Mellie Esperson finished her husband’s dream skyscrape – and now haunts its halls

In 1922, Niels Esperson, an oil tycoon who called Houston home, died suddenly of a heart attack while on a business trip to Chicago. He left behind his wife of 29 years, Mellie, and a dream of building a skyscraper, a dream that Mellie took upon herself to complete.

With the help of architect Jacob Eberson, Mellie opened the Niels Esperson Building in 1927, which debuted as the tallest building in Texas at the time. In 1941, the Houston skyline welcomed the accompanying Mellie Esperson Building.

Today, Mellie is said to haunt the halls, lobbies and elevators of her buildings.

– Jacqueline Gualtieri, The Houston 100