The more old and historically significant a building, the more likely a series of ghost stories will prop up around it. The White House, which has housed American presidents and their families for over a century, has no shortage of stories concerning spooky spirits and ghoulish ghosts, with one of the stranger tales coming out of the presidency of William Howard Taft (via Mental Floss).

The ghost was written about by Major Archie Butt, a military aide and attaché to President Taft, who scribed a letter to his sister-in-law Clara describing the White House’s paranormal activity. The ghost was only referred to as the “Thing,” and Butt was utterly convinced that the White House was haunted. It was reportedly felt rather than seen, like a small bit of pressure on the arm or shoulder that felt like a child pressing down. The major dismissed the reports from the servants of the Thing, but soon became a believer himself. Most strange about Taft’s apparition was that, unlike most White House “ghosts,” which are attributed to a president or first lady of ages past, the Thing was supposedly an anonymous adolescent.

Taft was angered by the rumors

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