Ghost stories intertwine with cigar-rolling history at Ybor cigar factory

TAMPA, Fla. - Longtime security guard John Clifford has had a number of paranormal experiences while patrolling the JC Newman cigar factory in Ybor City, including an encounter where he saw a strange ball of light trailing a co-worker.

"As I’m watching him, the orb came so close to the back of his head, lit up the whole back of his head and his shirt," Clifford recalled. 

Whoever's out there, Clifford says, there appears to be some mutual respect.

"It seems like somebody watching over the building.  Once they're comfortable and know they can trust me, it seems to cease," he said.  

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The building was built in 1910.  Since that time, thousands of cigar rollers and visitors have stopped by. Perhaps some never left. 

"I’ve never felt threatened by these ghosts.  Which is a strange sentence, but the idea of someone being in the room that you can sense but can’t see that makes me uncomfortable," said Kara Guagliardo, who does marketing for JC Newman.

Guagliardo says she’s a believer thanks to her own run-ins with the spirits inside these old walls. 

"We joke often that the cigar industry is one that people never leave," she continued. 

"I’ve had times where there's nobody here and I just walked through somebody's puff of smoke," offered Clifford. 

Renovations of the old building have already turned up a ‘Cigar City Mafia’ secret.

So what is it dwelling inside this old cigar factory, or more importantly, who is it?  Could it be the one of the original owners or some past workers, or maybe just a spooky cigar-lover? 

Whoever's there doesn't appear to be shy. 

"I love the feeling of this place and it’s not any bad energy to me," Clifford added. 

You have the chance to decide for yourself. The old cigar factory is having a ghost tour event on October 27.  For more information go to jcnewman.com.

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