The Haunted Sons of Hermann Hall

Posted: 01.03.2025 | Updated: 01.03.2025

You’d be excused for thinking the “Sons of Hermann Hall” refers to the male children of one Mr. Hall. Yet, the name actually refers to a building, a meeting house, that was originally opened to serve the fraternal society known as “the Sons of Hermann.” 

Over the years, the hall has hosted society meetings, concerts, and dances — allowing the local Dallas community to enjoy the large gathering space. However, some Dallasites choose to stay away from the Sons of Hermann Hall; not because they don’t enjoy the choice of music, but because they don’t want to risk a run-in with one of the hall’s famous ghoulish guests. 

If the idea of a spectral run-in sends a thrill down your spine, you’re in luck: Dallas is full of spooky locations and sites. If you want to experience the mysterious side of Dallas while you’re in town, book a ghost tour with Dallas Terrors tonight. 

Who Haunts the Sons of Hermann Hall?

So, who exactly is floating around the Sons of Hermann Hall, mingling among the crowds of the living? There seems to be quite a rambunctious group, including children who run around the dance floor and a person who died within the very same building long ago. 

From laughter to wailing, all kinds of sounds can be heard throughout the Sons of Hermann Hall late at night, and some wonder if the original founders are those among the voices. 

Who Are the Sons of Hermann?

The Sons of Hermann group started far away from the Dallas chapter. The society was formed in New York City in 1840 by German immigrants. It originally acted as a place where German expats could come together to speak in their native tongue and continue German traditions and customs. 

In addition to the more joyful experiences, the society also lent a hand during the difficult aspects of life, like if a person was sick or had lost their job. The members comforted one another through grief while providing support to the brothers who needed a bit of assistance. 

For the first few decades, only people with a German heritage and “high moral standing” could join the social group. Yet, as chapters began spreading around the United States, the group became more inclusive to allow people from other backgrounds. 

The Sons of Hermann really took off when they reached Texas. From 1890 to 1891, 90 lodges opened up throughout the state. By 1913, ten percent of all members of the nationwide group resided in Texas. This meant that the Sons of Hermann Hall in Dallas, one of Texas’s largest cities, grew into a particularly important location. 

Not long after this, the Texas branch of the Sons of Hermann broke off from the national group, dubbing themselves the Texas Grand Lodge of Hermann Sons. While the national order has since dissolved, the Texas entity remains operational. 

Today, the Sons of Hermann Hall in Dallas is used for social gatherings and community events. 

Who Was “Hermann” Then?

Many people assume that the society’s founder was a Mr. Hermann, but this isn’t the case. “Hermann” refers to “Hermann the Cherusker,” a legend that goes back to the first century BC. Hermann (often called “Arminius” in historical accounts) was a prince from a Germanic tribe, the Cherusci, who had been conquered by the Roman Empire. 

Arminius rose up against the Romans to win independence for his people in a shocking victory against a much more powerful army. Over time, his name was Germanized to “Hermann,” and he became a symbol of strength for the German people. Because of this, his name was chosen for the society.

Is the Sons of Hermann Hall Haunted? 

By many accounts, the Sons of Hermann Hall in Dallas is haunted by several entities — with staff, order members, and the public experiencing encounters throughout the building. These brushes with the other side have come in the form of doors slamming with no one around, things being moved or even disappearing into thin air, and people hearing footsteps walking on the upper floors when the doors to those areas are locked. 

Some people have reported seeing flashes of light suddenly, as well as shadows in places that don’t make sense. 

There are a few unnerving stories, however, that tend to stand out among the crowd.

The Woman Who Fell to Her Death

It’s said that a number of years ago, during a night of dancing and fun, tragedy befell the Sons of Hermann Hall. A woman who had been attending a dance fell from the top of a staircase and perished. 

Unable or unwilling to move on, the woman is often spotted and heard around the steps where her life ended. 

The Playing Children

A woman who teaches dance at the Sons of Hermann Hall is used to hearing the pitter-patter of children’s feet across the wooden floor. Yet, she’ll often hear that distinct sound long after her students have gone home. 

While the shadowy children’s laughter can be heard, staff will also hear the pull of tables and chairs across the floor when no one else is in the building. 

The Victorian Couple

One afternoon, six people were walking through the hall when they passed by a couple dressed in Victorian-era garments. The group assumed there was an old-fashioned, themed wedding happening upstairs and nodded them along. 

Wanting to check out the event for themselves, the group headed upstairs a few minutes later. Yet, they could find no trace of any such event or the couple that had passed them. As one member of the party said, “Doors are all locked, nobody up here. We searched this whole place over, and there was nobody here.”

Spirits with a Good Sense of Humor

Since the Sons of Hermann Hall’s hauntings are well-known by the community, there are often stories written about the latest tales. In 2016, around Halloween, the local NBC news station filmed a segment for their nightly news about the building. 

One of the board members they interviewed said, “There’s a lot we don’t understand about what we cannot see right in front of our face. It doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. It just means we don’t understand it yet. In the meantime, enjoy it.”

Just as he said, “Enjoy it,” the lights flickered behind the man. 

So, while there may be several ghosts living within the walls of Sons of Hermann Hall, they at least seem to be having fun with their afterlife. 

Haunted Dallas

While Dallas is known for many things, from its food scene to its sports teams, the city also has a long-standing tie to tragedy — most notably as the site of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. This dark mark on America’s history has also led to some areas with unusually high spectral activity, from the infamous Grassy Knoll to the building where Lee Harvey Oswald took the fatal shot. 

If you want to see firsthand a powerful mixture of history and examples of the spiritual world, schedule a ghost tour with Dallas Terrors. 

To learn about other haunted halls and mysterious societies, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. To read about other Dallas-centric terrifying locations and ghost stories from around the Lonestar State, check out our blog.

Sources: