol. Houses along the riverfront often hid secret tunnels that stretched from dark basements to the water’s edge.
My aunt moved into one of these historic homes without knowing its dark past. While the affordable price delighted her, an ominous atmosphere soon filled every room. Within days, the nightmares began inside the Bootleggers Brothel.
Activity Inside the Bootleggers Brothel
The house never allowed its residents to sleep. My aunt often heard the dumbwaiter racing between the third floor and the basement. No one could explain how the carrier moved on its own. It was clear that the Bootleggers Brothel was still active in the spirit world.
During these restless nights, my aunt frequently saw a man standing at the foot of her bed.
The Secrets of a Bootleggers Brothel
One night, a dream led my aunt into the basement—a place she normally feared. In the vision, she found her husband nailed to a wooden wall. Later, the landlord confirmed the home’s history as a Bootleggers Brothel.
Her father had been a successful smuggler who turned the basement into a speakeasy. The third floor served as a brothel. Her mother, a psychic, used a private rear room for tarot and psychic readings. When Shirley showed her a photo album, my aunt recognized the man at the foot of her bed. It was the original bootlegger of the Bootleggers Brothel.
Strength Through the Haunting
I personally witnessed doors shutting and windchimes ringing in still air. However, I believe these spirits protected my aunt. The Bootlegger watched over her while she slept. His psychic wife used the basement vision to show my aunt her own strength.
The history of the Bootleggers Brothel is a house that no one in my family will ever forget. It represents a walk through fear and the strength to succeed.
